FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: March 29-April 4

March 29, 2024 through April 4, 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

• Senior Officer D. Palmer was patrolling the Econfina Wildlife Management Area and found evidence of two subjects who entered the area of Blue Springs, which is closed to hunting, fishing, and trapping. Officer Palmer located the subjects, who were hunting wild turkey. Citations for hunting in a closed area were issued to both subjects and warnings were issued for quota hunt permit violations. 

Escambia County

• Officer Hahr was conducting resource inspections on anglers at Mahogany Mill Boat Ramp when he observed a local charter captain pulling on his boat. As the deckhand prepared to clean the customers’ fish, Officer Hahr observed several triggerfish appeared to be shorter than the minimum length. Officer Hahr inspected the fish and found four of them were undersized. The captain of the vessel was charged with the violation. 
• Officer McHenry was patrolling an area where he located bait and observed a recently killed wild turkey. He located a subject hiding in the woods.  After speaking to the subject, a second recently killed wild turkey was found. Upon further investigation, Officer McHenry found both wild turkeys were shot over bait. The subject was charged for the violations.

Gulf County

• Officers Lipford and Gerber were on patrol and checking wild turkey hunters when they observed one individual hunting within 100 yards of a game feeding station with bait present. The individual was issued the appropriate citation.          

Walton County

• Throughout the 2023-2024 deer hunting season, Officer Yates received several complaints from a landowner having issues with a subject allowing his hunting dogs to pursue wildlife on his property without his permission. Officer Letcher and Reservist White assisted Officer Yates with a season-long investigation uncovering five separate documented incidents of the subject allowing his hunting dogs to pursue deer through the complainant’s posted property. At the conclusion of the investigation, the subject was cited for five counts of violation of hunter responsibility, allowing dogs to pursue or molest wildlife on the lands of another without written permission, and one count of driving with a suspended/revoked license.  

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Lieutenant Tison attended career day at Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy where he spoke with 6^th grade students about the career and daily duties of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers. Lieutenant Tison also covered multiple other subjects including hunting safety, boating safety, and wildlife identification.

CASES

Baker County

• Officer Tyler was patrolling at a hunt club during spring turkey season and conducted a resource inspection on a subject after hearing multiple shots. After checking the subject’s licenses and permits, Officer Tyler ended his contact with the subject who returned to their residence. Officer Tyler then contacted Officer Burnsed who knew of a feeder that used to be in the area. The officers located a blind and a feeder spreading cracked corn on the ground. Officer Tyler conducted a follow-up interview with the subject who admitted to knowing about the feeder but stated he was more than 100 yards away from it when he shot the wild turkey. Officer Gill and K-9 Camo searched the area and discovered the kill site, which was 34 yards from the blind. Officer Tyler found a wooden striker used to call wild turkeys at the bottom of the blind, which was 21 yards from the feeder. The striker was made by the same manufacturer as the subject’s slate call. While the subject had the slate call, he was unable to produce the striker. Officer Tyler presented the hunter with the striker he had found in the blind and the subject admitted to owning it. Charges were filed with the State Attorney’s Office and the subject will have to appear in court for the violation.   

Duval County

• Officer Moran and Officer Specialist Barry were on patrol along Heckscher Drive when they observed an individual fishing from the CSX railroad tracks. Officer Moran recognized the subject from a prior inspection in the same location. During the previous encounter, the individual threw an undersized redfish into the water as Officer Moran approached and was subsequently cited for possessing the undersized fish. It was determined that during the prior inspection the individual had provided false identifying information to Officer Moran and it was discovered the subject had a warrant out of St. Johns County for fish and wildlife citations. Officer Moran and Officer Specialist Barry arrested the individual for trespassing and discovered two additional warrants. The subject was booked into the Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. 

Lafayette County

• Officers Clark, Vazquez and Covington were patrolling a hunting club when Officer Vazquez heard a shot from a ground blind. Officers Vazquez and Covington contacted the subject who shot a turkey. Their inspection revealed the subject had taken the wild turkey in violation of baiting regulations. Officer Covington issued the subject a citation. 

Nassau County

• Senior Officer Sapp was patrolling in a private hunt club where bait was known to be present and observed a subject with a shotgun who was turkey hunting. During an interview, the subject confirmed the presence of shelled and cracked corn on the ground approximately 30 yards from where he was turkey hunting. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for hunting wild turkeys within 100 yards of game feed. 
• Officer Specialist Barry and Senior Officer Sweat came across an unoccupied pickup truck on private property. Officer Specialist Barry observed a subject in camo. During an interview, the subject admitted to hunting the property nearby. Officer Specialist Barry drove back to the property and contacted a second individual who was hunting there. The subjects took the officers to where they had been hunting and officers observed two feeders close by.  Senior Officer Sweat and Officer Specialist Barry checked the two feeders and observed corn in the feeders and on the ground. The subjects stated they were using a turkey call to call turkey from the property adjacent to them. Both subjects stated they knew about the hunting turkey over bait rule but did not realize that included calling wild turkey. Both subjects were issued notices to appear for attempting to take wild turkey over bait and the one subject was issued a warning for no turkey permit. 
• Senior Officer Sweat and Officer Hauge responded to a Wildlife Alert regarding the taking of a wild turkey out of season from the roadway. Senior Officer Sweat obtained a photograph of the vehicle involved in the incident. Officer Hauge later observed the vehicle, followed it to a residence, and questioned the subject. The subject explained he drove the vehicle and stopped while his friend shot the turkey from the roadway. Senior Officer Sweat’s interview also revealed they hid the vehicle behind a barn and the turkey breast in the woods, all of which were recovered. The subject was issued a notice to appear for taking turkey out of season, taking from a roadway, and interference with an FWC officer. The other subject was from out of state and was placed under arrest and transported to the Nassau County Detention Center and charged with taking wild turkey out of season, taking wild turkey from a roadway, and interference with an FWC officer. He was also issued two infractions for nonresident hunt license and no nonresident turkey permit. 

CASES

Marion County

• Officers from Marion, Volusia, and Lake County squads conducted a boating safety and boating under the influence detail on Silver Glen Run in cooperation with Marion, Lake, and Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The purpose of the detail was to ensure public safety on the water during a large spring break event. This detail resulted in two BUI arrests, two arrests for possession of alcohol by a person under 21, 16 uniform boating citations and 76 boating safety written warnings.

Orange County

• While conducting land patrol, Officer Ames came across a truck that got stuck off the main hard road inside a local wildlife management area. The subject created large holes while attempting to get the truck unstuck, damaging the road and native plants. The road was so damaged it’s currently in the process of being filled and regraded by WMA staff. The subject was charge accordingly for damaging state lands with a motor vehicle.
• Officer Navarino received information that a subject harvested over the bag limit of wild turkey during a quota-only wild turkey hunt at a local wildlife management area. The specific WMA allows a bag limit of one wild turkey per quota permit. Officer Specialist Fahnestock and Officer Hawks responded to the location to assist with the investigation. The officers responded to a residence and located two wild turkeys that were harvested from the WMA on one quota permit. Several turkey parts including tail feathers, beards, spurs, and meat were located. The quota permit holder received a notice to appear for the violation.

Seminole County

• Officer Specialist Fahnestock and Officer Hawks observed a group fishing the St. Johns River with a cast net from a vessel at dark. The officers conducted a vessel and resource inspection on the cast netter and observed several gamefish, included black crappie and bluegill, that were harvested by an illegal method of take. The subject who harvested the gamefish by illegal method was issued a notice to appear for the violation.
• Officer Specialist Fahnestock and Officer Hawks patrolled the St. John’s River and observed a large group of individuals fishing with a cast net from the shoreline and wading in the water. The officers conducted a resource and license inspection and observed several gamefish that were harvested by an illegal method of take. During the resource check, an individual interfered with the lawful inspection by throwing a few illegally harvested gamefish back into the water. The subjects also did not have valid freshwater fishing licenses. Illegally harvested freshwater gamefish species included black crappie, redear sunfish and bluegill. Two of the subjects who were harvesting the gamefish by an illegal method were issued notices to appear for the violation. The subject who threw the fish back into the water also received a charge for interference with an FWC officer during a lawful inspection. Both subjects were issued citations for fishing without a valid freshwater fishing license. 

St. Johns County

• Officer Specialist Lawrence was on water patrol when he received a call from a lieutenant with the St. John’s County Sherriff’s Office Marine Unit, stating they had stopped a group of personal watercraft that did not have the required safety gear and had gone through a slow speed zone on a plane. The operators told deputies they rented the PWCs from a man at Green Boat Ramp. Officer Lawrence located the owner of the vessels at the boat ramp. After a brief interview, the owner admitted to renting the PWCs and said he had not done a safety brief or complied with any other requirements of livery operations. Officer Lawrence subsequently cited him for not having a livery permit, renting a vessel without the required safety gear, and failing to provide pre-ride instructions. The subject was also warned for not having the required safety signage and not having records upon request.

Volusia County

• Officer Cornell responded to a tip from the U.S. Forest Service about illegal camping/dumping in the Ocala National Forest on the St. John’s River. A large dump site and long-term illegal camp were discovered. Subjects had set up a homestead in the forest and were living there full-time. Officer Cornell interviewed the subjects and learned that they worked as scrappers. The site contained multiple tarp tent areas, a scaffolding/pallet structure, and an additional pallet structure as well as other large dump piles of trash/debris. There were also large amounts of litter/debris along the shoreline and in the water. Altogether there were several tons of waste and four vessels on the water of the state with various violations. Officer Cornell charged the subjects with multiple uniform boating citations and filed the appropriate charges with the State Attorney’s Office.

CASES

Hernando County

• Officers Kevin Grover and Tess Williams were conducting resource inspections on vessels returning from offshore. A stop was made on a vessel that was not displaying navigational lights. The subject, who had been fishing, was found in possession of an out-of-season and undersized gag grouper. The subject was cited accordingly.

Hillsborough County

• Lieutenant Burks and Officer Bothe were working at the Williams Park Boat Ramp in Gibsonton. They observed a vessel coming into the boat ramp without navigational lights present. While they were addressing the violation, Officer Bothe observed fishing gear in the vessel and conducted a resource inspection. She found the subject to be in possession of two undersized spotted seatrout. The appropriate law enforcement action was taken. 

Manatee County

• Officer Blyar received a call from a Department of Environmental Protection biologist that three individuals were removing air plants from trees with a saw. Officer Blyar located the subjects and found them to be in possession of the plants. When the biologist arrived, he identified some of the air plants in the vessel as being on the list of endangered plants. The subjects were charged with violation of rules under the Myakka River Wild and Scenic Designation and Preservation Act under 62D-15.005(2), which prohibits the take of native plants along the Myakka river.
• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau received a report of an individual catching and keeping undersized pompano from a pier. Lieutenant Bibeau contacted an individual who matched the description and conducted a fisheries inspection. He located a small cooler inside the individual’s vehicle that contained six undersized pompanos. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the individual a citation for the violation. 
• Officer Specialist Miller was on land patrol in a county park when he saw three people walking along the shore carrying a cast net and a bucket. As they were packing up at their vehicle, Officer Specialist Miller conducted a resource inspection and found the group had caught and kept an undersized redfish. After interviewing the subjects, a notice to appear in Manatee County Court was issued to the appropriate person. 

Pinellas County

• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed an individual fishing from a pier. He conducted a fisheries inspection and found the individual to be in possession of four spotted seatrout, two of which measured over 19 inches. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the individual a citation for harvesting over the daily bag limit of seatrout and a warning for harvesting more than one seatrout measuring over 19 inches. 
• While on unmarked land patrol, Officer Georgevich and Officer Bothe observed a subject spearing fish from the Skyway relief area in St. Petersburg. The officers conducted a resource inspection and found the subject in possession of two undersized snook that showed indicators of having been speared. The subject was charged with taking snook by illegal method, possession of undersized snook, and possession of snook without a permit. 

Sarasota County

• Officer Specialist Morrow was on water patrol in Roberts Bay and witnessed an individual pulling recreational stone crab traps and harvesting the contents. A resource inspection revealed the subject kept numerous undersized stone crab claws. The individual was issued notice to appear in Sarasota County Court for the violation.
• Senior Officer Hinds was patrolling the area around Ken Thompson Park when he observed an individual fishing from shore. He conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the subject had caught and kept nine undersized seatrout, nine undersized lane snapper, and 34 sea urchins. The subject was issued multiple citations and will have to appear in Sarasota County Court for the violations.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Lee County

• Officers Perry, Salem, and Garcia responded to an emergency call approximately eight miles off the coast of Captiva Pass. Two people were aboard a vessel that had lost power and was taking on water during rough weather. Several agencies responded to the call and a Lee County Sheriff’s helicopter located the vessel and remained on scene until rescue units could get there by water. The U.S. Coast Guard remained on scene with the two subjects and the boat was towed back to safety. 

CASES

Broward County

• Lieutenant Laubenberger, Officer Comartin, and two U.S. Coast Guard officers conducted night patrol at the Intracoastal Waterway and Bahia Mar. They observed a pontoon type vessel with no port or all-around navigation lights displayed. The officers conducted a safety inspection and found the vessel operator was violating several federal statues to include operating as an illegal charter.  
• Officers Dudas, Bruder and Lieutenant Harp observed a fishing vessel coming into the inlet at the Port Everglades. A fisheries inspection revealed the vessel owner was operating as a fishing charter. However, the owner was not registered commercially. The officers issued the owner of the vessel a notice to appear citation for commercial fishing violation. 
• Officer Favrot conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject at the A-1 FEB and discovered the subject was in possession of more than the daily bag limit of black bass and more than one black bass was over 16 inches. Favrot issued the subject notice to appear citations for the violations. 
• Lieutenant Ryan observed two subjects trespassing and fishing in a closed area at Stormwater Treatment Area 2. He educated the subjects on the rules associated with the STA and issued warnings for the trespass and fishing violations. One of the subjects was found to have revoked fishing license privileges and was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer Hammad observed a vehicle stopped in an area commonly used for fishing or illegal target shooting. Officer Hammad ran the vehicle tag and discovered it was associated with a different vehicle. Officer Hammad issued the driver a notice to appear citation for attached tag not assigned.  

Martin County

• Officer Hudson observed a subject with a rifle walking around Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area, which is closed to hunting. A second individual notified the subject of the officers’ presence and the subject ran into the woods with his gun and threw it into the brush before turning himself over to the officer. The subject was arrested and K-9 Officer Tarr and K-9 Rambo showed up and located the gun. The lookouts had cast netted a largemouth bass and were charged for illegal entry into Lakeside Ranch STA and for illegal method of take for gamefish. The subject who ran and ditched the gun was booked into the Martin County jail and charged with obstruction of an FWC Officer, illegal entry into Lakeside Ranch and for hunting in a closed area.

Okeechobee County

• Officer Hudson was dispatched to a report about two subjects who shot an alligator, cleaned it and then removed the juvenile alligators from the nest. The officer questioned the subjects about the incident. The subjects confessed to killing the alligator and stealing the juvenile alligators. The suspects were charged with 14 misdemeanors for the illegal take of the alligators. 

Palm Beach County

• Officers Moss, Stiltner and Klein were conducting federal fisheries patrol 15 miles offshore of Jupiter Inlet. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel with two subjects who were bottom fishing. They found two golden tilefish, which are out of season. The federal investigation was submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement.

CASES

Monroe County

• Investigator Chris Mattson was on unmarked federal water patrol in Davis Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, which is a snorkel and dive only site. Investigator Mattson observed a vessel tied to a mooring buoy inside the SPA and fishing.  The buoy states no fishing is allowed. The subject was written a federal citation for fishing in the SPA.
• FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident crew inspected a charter vessel in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico and found three red grouper during the closed season. The captain of the vessel was issued a notice to appear for the violation.
• FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident crew inspected five commercial shrimp vessels anchored south of Key West, focusing on turtle excluder devices. The five vessels were found to be in violation of marine sanitation device laws with their toilets plumbed to discharge overboard in state waters. The operators of the vessels were cited accordingly.
• FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident crew inspected a commercial snapper-grouper vessel in federal waters of the South Atlantic. The vessel did not possess the required turtle excluder devices, as required by their federal permit. The federal fisheries violation was documented and forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement.