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January 19, 2024 through January 25, 2024
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
Holmes County
- Officer M. Homan was on patrol when he observed a truck parked in front of a known hunting lease. While waiting for the subject to return to the vehicle, the officer heard dogs barking while pursuing wildlife. Officer Homan was able to catch a hound dog running deer across multiple property lines. The dog’s collar failed to display the name of the owner or any other required information but did have a collar equipped with remote tracking and correction devices. Officer Homan then observed a car driving slowly down the road a short time later. Contact was made with the operator who admitted to being the owner and using the dog for the take of deer. Citations were issued accordingly for no name of owner and address being legibly displayed on collar while being used to take or attempt to take wildlife. Education was given about proper licenses and permits needed to use dogs in taking wildlife.
MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE
Gulf County
- Master Officers M. and H. Webb rescued four sea turtles in St. Joe Bay due to sub-freezing temperatures. The sea turtles will be rehabilitated and returned to the wild.
- Master Officer M. Webb responded to a marine mammal in distress at Salinas Park. When he arrived on scene, he noticed a nine-foot dolphin in the surf zone. He secured the area and contacted the stranding coordinator for Gulf World. He waited for the responding personnel to arrive and then helped carry the dolphin onshore. Aid was rendered to the dolphin, and then it was loaded onto a transport vehicle for further treatment.
 CASES
Baker County
- Master Officer Burnsed was patrolling Osceola Wildlife Management Area when he noticed a pickup truck shining a light near the Olustee community. When Officer Burnsed stopped the four-door pickup, he noticed a rifle was pointed out of the passenger side. The driver and two passengers each had a rifle beside them. All were charged with hunting from the roadway and attempting to take game with gun and light.
Citrus County
- Officers Balling and Pietroburgo were advised of an illegally harvested antlerless deer. The two officers went to the complaint location to follow up and were advised a deer had been harvested and was currently being processed on the back porch. During the investigation, the subjects were cooperative in showing what and where the violation took place. The officers issued citations and warnings appropriately.
- Lieutenant Ransom and Lieutenant Browning were on state land patrol when they observed fresh foot sign leading into a state park. The two lieutenants tracked the foot sign and located the subjects after sunset. Both subjects were carrying bows and hunting the state park. Appropriate citations were issued for the violations.
- Officer Jovanov was patrolling within the Citrus Wildlife Management Area and arrested two subjects for driving under the influence. Both drivers showed signs of impairment during the stops and performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. Both were arrested for DUI and booked into Citrus County Jail.
- Officer Jacobs organized a detail with fellow officers to inspect anchored vessels regarding marine sanitation device requirements. These devices and systems are to prevent vessel discharges into waterways. The officers conducted numerous inspections, mostly finding compliance with regulations. One vessel was discovered to have been unlawfully discharging sewage and was cited for the violation. A follow-up inspection was scheduled to review compliance with the regulations.
- While on foot patrol in the Withlacoochee State Forest, Officer Hughes located an active dig site within a known archaeological area. Surveillance of the site’s equipment was conducted and two days later, Officers Hughes, Ulrich, Pietroburgo, Midolo, and Lieutenant Browning responded to the area when two subjects were digging for artifacts. One subject was found in possession of 179 pieces and the other was found in possession of 45 pieces. Both subjects were arrested and charged accordingly.
Hamilton County
Levy County
- Officer Bell responded to a report of an antlerless deer illegally taken from private property during closed season. During the investigation, he discovered evidence of multiple hunting related violations. With the assistance of several other officers, Officer Bell interviewed multiple subjects, obtained a search warrant for a cellular phone, collected evidence and obtained statements from multiple people. Charges filed with the state attorney’s office include illegal take of alligator, illegal take of antlerless deer, illegal take of wild turkey hen, discharge of firearm from right-of-way, and illegal dumping.
Taylor County
- Officer Rowe conducted license and resource inspections on several individuals who were duck hunting. One of the subjects admitted he didn’t have a plug for his shotgun. He received a citation for the violation.
- Officer Rowe was conducting license and resource inspections on several dog hunters in a local hunt club when she observed that the dogs did not have any deer dog registration numbers on their collars. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
- Officers Williamson and Edwards responded to a request from Taylor County Sheriff’s office about an overdue airboat. The airboat had four subjects onboard and had been missing all night. The two officers located and rescued the four subjects.
 CASES
Brevard County
- Officer Pereles (pilot) and Officer Specialist Hallsten were working the St. Johns River by airboat when they observed an airboat run deep into Upper St. Johns River Marsh Wildlife Management Area walk-in area. The officers conducted a stop for the WMA violation and observed several boating safety violations. As they were speaking to the subjects onboard, it was discovered one of the subjects had a concealed firearm. The firearm serial number was processed through dispatch and was found to be stolen. Citations for operating an airboat in a closed area and an insufficient number of life jackets were issued. There is still an active investigation into the stolen firearm.
- Officer Specialist Hallsten noticed a vessel returning to Parrish Park Boat Ramp with three subjects dressed in camouflage clothing and waders. The subjects said they had a limit of lessor scaup and those were all the ducks they had. The officers observed evidence of harvested ducks leading into a live well of the vessel and found more scaup in the compartment. Charges included over the bag limit on migratory gamebirds and interference with an FWC officer. Notice to appear citations were issued accordingly.
Indian River County
- Officers Crespi and Beck were on patrol at the Sebastian Inlet State Park when they observed a subject catching what appeared to be undersized fish and placing those fish behind a nearby rock. The officers contacted the subject who indicated he did not catch any fish. The officers inspected behind the rock where the subject was seen placing fish. The officers found undersized mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, and black drum. The subject admitted to catching the undersized fish. The officers educated the subject and cited him accordingly.
Lake County
- Officer Stamp was patrolling Emeralda Marsh Public Small Game Hunting Area during one of the hunt days when he observed a vessel returning to the boat ramp. The vessel had three subjects on board with hunting equipment and harvested waterfowl. During a license and resource inspection, Officer Stamp checked the hunters’ guns to ensure they were equipped with plugs. A further inspection of one of the hunter’s guns revealed it did not have a plug and was capable of holding more than three rounds. Officer Stamp issued the hunter a notice to appear citation for taking migratory gamebirds with an unplugged shotgun.
Marion County
- Officer Lambert and Officer Specialist L. Dickson were conducting patrols and surveillance at a local greenway property that has been subject to trespassing and vandalism. While on patrol, they observed two subjects inside a fenced compound closed to the public. After contacting the subjects and conducting interviews, it was determined both subjects were trespassing. Appropriate citations were issued.
Orange County
- Officer Specialist Hallsten was on patrol in Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area when he found a subject running a hunting dog without a name and address on the dog collar. The violation was addressed accordingly. Additionally, he found four subjects hunting together and none of the subjects had a quota permit for the hunt. The officer also addressed these violations accordingly.
- Officer Naules received a complaint about trespassing at a local wooded area. He met with the property manager and contacted an individual who was hunting on the property. Officer Naules investigated and issued a trespass notice to the subject at the request of the landowner who indicated he had not given anyone permission to hunt the property. During the investigation, Officer Naules observed deer antlers in the hunter’s possession that did not meet the antler point regulation for that deer management unit. The subject admitted to harvesting the illegal antlered deer and that he failed to meet harvest reporting requirements. Citations and the trespass warning were issued accordingly.
Osceola County
- Officers Crespi, Armstrong, and Nall were conducting resource inspections at a local lake when a subject was found with no valid fishing license. During the initial stop, the subject became verbally combative and the violation was dealt with accordingly. A check of the subject’s information revealed he had a suspended driver’s license for over 10 years and was issued a Florida ID card. The subject packed his belongings after officers addressed his fishing license violation and began to load them into the vehicle. The subject went to drive away from the area (knowing his license was suspended) and was subsequently pulled over and arrested for driving on a suspended license. The subject recently had been released from jail for his 5th prior driving while license suspended or revoked.
Putnam County
- Officer Specialist L. Dickson was on land-based water patrol at a local freshwater boat ramp when she observed a vessel being loaded onto a trailer with fishing gear displayed. Upon contacting the operator and conducting a resource inspection, she discovered the subject was in possession of seven black bass. Further investigation revealed only two of the fish were of legal size. The subject was cited for possession of over the bag limit of black bass and possession of more than one over 16-inches.
St. Johns County
- Senior Officer Thomas received a picture of a possible mutton snapper bag limit violation. The picture showed five subjects standing behind 39 mutton snapper. Through interviews and subsequent investigations, Officers Thomas and Lawrence determined the group of five subjects were over the bag limit of mutton snapper by 14 fish. A total of five citations were issued for the violation.
Volusia County
- Officer Stoker observed a vessel on the Intracoastal Waterway in Ormond Beach that matched the description of a vessel he observed while off duty that was rallying ducks. Officer Stoker used his knowledge of where this group had previously hunted and walked through the marsh about a thousand yards and located the subjects’ decoys. The officer observed the vessel leave from where it was hidden, drive through the raft of ducks sitting on the water, thus making them fly towards the decoys where the group of hunters were located. After shooting the ducks, the vessel returned to the same location where it was hidden. Officer Stoker located the individuals’ vehicles at a nearby boat ramp where he waited for them to return. The violation was handled accordingly with the group of hunters.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Brevard County
- Officer Specialist Balgo, along with Officers Hedgepeth and Snyder conducted educational outreach at Ecofest, an annual event at the Cocoa Village. Officers educated attendees about fishing, hunting, and boating regulations and provided information about local invasive species. Approximately 150 people were in attendance.
Orange County
- Officer Specialists Delano and Summers organized a three-day, two-night outdoor clinic at a local hunt club for six underprivileged youth in their community. The youth participants earned their hunter safety certificates through the clinic and then were introduced to white-tailed deer hunting, fishing, camping, marksmanship and conservation. The youth were supplied with the equipment they needed to participate in these activities and got to take most of it home with them. The goal of this program is to keep youth engaged in the outdoors and pass along their new skills and knowledge of conservation to their friends and family.
 CASES
Lee County
- Officer Hardgrove was on patrol when he observed several people fishing from the shore. He conducted a resource inspection and found some mangrove snapper and a sheepshead in a bucket. After measuring the fish, Officer Hardgrove determined the fish were undersized and issued citations for the violations.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officer Bouras was conducting water patrol near Port Everglades when he stopped a vessel for a fisheries inspection. His inspection revealed undersized red grouper and an undersized mutton snapper. Bouras issued one subject a notice to appear for both violations.
- Officers Giani and Rigali were patrolling near Port Everglades and stopped a vessel with three subjects to conduct a fisheries inspection. The inspection revealed all three subjects were in possession of nine undersized yellowtail snapper. All three subjects were issued notice to appear citations for possession of undersized yellowtail snapper.
- Officer Bruder and Trainee Willis were patrolling at the Intracoastal waterway and Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park and stopped a vessel for a fisheries inspection. Willis’ inspection revealed four out-of-season graysby grouper. Willis issued one subject a notice to appear for possession of out-of-season graysby grouper.
- Officers Favrot and Rigali was patrolling in Hollywood and contacted an individual shoreline fishing from a private dock. An investigation revealed the individual did not have permission to be on the dock. Additionally, the individual refused to provide any identification. Officers issued the individual a notice to appear for interference with a FWC officer and a written warning for trespassing.
Glades County
- Officer Hudson was on patrol at Harney Pond when he observed a subject fishing on the shoreline with a rod and reel. As the officer approached the subject, he observed the subject throw a fish into the water. The officer inspected the fish he still had in his possession and three undersized crappie were located. The subject admitted to throwing an undersized crappie into the water when he saw the officer. The subject has received multiple notices to appear citations from FWC before this interaction and was charged accordingly.
- Lieutenant Hayes was conducting resource inspections at Harney Pond Canal boat ramp and stopped a vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection. One subject had over the bag limit of black crappie and three of those fish were undersized. Notice to appear citations were issued for the violations.
Hendry County
- Several Officers from the South Region A participated in a targeted enforcement action focusing on night hunting violations. Senior Officers Polly and Webb were patrolling a rural area known for night hunting and road hunting violations. The officers observed a vehicle on the side of the road shining a spotlight into a wooded area and pasture. The officers conducted a vehicle stop and located a spotlight and rifle in the vehicle. Officer Specialist Curbelo arrived on scene to help translate. At the conclusion of the investigation, the subject was issued a notice to appear for using a light in a manner to disclose the presence of game while in possession of a weapon commonly used to take deer.
Martin County
- While on patrol at the Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area, Officer Specialist Cernuto and Officer Lardakis observed two subjects entering the woods with a crossbow, a bow and a spotlight. The officers contacted the subjects after legal hunting hours and both admitted they had been hunting wild hogs. A citation was issued for hunting wild hogs at night.
Okeechobee County
- Multiple officers worked on Lake Okeechobee focusing on black crappie anglers. There have been several complaints of vessels interfering with navigation in the lake's narrow channels and not displaying the proper navigation lights. In one night, their efforts resulted in the inspection of 27 vessels, 73 users, and 883 black crappie. The violations found during that time resulted in eight citations and 19 warnings.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Broward County
- Officer Bruder and Trainee Willis participated in a youth camp community outreach project at the K-8 Camp Lingua Ranch. The officer and trainee answered questions and educated the youth about wildlife conservation.
- Officer Olivera and Lieutenant McDonald participated in a community outreach project “Fishing with First Responders” in Coconut Creek. They educated the youth about freshwater fishing regulations to include fish species and sizes. Officer also assisted the youth with baiting, casting, and retrieving fishing lines from the lake.
- Officers Favrot, Giani, Beppel, Bouras, Rigali and Lieutenant Ryan conducted inspections on dozens of airboats taking part in a frog harvesting tournament in Everglades Wildlife Management Area. Multiple boating safety and registration violations were addressed. The officers and lieutenant educated the group about the requirement for every person to possess a management area permit when harvesting frogs on the WMA.
Martin County
- Lieutenant Hayes did a presentation for about a hundred Girl Scouts and parents at a camporee. She explained the duties of an FWC officer and the importance of boating safety to include always wearing a life jacket. She also discussed how to identify various wildlife and plants and about coexisting with alligators.
MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE
Broward County
- FWC officers assisted FWC and Sea World biologists with the safe release of two manatees – Reckless and Churro – back into the ocean. Reckless weighs more than 2,200 pounds and her calf Churro weighs over 700 pounds. Reckless was injured and required multiple surgeries and ongoing veterinary care. The release was a big success.
 CASES
Monroe County
- Officer Specialist Alvarez conducted a vessel stop on a 38-foot cabin cruiser in Boot Key Harbor. The sole occupant on board said he was maintaining the vessel’s condition for his friend who owns the vessel. The subject stated several times he temporarily resides on the vessel to ensure it does not sink or break free from its anchor. Upon inspection of the vessel, it was determined to have an inoperable steering and propulsion system. Due to the subject’s inability to work on the vessel and bring it into compliance, he was placed under arrest as the responsible party of this derelict vessel and booked into the Stock Island Jail without incident. This arrest was made during the joint operation with the U.S. Coast Guard and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
- As a part of the investigation regarding a derelict vessel, Officer Ben Carpenter located both registered owners. One registered owner was incarcerated and he was arrested for leaving the derelict vessel on the waters of the state. The second registered owner had two failure to appears plus a non-extradition warrant in Miami-Dade County and she was arrested as well.
- Officer Rabold and Lieutenant Dodd Bulger observed a commercial trap boat working traps with two individuals on board. Upon approach, the individual at the stern grabbed a small bucket and threw it overboard. The officers recovered the bucket, which contained 15 stone crab claws, 10 of which were under size. The subject at the stern who threw the bucket was arrested and transported to Stock Island Jail.
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