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March 1, 2024 through March 7, 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
Bay County
- Officer Palmer was on patrol in St. Andrews State Park when he saw two individuals coming from the jetty with fishing gear. During a resource inspection, Officer Palmer found several pieces of fish that were identifiable as redfish. One of the individuals admitted to catching and cutting up the redfish. The subject was issued a citation for possession of redfish not in whole condition.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Santa Rosa County
- Officer Land attended literacy night at Jim Allen Elementary School for the badges and books event. Local first responders read books to elementary school students during the event. Officer Land shared his experiences as a conservation officer and read a book written by a conservation officer to the students. The book highlighted the importance of resource conservation and the role of a conservation officer.
 CASES
Brevard County
- While conducting land patrol, Officer Ames observed a truck parked in an area recently cleared for home development next to a large, wooded area. Officer Ames monitored the area and saw three subjects exit the woods with free-ranging dogs wearing tracking collars. The dogs were breeds known to trail and catch wild hogs. After interviewing the subjects, one of them took responsibility for ownership of the dogs and allowing them to trail and pursue wild hogs without landowner permission. The subject was cited accordingly.
Indian River County
- While on night patrol, Lieutenant Lightsey observed two side-by-side offroad vehicles operating with lights on and off in an orange grove. The officer initiated a stop and found the group did not possess permission to hunt on the property. Also, two of the hunting dogs did not have the owner’s name and information located on their collar as required by law. A notice to appear was issued for the violations.
Osceola County
- Officers Armstrong and Nall were working a rural part of the county in the early morning hours when they observed a pickup truck hauling an airboat, driving slowly on the two-lane road. The officers observed a bright light from the vehicle illuminating the woods and field. The truck stopped in the middle of the road and illuminated several deer off to the side of the road, next to the woods. The officers conducted a traffic stop. The driver admitted to having firearms in the truck. The officers located baggies containing a white powdery substance in different areas of the vehicle that tested positive for cocaine. Various pills were also found in marked and unmarked containers. Additionally, the driver was also driving on a suspended driver’s license. The passenger, a convicted felon, was within reach of firearms and ammunition. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were arrested and transported to the Osceola County Jail.
Seminole County
- Officer Poley was patrolling Lake Jesup when he stopped a vessel to conduct a boating safety and resource inspection. During his inspection, Officer Poley located 11 panfish and numerous tilapia. The subjects claimed the panfish were caught by rod and reel and the tilapia were caught with the cast net. Upon closer inspection, he observed abrasions on the panfish’s scales, which is consistent with being caught in a cast net. Officer Poley issued the subjects notices to appear for the take of freshwater gamefish by illegal method.
Volusia County
- While on water patrol near Mullet Creek, Senior Officer Wingard stopped a vessel to conduct a marine fisheries inspection. The vessel was occupied by three subjects. During the inspection it was determined the subjects were in possession of one 14-inch red drum and one 11-inch sheepshead. The vessel operator admitted he had caught both fish. The violations were addressed.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Brevard County
- Officers Hedgepeth and Snyder responded to a vessel fire in the Banana River. They were first on scene via water to a fully engulfed 20-foot vessel. The lone occupant was assisted by a Good Samaritan and the FWC who assisted with putting the fire out. The occupant sustained no injuries.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Orange County
- Investigator Sexton and Officer Wild participated at a Future Farmers of America chapter youth outreach event at East Colonial Highschool. They discussed what the FWC and its officers do, as well as career opportunities with the FWC in law enforcement, biology and more.
- Officer Specialist Fahnestock and Officer Hawks assisted Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the Minority Outdoor Alliance with their first youth outreach event in Orlando. The event was designed to introduce youth from urban areas to the outdoors and educate them about hunting, fishing, and wild game cooking. Officers also assisted with feeding the adults and the youth wild game dinners as well as answering hunting and fishing related questions. The event had several guest speakers who grew up in urban areas without hunting and fishing opportunities but had a desire to hunt and fish. The speakers told their stories and educated the youth about how they overcame these obstacles and now hunt and fish across the state and the country. Both groups hope this event grows and hope to make this an annual event in Orlando.
 CASES
Lee County
- Officer Perry responded to a boating accident on the Caloosahatchee River where one of the occupants had been injured and required medical treatment. It was determined the vessel operator hit another vessel’s wake causing the occupant to fall and sustain a back injury.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officers Bouras and Willis were on water patrol at the Broward inlet and conducted a resource inspection on a vessel that revealed an undersized sailfish in one of the deck coolers. Officer Willis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
- Officer Rigali was on water patrol at the Port Everglades Inlet and conducted a resource inspection on a fishing vessel inbound from the ocean. The inspection revealed two undersized spiny lobster. Rigali issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
Glades County
- Officer Ciprich and Officer Hammad were working the opening weekend of the spring wild turkey season. They located two subjects within a closed portion of the Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area. The subjects were found to be turkey hunting in the area. Both subjects were issued a notice to appear for hunting within a closed area of a WMA. They were also issued warnings for permit violations.
Hendry County
- FWC Law Enforcement was notified by FWC biologists about the presence of bird seed and corn in Spirit-of-the-Wild Wildlife Management Area. Senior Officer Polly and Officer Bray worked the area on the opening day of the spring wild turkey season and observed three subjects hunting within 50 yards of the bait. All three subjects were issued a notice to appear for placing feed on a WMA and for hunting wild turkey within 100 yards of bait.
Martin County
- Officers McVay and Landers were conducting maritime patrol in the St. Lucie Inlet when they responded to a tip from a concerned citizen regarding two individuals fishing on one of the local bridges and keeping undersized fish. The officers located two subjects said to be keeping the undersized fish and observed them before they made contact with them. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection that revealed 15 undersized black drum and three undersized mangrove snappers. Neither subject possessed a valid fishing license. Both were cited accordingly for the size and bag limit violations.
Okeechobee County
- Officer Specialist Crosby was patrolling South Florida Water Management District lands during the opening weekend of spring wild turkey season and encountered two subjects hunting on the right-of-way, which is prohibited. Both subjects were charged for violating rules relating to South Florida Water Management District property.
- Officer Dziewiatkowski was working surveillance along the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park’s south boundary when he observed a pickup with multiple subjects in the bed displaying a light into the state park. During surveillance, the light was observed being displayed from the bed of the pickup into the state park’s interior palmettos and grasslands. Officer Dziewiatkowski stopped the vehicle and through his investigation found the vehicle’s occupants to be road hunting in the state park with the use of air rifles, night vision, and spotlights. The subjects were issued the appropriate resource citations.
Palm Beach County
- Officer Rea was conducting a fisheries inspection on the L8 levee on South Florida Water Management District property when he observed a subject fire multiple shots into the water from what appeared to be a handgun. Officer Rea contacted the subject and his associate and cited the subject for unlawful discharge of a firearm on SFWMD property.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Broward County
- Several Broward Officers attended the Funeral Service for fallen Margate Police Department Sergeant Jeffrey Arbogast.
DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS
Okeechobee County
- Officer Harris spoke to high school students about the FWC’s mission and FWC career opportunities. The staff and students were engaged and interested in the presentation. Officer Harris received accolades for his knowledge and professionalism.
 CASES
Monroe County
- Officer Matt Williams backed up a vessel stop conducted by Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. A resource inspection revealed two undersize hogfish, two mangrove snapper and six schoolmaster. Violations were cited accordingly.
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