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February 9, 2024 through February 15, 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
Escambia County
- Officer Hahr responded to a call from a landowner who heard a shot on the road in front of their home and observed a vehicle leaving the area. The landowners located an antlered deer in the ditch a few minutes later and provided Officer Hahr a vehicle description and tag information. Officer Hahr identified the occupants of the car and interviewed them. One subject admitted to shooting the deer and the other subject was the vehicle operator. During the interview, the officers located four antlered deer heads and capes in the subject’s freezers. The officers determined all four antlered deer had been killed at night by use of gun and light. The officers identified a third subject who had been night hunting. The three subjects were charged with multiple counts of taking deer at night with gun and light, taking wildlife from the right of ways of county-maintained roads, and discharging a firearm from a paved public road. One of the subjects was also charged with possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence injunction, littering, and willful wanton waste of wildlife. Another was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Gadsden County
- Officer L. Glover was investigating a possible trespass on private property and encountered a subject who stated he had killed an antlered deer earlier that morning. Upon further inspection, he found the subject had harvested a deer that did not meet antler point regulations and had not filled out a harvest log. Officer Glover issued a warning for not filling out a harvest log and a citation for taking antlered deer not meeting antler point regulations.
Jefferson County
- Officer Specialist W. Brookes and Officer L. Glover were on patrol in the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area and found a vehicle parked in a secluded area and believed individuals associated with the vehicle were digging for artifacts. Officer Glover contacted Lieutenant G. Louque for assistance with locating the subjects. One subject was observed walking back to the vehicle covered in dirt. Officer Glover found another subject digging for artifacts. The subject that walked back to the vehicle had chert and two stone artifacts. The subjects were arrested and transported to the Jefferson County Jail.
 CASES
Dixie County
- Officer Specialist Sheffield was on patrol along the coast when he stopped a vessel to perform a safety and marine resource inspection. The officer discovered the operator was in possession of three undersized sheepshead and had an insufficient number of personal floatation devices. A citation was issued.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Taylor County
- Officer Edwards and Officer Waychoff did an outreach program for approximately 300 students at the Taylor County High School. The officers talked about the mission of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and how to become a law enforcement officer.
OFFSHORE PATROL
- Senior Officer Suttles and Lieutenant Willis responded to a call regarding an out-of-state vessel harvesting undersized gray (mangrove) snapper on the Homosassa. The officers located a vessel matching the description that was provided and conducted a stop. Officer Suttles asked the subjects onboard the vessel if they had any luck fishing and they said they did not. The officers conducted a safety inspection and noticed the rear hatch was wet. The officers asked the subjects to open the hatch and inside were 44 undersized gray snapper. Officer Suttles issued the subjects numerous citations with a mandatory appearance in court.
 CASES
Lake County
- Senior Officer Shaw and Officer McConnell were conducting water patrol on Lake Griffin when they observed two subjects on a vessel fishing. Upon conducting a boating safety and resource inspection, the officers learned the subjects had 31 black crappie several of which did not meet the minimum size requirement. The owner of the vessel was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation.
Orange County
- While on patrol, Officer Navarino observed an individual fishing the ponds along State Road 528. Officer Navarino conducted a resource inspection on the individual and found them to be in possession of six black bass, which is one over the legal limit. The violation was addressed accordingly.
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock and Officer Navarino were patrolling Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area during the wild hog dog season when they conducted a resource inspection on four individuals participating in the hunt. After examining the dogs’ collars, the officers discovered they did not have the required personal identifying information on them. The owner of the dogs has been previously issued numerous warnings and a notice to appear for the same violation. The owner of the dogs was issued another notice to appear.
St. Johns County
- While conducting fisheries inspections at Bings Landing Boat Ramp, Senior Officer Thomas stopped a vessel returning from fishing. During the inspection, she located two red drum. The daily bag limit for red drum is one fish per person. Officer Thomas cited the subject for possession of over the bag limit for red drum.
Seminole County
- Officer Wild worked with Investigator Teal, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the local State Attorney’s Office regarding an incident of deer poaching that occurred late last year. Charges were filed by the State Attorney’s Office for three counts of taking deer out of season, taking deer while hunting license is revoked, false report to law enforcement officer, and taking deer after legal hours.
 CASES
Charlotte County
- Officer Josh Kampmann located two subjects illegally camping in the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area. One subject was found to have an active arrest warrant out of Sarasota County and was taken into custody. He was also found to be a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The subject was arrested for the warrant and the weapons violation.
Hillsborough County
- While on land patrol, Officer Specialist Rorer observed an individual return to a nearby vehicle carrying a cast net and a bucket. Officer Specialist Rorer contacted the individual to conduct a fisheries inspection. The individual advised they didn’t catch any fish; however, Officer Specialist Rorer located two bass and four panfish inside the bucket. It was determined the individual caught the fish with the cast net and was issued a citation for the fisheries violation.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Lee County
- Officer Specialist Jadon Stapleton and Officer Cory Perez responded after midnight to a vessel taking on water in Charlotte Harbor. They located three people on a sinking vessel in severe weather conditions. The officers got all three people on board their patrol vessel and transported them safely to shore.
DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS
Lee County
- Officer Specialist Christopher Guy organized a two-night operation targeting speeding violations along Corkscrew Road, which has a reduced speed limit at night to help protect panthers from vehicle strikes. Officers Jadon Stapleton, Christopher Hurst, Joshua Kampmann, and Cory Perez along with Lieutenant David Barrett stopped 39 vehicles for speeding violations over the two nights, all of which were traveling more than 20 mph over the posted 45 mph limit. The drivers were educated as to the reason for the reduced speed zone and cited appropriately.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officer Bovee conducted patrol at Markham Park in Sunrise and observed two individuals fishing in a freshwater canal. He conducted a freshwater fisheries inspection and issued the two individuals notices to appear for possession of undersized snook.
Martin County
- Officers Schroer, Delaney and Eustice were on vessel patrol on the intracoastal waterway. While conducting a fisheries inspection on a recreational fishing vessel, Officer Delaney found an undersized mutton snapper in one of the subject’s coolers. The subject was cited for the violation. Stakeholders are reminded to always check the FWC website for the latest saltwater fishing regulations.
St. Lucie County
- Officer Barghouty was on foot patrol at a local spillway when he observed two individuals. One was standing by a vehicle while the other was fishing. The officer contacted the subject who was fishing and he stated he had not caught any fish. Officer Barghouty asked about a cooler that was a few feet away that contained undersized snook and the subject denied it was his. Officer Barghouty continued his interview and shared that he had been observing the individual fishing for a while. The subject admitted to catching the fish and owning the cooler. A citation was issued for the violation and warnings issued for fishing license violations.
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