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December 15 through December 21, 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 was on patrol near the Panama Pass when he saw two individuals fishing. During a resource inspection, Officer Brag found an undersized red grouper, which is closed to harvest at this time. The captain of the vessel was issued a citation for possession of red grouper during closed season and a warning for possession of undersized red grouper.
Santa Rosa County
- Officer Lewis located a game camera over an illegally baited area in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. The officer seized the game camera and secured a warrant for the search of the camera. A subject captured on the game camera was identified via facial recognition software. The officer interviewed the subject, and the subject admitted to placing the bait around the game camera. The officer issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
- Officer Bower was on patrol and located a subject fishing. The subject stated he had not caught any fish but was observed attempting to hide one undersized redfish and two undersized stone crab claws in his cooler. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violations.
- Officer Bower located a group of anglers and a cooler at the end of the Navarre Beach fishing pier. One of the subjects said the cooler was not theirs and stated they didn’t know who the cooler belonged to. In an attempt to locate the owner of the cooler, Officer Bower inspected the abandoned cooler and located an undersized flounder. After further investigation, it was determined the subject was the owner of the cooler and admitted to catching the flounder. The subject was cited accordingly for the violation.
- Officer Bower located a sailboat on state waters without documentation or Florida registration displayed. Officer Bower located the hull identification number and determined the vessel was documented and the US Coast Guard assisted in identifying the owner of the vessel. The vessel’s registration expired in 2013. The current owner of the vessel purchased the sailboat in the spring of 2023 and failed to register the documented vessel. The owner was cited for the violation.
Wakulla County
- While on patrol near Piney Island on the opening day of duck season, Lieutenant Smith and Officer Nelson conducted a resource inspection on a group of individuals who were on a guided hunt. During the inspection, the officers discovered the subjects had harvested over their daily bag limit of ducks. The officers addressed the violation appropriately.
Washington County
- Officers R. Hicks and E. Fowler received information regarding ducks being shot at a late hour. The officers conducted resource inspections on two hunters returning by boat. One had shot several times after legal shooting hours. The other subject stated he would have shot as well but was in a bad spot and no birds came by. A boating and safety inspection was also conducted, and several violations were found. Both subjects received appropriate citations for the violations.
 CASES
Baker County
- Officer Fanelli and Officer Shope responded to a report regarding an individual trespassing on a private hunting lease. Upon their arrival, the officers located tractor sign starting at the property line of a residence and entering the property. The lease member placed trail cameras at various locations and captured the individual on his four-wheeler and tractor on the private property. Officer Shope conducted an interview with the individual who admitted to trespassing, removing trespass signs, and allowing a family member to hunt on private property. Charges were filed against the individual through the Baker County State Attorney’s Office.
Bradford County
- Officer Shope was on patrol when she observed two individuals fishing at Lake Sampson and Rowell Boat Ramp. Officer Shope spoke with the individuals and conducted a freshwater fisheries inspection. The two individuals were found to be fishing without a valid freshwater fishing license. It was also discovered one of the individuals had an active warrant with eight felony charges out of Bradford County. Officer Shope detained the individual and turned him over to the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office. Both individuals were issued citations for not having a valid freshwater fishing license.
Dixie County
- Officers Robson was on water patrol along the Dixie County coastline when he observed two subjects harvesting oysters from a prohibited area. The subjects were known to Officer Robson. Officers Hilliard and Bell responded by vessel to assist in the investigation. A marine resource inspection was conducted that revealed the subjects had harvested oysters from a prohibited area and the vessel was equipped with an improper bulkhead and had no false bottom. These are required to protect the shell stock from contamination with bilge water as well as fluids such as gasoline and oil. The subjects were arrested, charged with the violations, and transported to the Dixie County Jail.
- Officer Cooper and other FWC officers were on water patrol along the Dixie County coastline when one of the officers observed a subject operating a vessel before sunrise with freshly harvested oysters. Lieutenant Ward located and stopped the subject and Officer Cooper arrived to conduct a marine resource inspection. It was determined the subject had harvested oysters at night, harvested oysters from a prohibited area, failed to cull the oysters, did not shade the oysters, did not have a marine sanitation device, possessed untagged oysters, did not have a shellfish endorsement, and used a vessel not registered for commercial use. The subject was arrested, charged with the violations, and transported to the Dixie County Jail.
Duval County
- Over a few days of proactive targeted patrols, Officers Austin and Hauge conducted fisheries inspections at the Jacksonville Beach Pier. Their inspections lead to the identification of 47 illegal blue fish that were either undersized and/or part of being over several individual’s bag limit. In total, Austin and Hauge issued 26 misdemeanor citations and six written warnings to multiple subjects for the violations.
- Officers Hauge and Schirbock responded to a call of a person hunting in a local wildlife management area closed to hunting. The officers located a vehicle in the wildlife management area in the area where the subject was reportedly hunting and maintained surveillance of the area while FWC K-9 handler Gill and his dog, Camo, responded to assist. Not long after the officer’s arrival, the subject walked out of the woods wearing camouflage and carrying a compound bow. The subject admitted he was in the wildlife management area deer hunting. K-9 handler Gill and Camo searched the area and found no other evidence. Officer Hauge issued the subject a citation for hunting the WMA during a closed season, for which the subject must appear in court. The subject was also issued multiple hunting license/permit citations.
Hamilton County
Taylor County
- Officer Edwards responded to several night hunting complaints. She observed a truck moving slowly and then come to a complete stop. She then heard a shot and watched as the passenger exited the truck. She conducted a vehicle stop and arrested two subjects and booked them into the Taylor County jail. They were charged with taking wildlife from a roadway and for discharge of a firearm from a public roadway.
- Officer Rowe was checking anglers returning Keaton Beach. She checked a vessel with 14 undersize black sea bass. The operator was charged for the violation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Baker County
- Officer Hauge participated in Shop with a Cop at the Baker County Walmart. This event provides less fortunate kids with a special holiday experience and an opportunity to build a relationship with law enforcement officers. Officer Hauge shopped with two children who picked out the items they wanted for Christmas. This event had 60 kids and multiple law enforcement officers.
 CASES
Hillsborough County
- While on land patrol, Officer Specialist Rorer observed a subject place a large bag in the back of a nearby vehicle and return to fishing on a busy pier. After the other individuals in the area left, Officer Specialist Rorer observed the individual retrieve the bag from the vehicle and return to the pier where they dumped out two fish and began to clean them. Officer Specialist Rorer contacted the individual and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Officer Specialist Rorer found the individual to be in possession of an undersized and out-of-season snook. Officer Specialist Rorer issued the individual a citation for harvesting snook during closed season and multiple warnings for other fisheries violations.
- While on patrol, Officer McCormack conducted a vessel stop at Edward Medard Conservation Park. During the vessel safety and resource inspection, Officer McCormack found multiple safety equipment violations and a registration violation. Concurrently, the registered owner/operator was found to have a warrant from Hillsborough County and was arrested and transported to Hillsborough County Jail. Appropriate uniform boating citations and written warnings were issued for multiple safety equipment violations, boating education and registration violations.
Lee County
- Officers Perry and Garcia were on patrol at a wildlife management area when they observed a couple of vehicles enter the WMA after legal hours. They watched as the vehicles went into the woods and eventually started a fire. While watching the group, they observed one of the people get into the vehicle and start driving in a careless manner that caused destruction to the property. The subjects were stopped, and they were all issued citations for being in the management area after hours. Additionally, the subject who caused the damage was issued a citation for destruction of state lands and was issued a trespass warning. The subject will not be permitted to come back to the WMA.
- Officer Hardgrove was on patrol when he observed a commercial fishing vessel returning from fishing and loaded with mullet. As he approached the vessel to conduct an inspection, the subjects saw him coming and quickly grabbed ice and attempted to throw the ice on the fish. Food fish are required by rule to be covered and protected from the elements and they are also required to be covered with ice. In this case, some of the fish were contained inside a fish box with ice as required, but approximately 1,200 pounds of the mullet were on the deck of the vessel and mixed in with numerous pieces of trash, fuel canisters, etc. On top of that, the subject was observed barefoot and walking on top of the fish. Since the mullet were no longer fit for human consumption, the fish were seized and later disposed. Citations were issued for the violations.
- Officer Bradley Johnson was on water patrol and received information about a derelict vessel near St. James City. When he got to the location, the officer found four derelict vessels at the location. Cases were started for the vessels and charges are pending.
Pasco County
- While on land patrol, Senior Officer Ferguson and Officer Criswell conducted resource inspections at the Anclote Gulf Park fishing pier. A subject was found with an undersized redfish in his possession. The appropriate citation was issued.
Pinellas County
- While on patrol, Officer Georgevich observed a truck and trailer that belonged to a known commercial fisherman at an infrequently used boat ramp. From a concealed location, Officer Georgevich observed a vehicle that appeared to be on lookout drive through the boat ramp shortly before the netting vessel came back to the ramp. Once the netting vessel arrived, Officer Georgevich conducted a resource inspection and located a large monofilament gill net on board the vessel. The gill net was not properly stored, had no proper SPL markings on it, and was full of ladyfish and other species. Based on the interviews and species in the net, the officers determined the subjects had deployed the net in state waters. Officers removed nearly 1,000 pounds of ladyfish as well as multiple other saltwater species from the net, which measured over 500 yards in length. The net was seized and all subjects were arrested and transported to the Pinellas county jail. Subjects were charged with six felonies and 51 misdemeanors.
- While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed a vehicle parked near a bridge known for fishing. Lieutenant Bibeau drove to a concealed location and waited for the individual to return to the vehicle. After a short wait, he observed an individual walk back to the vehicle carrying fishing equipment and a cooler. Lieutenant Bibeau contacted the individual and conducted a fisheries inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection, Lieutenant Bibeau found the individual to be in possession of one undersized redfish and three undersized sheepshead. Lieutenant Bibeau issued a citation and a warning for the fisheries violations.
- While on land patrol, Officers Georgevich and Criswell responded to call regarding five subjects keeping undersized red grouper. The officers arrived on scene and conducted a resource inspection on the five subjects. The resource inspection identified three undersized and out-of-season red groupers and two undersized lane snapper. The appropriate citations were issued to the responsible parties.
- While on land patrol, Officers Freda and Criswell responded to a call regarding a derelict vessel wrecked on the Howard Franklin Bridge. The registered owners were identified and located. After an investigation, a responsible party for the derelict vessel was identified and an appropriate citation was issued.
- While on land patrol, Senior Officer Ferguson and Officer Criswell observed a subject climbing over the Dunedin Causeway relief bridge railing with a cooler. The officers contacted the subject to conduct a resource inspection. He allowed the officers to inspect his cooler. Inside the cooler, the officers observed a cast net, mullet, an undersized sheepshead and an undersized mangrove snapper in his possession. The officers also discovered the subject had previously been issued a warning for undersized sheepshead. The subject was issued the appropriate citation and warnings
 CASES
Broward County
- While on patrol at the A-1 FEB Public Small Game Hunting Area, Officers Constance and Comartin conducted a resource inspection of duck hunters exiting the marsh. Constance issued one subject a notice to appear for possession of nonduck species (snipe) in the area.
- Officer Constance was patrolling at STA 2 Waterfowl Public Small Game Hunting Area and conducted a resource inspection on duck hunters. Constance issued one subject a notice to appear for possession of over the bag limit of scaup.
- Officer Comartin was patrolling at STA 3/4 Waterfowl Public Small Game Hunting Area. He conducted a resource inspection on two individuals who were duck hunting in the marsh. Comartin issued two notices to appear citation for hunting with unplugged shotguns.
- Officer Constance was patrolling at STA 3/4 Waterfowl Public Small Game Hunting Area and conducted a resource inspection on a duck hunter. Constance issued the subject a notice to appear for no federal duck stamp and spoke to the subject about firearms safety.
- Officers Lopez and Bovee were patrolling at STA 3/4 Waterfowl Public Small Game Hunting Area and conducted resource inspections on several duck hunters exiting the hunt area. Lopez issued one subject a notice to appear for not having a federal duck stamp.
- While on patrol at the A-1 FEB Public Small Game Hunting Area, Officers Comartin and Olivera observed a vehicle parked illegally. Comartin issued a notice to appear for parking a vehicle in an illegal manner. He also issued the driver a citation for driving on a suspended license.
- Officer Olivera initiated the process associated with removing derelict vessels regarding a vessel that was adrift under the Dania Beach Bridge.
Martin County
- Officer Brevik was conducting resource fisheries inspections when he observed an individual cast netting fish. He inspected the individual’s catch and found them to be in possession of a variety of fish including a black bass. It is prohibited to cast net black bass. The subject received a notice to appear for illegal method of taking black bass.
- Officer Brevik was patrolling South Florida Water Management District property when he observed multiple individuals trespassing inside a construction site at night. The individuals had shotguns, machetes and flashlights. The officer approached the subjects to identify himself and one subject quickly threw a gun. The officer located the tossed shotgun, an additional shotgun and two dead rabbits. Six people were arrested for trespassing on a construction site, two were cited for no hunting license and one person was given a warning for a vehicle in a closed area. The subjects were transported to the Martin County Jail.
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