FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: May 10-16

May 10, 2024 through May 16, 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

• Officers Waters and Lugg received information about a subject selling oversized red drum out of the back of a car. Upon arriving on the scene, the officers observed the subject selling fish to an individual. Further investigation revealed the subject possessed eight oversized red drum caught in Alabama and multiple bags of red drum filets. The subject admitted to catching the oversized red drum in Alabama and transporting them to Florida to sell. The subject was placed under arrest and cited for the Florida violations. Alabama Marine Patrol and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also be investigating. 
• Officers Waters and Lugg observed a vessel returning to Escambia Bay from offshore. They conducted a vessel stop and located three undersized gray triggerfish during a resource inspection. The operator was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Waters was on patrol near the fishing pier at Community Maritime Park when he observed two individuals fishing. Upon conducting a resource inspection, Officer Waters located seven undersized mangrove snapper concealed inside an ice bag in a cooler. Both individuals were cited.  
• Lieutenant Lambert and Master Officer Hahr responded to a boating accident. A subject was seated behind a console and was operating his boat in a manner that did not give him a clear view of the waters ahead.  He drove into an anchored boat occupied by two people who were fishing. The angler closest to the bow was able to get out of the way before the impact. The operator was charged with violating Navigation Rule #5, improper lookout. 
• Lieutenant Lambert and Master Officer Hahr responded to a boating accident involving an inexperienced operator on a high horsepower personal watercraft. While attempting to speed under the Bob Sykes Bridge, the operator lost control of the PWC, struck a concrete piling and was ejected. The subject sustained bruises and abrasions. The operator was charged with violating Navigation Rule #6, safe speed.  

Gadsden County

• Senior Officer B. Johnson was conducting freshwater fishery inspections at the Ochlockonee River and Highway 90 boat ramp. Officer Johnson observed three subjects fishing with rod and reels. Two of the three subjects did not possess freshwater fishing licenses. During the inspection one subject would not identify himself and Officer Johnson observed what appeared to be an imprint of a pistol concealed in the front pocket of a hooded sweater. The subject was evasive and stated he did not have any guns. Officer Johnson discovered a pistol and a check through dispatch revealed the firearm was stolen. Officer Johnson cited one subject for no freshwater fishing license and the second subject was cited for no freshwater fishing license and arrested for possession of a stolen firearm and booked into the Gadsden County Jail.

Gulf County

• Master Officer M. Webb was checking vessels returning from fishing at a local ramp and observed a vessel with two people on board. A resource inspection revealed the captain was in possession of two red drum, one of which was oversized. A citation was issued for the violation. 
• Master Officer M. Webb responded to a complaint regarding a subject harvesting an oversized red drum. Officer Webb arrived on scene and found the subject possessed a single over slot black drum and two undersized flounder. The individual was cited for the undersized flounder.

Walton County

• K-9 Officer Graves was patrolling Eglin Wildlife Management Area property near the bank of Choctawhatchee Bay when he encountered two subjects who told him they were looking for artifacts. Officer R. Brooks arrived for assistance and the subjects were found to be in possession of digging equipment. The officers located several holes where the subjects had been excavating for artifacts. The subject did not possess a valid Eglin permit. They were cited for that violation and charges are pending from Eglin Air Force Base for the artifact digging violations. 

Washington County

• Officer E. Fowler was on patrol at Culpepper Landing on Holmes Creek when he conducted a boating safety inspection on a vessel returning from Cypress Springs with four people onboard. The operator did not have the proper number of personal flotation devices and could not produce the vessel registration. The boating safety violations were addressed accordingly. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

• Lieutenant W. Walsingham assisted FWC Hunter Safety Instructor Jeff Shumaker with the range day portion of the hunter safety class at Vernon High School. There were 34 students in attendance who received their certification and demonstrated safe practices after completing the classroom portion of the hunter safety course.

CASES

Duval County

• Officer Shope was patrolling Mayport Boat Ramp, checking returning anglers. One vessel was found to have one undersized amberjack and 17 undersized vermillion snapper. The subjects were cited for the violations.
• Officer Payne, Officer Specialist Barry and Lieutenant Givens were patrolling federal waters and conducted a resource inspection on a vessel with four people on board who were fishing. The inspection revealed the subjects were in possession of two red snapper and one undersized black sea bass. Red snappers are illegal to possess in the federal waters of the South Atlantic. All four subjects were issued federal citations for two counts of possession of red snapper during closed season, being in possession of one undersized black sea bass and not having a descending device on board, rigged and ready for use while fishing for or possessing snapper and grouper species. The case will be forwarded to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for prosecution. 
• Officer Schirbock responded to a boating accident where an unoccupied sailboat had broken free from its anchor and drifted into a dock. The owner of the sailboat was located and issued citations for their boat breaking free from its mooring and not having an anchor light on at night. The vessel had become aground in a wrecked condition, unable to extricate itself without other mechanical assistance. After seven days the vessel remained in a derelict, wrecked condition and is now listing and taking on water. The vessel owner was contacted again and issued a citation for leaving a vessel in a derelict condition on the waters of the state and must appear in court. 
• Officers Moran and McGregor observed a vessel operating with no navigational lights near the Saw Pit Boat Ramp. The officers conducted a vessel safety inspection and found the operator had a pending warrant out of Orange County. They placed the operator under arrest and booked him into the Duval County Pre-Detention Facility.

CASES

DeSoto County

• Officer Devine received information about a boating accident on the Peace River. Before she arrived, deputies located the operator of an airboat who had driven the vessel into a large stump according to witnesses. The collision resulted in two of the occupants being thrown into the water with one of them requiring medical treatment.

Hernando County Officer Kaitlin Taylor and Officer Specialist Reece Alvis were conducting individual fishing quota commercial reef fish inspections and found one vessel landed prior to its 3-hour landing notification. A vessel inspection found the captain to be in possession of 9 pounds of red snapper fillets. Reef fish are required to be landed in whole condition. The commercial vessel was also found to not possess the required turtle mitigation gear. Additional vessel registration and saltwater products license sticker violations were observed. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued.

Hillsborough County

• Lieutenant Bibeau received a complaint regarding a helicopter landing in a wildlife refuge and state park that had protected nesting shorebirds. Lieutenant received a video that showed the helicopter landing on a beach and causing dozens of shorebirds to flush from their nests. With help from Officer Rivard, Lieutenant Bibeau was able to use the tail number from the helicopter to retrieve the aircraft’s flight path and confirm the violation. After a short investigation, the officers were able to identify and locate the pilot. Lieutenant Bibeau contacted the individual who admitted to landing on the beach. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the individual citations for taking of a state threatened species, landing an aircraft in a state park and entering a closed area. 

Lee County

• Officer Hardgrove observed two subjects fishing with nets in an area where fishing with nets is illegal. A fisheries check was conducted and he found the subjects were in possession of a large quantity of fish, including an undersized black drum and undersized sheepshead. Both subjects were issued citations for the violations.
• Officers Perry and Perez received information about a hit and run boating accident. The operator of the vessel ran into a dock and a boat lift that had a boat on top of it. The collision caused the lift to break, the vessel to fall into the water stern first and eventually sink until the motors were underwater. The officers located the operator the next day. The operator charged with leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it to law enforcement and for violation of navigational rules. 
• Officer Perry received information about a boating accident in Estero Bay. The operator of a personal watercraft attempted to pass a large vessel and then suddenly turned into the bow of the vessel causing him to get knocked unconscious. A passenger on the second vessel jumped into the water, turned him over and got him medical attention as other passengers helped stabilize him. He was transported to the hospital where he received medical treatment.

Manatee County

• Officer Specialist Gonzales observed two individuals wading in the water collecting items and placing them in a bag around the South Skyway. Officer specialist Gonzales conducted a resource inspection and found they had collected over 320 various marine organisms. Both individuals were issued notices to appear for collecting over the bag limit of marine organisms.
• Officer Wesche and Officer Blyar observed a vessel with fishing rods coming back in from offshore near Longboat Key. The officers conducted a resource inspection and found the captain of the vessel had caught and kept three undersized gray triggerfish. The individual was issued a notice to appear for the violation.
• Senior Officer Hinds observed two individuals fishing along the nature trail at Emerson Point. The officer conducted a resource inspection and found the individuals had caught and kept an oversized redfish. A notice to appear was issued to both individuals for the violations.

Pasco County

• Captive Wildlife Investigator Tyer responded to a complaint about an unpermitted individual keeping a venomous snake and prohibited species in his apartment. Upon inspection, Investigator Tyer found the individual was in possession of a pygmy rattlesnake and a Nile monitor lizard. Both animals require permits for possession and have specific caging requirements in Florida. The individual was issued two citations. The Nile monitor lizard was taken to a permitted facility and the rattlesnake was released back into the wild where it was taken from.  

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Comartin and Bovee observed a personal watercraft being operated by a person who appeared to be under the age of 14 at the Port Everglades Inlet. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a boating and safety investigation, which revealed the operator was 13 years old. The adult passenger was issued a notice to appear citation for allowing a person under the age of 14 to operate a personal watercraft. 

Martin County

• Officers Delaney and Koger observed a vessel fishing under the 10 Cent Bridge on the St. Lucie River and conducted a vessel stop to address a navigation light violation. Inspection of the vessel revealed multiple safety equipment violations in addition to the stern light being inoperable. A fisheries inspection was conducted and revealed an over slot snook. Appropriate citations were issued to the captain of the vessel and the occupant who caught the over slot snook. 

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Broward County

• Officer McCollin Davis was flagged down by a civilian on a vessel while patrolling near Port Everglades Inlet. The civilian had two subjects on board his vessel whose personal watercraft had rolled over, causing them to swallow a lot of water. Officer McCollin Davis transported the two subjects to his patrol vessel and headed to the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park boat ramp. Upon arriving at the boat ramp, one subject became unconscious and Officer McCollin Davis immediately began rescue efforts. The subject expelled a large amount of water and regained consciousness. Shortly after, EMS arrived on scene.  

CASES 

Collier County

• Officer Yurewitch and Lieutenant Knutson observed multiple individuals cast netting and keeping fish near Everglades City. The officers conducted a resource inspection and fishing license check and discovered one out-of-season and undersized snook measuring 24 inches that was harvested using illegal methods of take for snook. The officers also discovered three undersized sheepshead. The officers issued a notice to appear for the violations.

Miami-Dade County

• Officer Romero assisted Investigator Fernandez with an unannounced routine inspection related to Class III Permit for Exhibition or Public Sale of Captive Wildlife. Upon inspection, the license holder was found to have eight violations and was cited accordingly. 
• Officers Gutierrez and Adler conducted a safety inspection on a personal watercraft associated with a livery. They spoke with the livery operator who was found to have three livery rule violations and was cited accordingly. 
• Officers Dunn, Despian, and Ward, conducted an at-risk vessel detail in the Oleta Anchorage and found 32 vessels showed signs of not having effective means of propulsion for safe navigation. Thus far, 29 citations have been issued.  One vessel was already participating in the Vessel Turn-In Program.  VTIP information was provided to all vessels cited.

Monroe County

• Officer Sample and Officer Ruiz observed divers with spearguns in the water at Key Largo Existing Management Area and saw multiple speared fish on board. Two federal citations were issued to two individuals for possession of spearfishing equipment on board the vessel. 
• Officers Sample, Carvajal, Espinosa and Gutierrez conducted a vessel fisheries inspection in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The subjects were spearfishing and had two red grouper, two barracuda, and one black margate on board. One subject was charged with spearfishing in the state park.
• Officers Richards, Foell and Piekenbrock were patrolling federal waters south of the Dry Tortugas National Park on the FWC’s offshore patrol vessel Trident when they saw a commercial fishing vessel with two subjects fishing from the stern. The Trident approached with blue lights activated and officers observed one of the subjects begin tossing red snapper into the water. Two red snapper were recovered with one not being in whole condition. The officers boarded the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and located five additional red snapper that were not in whole condition and three bags containing red snapper fillets. The officers located a sailfish without its head, bill or tail intact as required by law. The vessel was also over the allowable commercial trip limit for mutton snapper. The vessel did not have any valid National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration federal fisheries permits for the fish 414 pounds of fish onboard. The subjects onboard were cited accordingly for the federal fisheries violations and the case will be forwarded to the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.