FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Dec. 8-14

December 8 through December 14, 2023

This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks; 
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

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CASES

Bay County

• Officer Bragg responded to a call regarding individuals on the Panama City Pier who were keeping undersized flounder. Officer Bragg conducted resource inspections on the individuals and found one subject in possession of five undersized flounder. The appropriate citation was issued. 

Franklin County

• Officer Hartzog was conducting patrol on Highway 98 along the Carrabelle River and observed a recreational vessel returning from fishing. Officer Hartzog conducted surveillance and stopped the vessel for a resource inspection. During the inspection, the captain was observed to be in possession of seven plastic gallon bags containing 28 out-of-season gag groupers and two out-of-season red grouper fillets on board. The captain was cited accordingly. 

Jackson County

• Officer J. Carr was conducting surveillance at night on farm fields when a truck drove by with a spotlight shining out of the passenger window. Officer Carr followed the truck and observed the passenger shine more fields. Officer Carr initiated a traffic stop and found the occupants were in possession of a loaded rifle. Both suspects were charged with night hunting. 
• Officer Carr assisted a deputy who had stopped a truck shining its headlights and mounted light bar in farm fields. Officer Carr found a loaded rifle in the truck. The suspect was charged with night hunting. 
• Officer H. Forehand was conducting surveillance on farm fields when he saw a truck drive by twice with the passenger shining a spotlight out of the passenger side window.  Officer Forehand conducted a traffic stop and found the occupants had loaded 12-gauge shotguns. Both suspects were charged with night hunting.  

Jefferson County

• Officer J. Hofheinz heard shooting consistent with subjects hunting doves on private property. Officer L. Glover arrived in the area to assist. The officers conducted resource inspections on five subjects. As a result of the inspections, two subjects were found to have unplugged shotguns and license violations. The area was also baited with millet. Citations were issued for violations. One subject had a warrant and was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail. 

Leon County

• Lieutenant G. Louque received a complaint from a property manager about someone hunting on their lease. Leon County Sherriff’s Office responded to the area and detained the subject. Officer R. Hildebrand, Officer L. Glover, K-9 Officer J. Miller, and Lieutenant Louque responded to the area and found the subject to be in procession of a recently harvested antlerless deer. The property was fenced and properly posted. After a brief interview, the subject was arrested and booked into Leon County Jail for taking antlerless deer during closed season and felony trespass. 

Okaloosa County

• Officer Brooks was conducting resource inspections at Thomas Pilcher Park when he encountered two individuals fishing from the pier. One individual denied having caught anything. During an inspection of a fishing cart in his possession, the officer located two undersized spotted seatrout. An inspection of a cooler at the subject’s vehicle revealed another undersized spotted seatrout. The officer issued the individual a resource citation for possession of three undersized spotted seatrout and a written warning for possession of over the bag limit of spotted seatrout. 
• Officers Phillips and Oliver were on patrol conducting resource inspections when the officers observed a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico with fishing equipment. A vessel stop was conducted and during the inspection, the owner and operator of the vessel stated they had snappers and groupers on board. The subject had his limit of red snapper and two out-of-season red groupers in his fish box. The officers explained to the subject an executive order closed the red grouper Gulf of Mexico season. The subject was issued a citation for possession of red grouper during closed season. 
• Officer Mursch was patrolling the Yellow River Wildlife Management Area when he observed a truck towing a vessel that was departing from a boat ramp. The vessel had camouflage located within it and there were two hunting dogs in the back of the truck. The officer contacted the driver and confirmed the individuals in the vehicle had just returned from duck hunting. During a resource inspection, the officer discovered one of the individuals did not possess a valid federal duck stamp and the shotgun he had been hunting with was capable of holding more than three shells. The individual was issued a resource citation for not possessing a valid federal duck and a written warning for the unplugged shotgun violation.

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Bower received information about anglers keeping several out-of-season flounder on the Navarre Beach Pier. The subjects were identified, and Officer Bower located the flounder, which had been placed inside of a plastic bag near the bait the subjects were using. When Officer Bower asked the subjects if they had caught any fish, the subjects only disclosed the bait and not the undersized flounder. The subjects were issued a notice to appear for possessing flounder out of season. 
• Officer Hahr received a call from a landowner whose property borders Blackwater State Forest about two vehicles stuck on his boundary line. Officer Hahr found the vehicles stuck on a fire lane in a creek bottom. One of the vehicles had turned around in the creek bottom on state forest land and had damaged the forest floor and plants in that area. The second vehicle attempted to pull the first vehicle out and drove off the forest road and got stuck as well. One subject was charged with damaging state lands with a motor vehicle and the other was cited for driving off a named or numbered road.

CASES

Citrus County

• Officer Jovanov was patrolling Citrus Wildlife Management Area at night when he conducted a stop on a vehicle operating in a closed area. While speaking to the driver, Officer Jovanov noticed several signs of impairment coupled with the driver’s admission of having used marijuana and alcohol throughout the evening. The driver performed poorly on the standardized field sobriety tasks and was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The subject was transported to the Citrus County Jail where a breath test showed the driver was nearly twice the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration. 
• Lieutenant Ransom conducted an inspection of a wildlife processing facility. Numerous violations were found including hunters failing to comply with harvest reporting requirements, hunters and processors failing to keep confirmation numbers on deer parts, and hunters possessing or importing deer carcasses or high-risk parts such as bone-in meat from outside of Florida. Several warnings were issued to hunters for failing to report deer harvests, citations were issued to the processor for failing to keep confirmation numbers on deer parts, and the hunter who unlawfully imported high risk parts such as bone-in meat from out of state was charged for the violation.
• Officers Jovanov and Midolo were patrolling the Homosassa River when they observed a vessel operating after sunset without required navigational lights and operating in violation of a manatee speed zone. A vessel stop was conducted and during which time the officers observed several signs of impairment from the operator. The operator refused to perform standardized field sobriety tasks. The subject was arrested and refused a breath test at the Citrus County Jail. 
• Officers Pietroburgo and Gilbert were patrolling the Crystal River Preserve State Park when they located a vehicle parked in a wooded area closed to vehicular traffic. The officers also observed that the truck held evidence of possible dog hunting, which is prohibited in this area. Minutes later, the officers located three individuals and two dogs. The individuals admitted they had been hunting wild hogs with the two dogs and knew they were hunting in a prohibited area. The individuals were cited for the violation. 
• Senior Officer VanNess was conducting recreational fishing inspections along the Fort Island Trail Park pier when he discovered a subject with two black drum and one mangrove snapper that were undersized. The subject was charged for taking and keeping undersized black drum and mangrove snapper. 
• Officer Pietroburgo located an unlawful deer attractant within the Citrus Wildlife Management Area, which he believed to have been placed for illegal hunting purposes. Officer Pietroburgo returned to this unlawful deer attractant site and found an individual with a rifle in a treestand. The subject admitted to having placed the attractant and knew it was prohibited. The subject was cited for the violation. 
• Officer Pietroburgo was conducting recreational fishing inspections in the Ozello area when he discovered three subjects had caught and kept 11 mangrove snappers, nine of which were undersized. The subjects were charged for taking and keeping undersized mangrove snapper.
• Officer Specialist Sarmiento was conducting recreational fishing inspections in the Ozello area when he discovered a subject had caught and kept one redfish and one spotted seatrout, both undersized. The subject was cited for taking and keeping the undersized redfish and spotted seatrout. 

Dixie County

• Officer Specialist Hilliard was on patrol at Shired Island when he observed two subjects fishing with rod and reel. Upon conducting a marine fisheries inspection, it was determined one of the subjects was in possession of three red drum and two flounder, all of which were undersized. The subject was issued the appropriate citation and warnings for the violations. 

Nassau County

• Senior Officer Tucker was conducting resource inspections at Amelia Island State Park when he inspected the catch of two anglers. Upon the conclusion of the inspection, Officer Tucker identified an undersized black drum and five sharks. The daily bag limit of sharks is one shark per person per day. After conducting an interview, the subjects were issued citations for undersized black drum and over-the-bag-limit of shark.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer St. Martin was working at Sebatian Inlet State Park when he noticed an angler hurrying towards the cleaning station. Officer St. Martin intercepted the subject who said, “I am not happy to see you.” A resource inspection of the subject’s cooler revealed an undersized snook. The subject was cited accordingly.

Flagler County

• Senior Officer Thomas responded to the site of a gopher tortoise complaint and observed an excavator clearing the property. Officer Thomas located an active gopher tortoise burrow on site less than 25 feet from where the land was being cleared. Officer Thomas subsequently charged the owner of the real estate company for the illegal take of a gopher tortoise due to the disturbance of the active burrow.

Indian River County

• Officers Rivard and St. Martin were on night patrol at Sebastian Inlet State Park during a prime snook fishing period when they noticed a vessel returning to the boat ramp they had previously seen harvesting multiple snook. Officer Rivard conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the subjects were in possession of two snook in violation of the slot limit. The subjects were cited accordingly.

Marion County

• Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Lambert were on uniformed patrol in the early morning hours at a local wildlife management area when they noticed a vehicle shining a spotlight across a clear-cut. After surveilling the vehicle for a few minutes, the officers conducted a traffic stop for a resource inspection. The subjects were found to be in possession of five long guns all readily accessible and with a round in the chamber. Appropriate citations were issued.

Orange County

• Officer Specialist Fahnestock organized a targeted enforcement action plan for the opening Saturday of small game season throughout local wildlife management areas. Officers Wild and Easterbrook and Lieutenant Mendelson worked the detail with Officer Fahnestock. Over an hour before sunrise, the officers observed an individual drive off-road into a posted field and shine lights at a deer. Interviews were later conducted and the subject was found to be in possession of a shotgun and ammunition. The subject was issued a notice to appear for attempting to take deer out of season with a gun and light at night. Throughout the day, the squad encountered and enforced illegal entry/exit onto the WMA, numerous vehicles operating off-road or blocking gates/firebreaks, possession of alcohol in state forest violations, and license/permit violations. In total, 13 resource citations and 17 warnings were issued throughout the detail.

St. Johns County

• Senior Officer Thomas was checking returning fishing vessels at Vilano Beach Boat Ramp. Upon inspection of one vessel, she found a subject to be in possession of 95 striped mullet. The daily bag limit for striped mullet is 50 per person. Officer Thomas also located two undersized lane snapper in the subject’s cooler. The subject was subsequently issued citations for possession of over-the-bag limit of striped mullet and possession of undersized snapper.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Indian River County

• Officer Specialist Delano and Officers St. Martin and Hopkins participated in a fundraising event that raised money for local charities. The event involved all law enforcement agencies in Indian River County. Each agency created three-person teams and faced off against each other in “minute to win it” events. Hundreds of members of the public attended to see the law enforcement agencies face off in these competitions. All fundraising goals for the charities were met and the FWC team took first place.

Osceola County

• Lieutenant Lightsey attended a youth hunt where he spoke to a group of youth and their parents about conservation and public trust. Ten children were given the opportunity to harvest an antlered deer thanks to the generosity of a local ranch. The hunt was preceded by a campout and fireside dinner. Find more youth hunting opportunities at MyFWC.com/YHPF.

CASES

Charlotte County

• Officers Lejarzar and Hardgrove were on water patrol when they stopped a vessel to conduct a resource inspection. The subjects on the vessel said they had caught some fish but could let them go after they determined what they were. Inside the live well were two small gag grouper and a black grouper. Further inspection revealed the subjects had a copy of fishing regulations with pictures to identify their catch. The fish were measured and found to be undersized. In addition, the gag grouper was out of season. Citations were issued for the violations and a warning was issued for not being in possession of a fishing license.  

Lee County

• Officer Hardgrove was on patrol when he conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning from fishing. During the inspection, he found the people to be in possession of an undersized redfish and an undersized trout. One of the subjects took responsibility for keeping the fish and was issued citations for possession of the undersized fish.  

Sarasota County

• Captive Wildlife Investigator O’Horo along with Lieutenant Hinds IV received a complaint generated from a social media post of a capuchin monkey sitting on the roof of a house near the Villages community on Siesta Key. After locating the individual who posted the picture on social media, Lieutenant Hinds confirmed the photograph was real. The individual who posted the photograph would not tell Lieutenant Hinds where the picture was taken. Investigator O’Horo and Lieutenant Hinds canvased the area and  located the house in the photograph and spotted what appeared to be a large animal enclosure in the back yard. They contacted the homeowner and confirmed the subject was in possession of two capuchin monkeys. Further investigation revealed numerous caging and licensing issues related to the possession of primates. The homeowner was given several warnings for improper caging, no importation permits and for escape of the monkey. The subject was issued a citation for no current license to possess capuchin monkeys. The subject made temporary fixes to the animal enclosure to come into compliance and was leaving Florida with the monkeys the next day. All monkeys were accounted for and secured when the Investigator left the scene. 
• Captive Wildlife Investigator O’Horo was following up on a complaint at the Renaissance Festival regarding a subject displaying several birds of prey without the proper licenses or permits from FWC or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also, the complaint stated the birds were being left unattended on their perches, which is a violation. Upon arriving at the fair, Investigator O’Horo found the display tent and the unattended birds. When the person possessing the birds arrived back at the tent, it was discovered they had none of the permits required to possess or display the birds to the public. The subject was cited for exhibition of wildlife without a permit and was shut down.  The subject was allowed to keep the birds because the birds belonged to an individual who did have the required permits needed to possess the birds. 

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Hammad was conducting patrol at I-75/Alligator Alley and encountered a subject fishing without a freshwater fishing license. Records check of the subject revealed he had an active felony warrant. Officer Hammad took the subject into custody and transported him to the Broward County jail. 
• Officer Constance was conducting patrol at STA 2 Waterfowl Public Small Game Hunting Area and observed two individuals come out of the marsh. He contacted them and conducted a resource inspection, which revealed both individuals were in possession of over the limit in scaup duck. Constance issued both individuals notice to appear citations for the violations. 
• Officer Constance conducted patrol at the L-6 levee road near the Sportsman’s Crossover. There, he observed a vehicle parked alongside the edge of the canal levee. Constance contacted the owner of the vehicle who was in the area. The individual admitted to hunting/shooting at ducks. Officer Constance issued the individual a notice to appear for duck hunting out of season. 
• Officer Hammad conducted patrol at the STA 3/4 Waterfowl Public Small Game Hunting Area and observed what appeared to be a python hunter in the area during waterfowl hunting season. Hammad conducted an inspection, which revealed the subject’s hunting permit expired over a year ago. Lieutenant McDonald responded to the scene. Hammad requested a records check, which revealed the hunter was previously warned for not having current documentation available upon inspection. Hammad issued the hunter a notice to appear for violations pertaining to permit requirements for South Florida Water Management District python contractors. 
• Officer Bovee responded to Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in reference to a dead sea turtle. He arrived on scene and recovered a palm size sea turtle that appeared to be dead for a couple of days. Bovee did not notice any obvious signs for cause of the death. Bovee transferred the sea turtle to an FWC sea turtle biologist for further investigation. 

Glades County

• Officer Pridgen was patrolling Lake Okeechobee and conducting resource inspections on duck hunters. While checking one group, he found one of the subjects was hunting with a shotgun capable of holding more than three rounds. The subject was issued a notice to appear for using an unplugged shotgun. 

Palm Beach County

• Officer Spirito was on patrol in Jonathan Dickenson State Park when he conducted a motor vehicle stop. The operator showed obvious sign of impairment and was administered standardized field sobriety tasks. He was unable to perform the tasks and was placed under arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The subject later provided a sample that was over 3 times the legal limit for blood alcohol content.  
• Officer Stiltner responded to a call regarding two individuals keeping undersized mutton snapper at the Phil Foster Park Fishing Pier. When Officer Stiltner arrived, he observed the two individuals and conducted fisheries inspections. One subject tried to leave with his cooler and Officer Stiltner stopped the subject and requested to look in his cooler. The subject was in possession of two undersized mutton snapper and an undersized yellowtail snapper. The subject received one citation for possession of undersized mutton snapper and a warning for undersized yellowtail snapper. 
• Officers Rea and Defeo were on patrol at the STA-1 East entrance off Southern Blvd. in Loxahatchee. They observed six subjects returning from the water carrying buckets of fish and cast nets. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection. At the bottom of one of the buckets, two largemouth bass were located. When asked if there were any more fish in the back of the pickup truck they arrived in, the officers were told there was not. Upon further investigation, another bucket was found full of fish including another largemouth bass and three crappie. Largemouth bass and crappie are game fish and cannot be harvested by cast net. All subjects were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Rea was on marked vehicle patrol in STA-1 East when he observed a subject attempting to take migratory birds in the waterway with a .22 caliber air rifle. This area was also closed the public, The subject was issued a citation for the violations. 

St. Lucie County

• While on patrol at a local spillway, Officer Barghouty observed a subject fishing. When the subject packed up his belongings to leave the area, Officer Barghouty contacted the subject to conduct a license and resource inspection. The subject threw two fish back into the water. The subject was identified and found to have a judge’s order suspending his fishing privileges for five years. The subject admitted to harvesting an undersized snook and redfish. The subject was cited for failure to allow inspection and fishing with suspended privileges.  

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Specialist Matt Rubenstein responded to a public safety call regarding bears along the roadway in a neighborhood near a school bus stop. The bears were drawn into the neighborhood by a large number of acorns dropping from trees onto the sidewalk. Acorns are a common, natural food source for bears. Officer Specialist Rubenstein made sure the bears remained a safe distance from the bus stop until they found their way back to the woods. 
• Officer Boyce Goff was southbound on I-75 in his patrol vehicle when a motorcycle passed him at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle then attempted to lane split an SUV and a semi. The motorcyclist collided with the SUV, then went into the left rear of the semi and ended up in the bushes. Officer Goff advised dispatch of the crash and then attended to the rider’s injuries. He applied his issued tourniquet to the rider’s leg to stem the blood loss and began first aid on other injuries. EMS and Fire arrived and took over the scene. 
• Officer Specialist Mike Stearns, Officer Jessica Conroy and Collier County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a personal watercraft accident off the coast of Marco Island. Two subjects were riding tandem on a PWC on the Gulf side of Marco in five-foot waves. They rode up one wave then crashed into the next wave, throwing both riders off. The passenger was struck by the PWC as it came back down causing significant injuries. The subjects were able to recover the PWC and get to shore to call 911. Officers determined the vessel had been rented and had been removed from the scene. They located the livery operator and the PWC at one of the local boat ramps and conducted a livery inspection. The livery owner received a citation for a livery violation encountered during the inspection. 

Monroe County

• In mid-October, Investigator Chris Mattson received an Instagram video from Officer Mike Janzen of a subject at a marina in Islamorada. The subject grabbed a large tarpon from the water and hooked it through the gills. The subject, who provides content for YouTube, Tik Tok and Instagram, is then seen on video (in front of a group of people) ripping the gills and pushing the tarpon back into the water. Further investigation with the help of the FWC intel section revealed the subject in the video. Investigator Mattson submitted an arrest warrant to the judge for the charges.