FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: May 17-23

May 17, 2024 through May 23, 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.

View this as a web page.

View previous editions.

CASES

Calhoun County

• Officers T. Scott and E. Meade received complaints this spring from lease holders along the Apalachicola River regarding subjects trespassing on private property from the water. One complainant provided the officers with game camera photos of a subject. Officers identified the subject and conducted an interview. The subject admitted to shooting two deer that were swimming in the river. He also admitted to shooting a deer not meeting the proper antler point regulations. The subject was charged accordingly for the violations. 

Okaloosa County

• Officer Ates responded to a call involving possible out-of-season deer hunting at a residence. The officer was unable to identify the occurrence of a violation but did notice a gopher tortoise burrow in the yard that appeared to be tampered with. A few days later, Officer Ates returned to the address to follow up on the condition of the opher tortoise burrow and discovered it had been filled in. While interviewing the subject about the situation, the individual admitted to filling in the burrow after seeing the gopher tortoise had exited. The individual was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation.  
• Officers Phillips and Oliver responded to a complaint of an individual spearfishing the jetties in Destin. When they arrived, they observed an individual exit the water while holding a wooden spear gun. As the officers approached, the subject concealed the spear gun, mask, snorkel, and dive fins within the jetty rocks. After identifying the individual, the officers discovered the subject had been issued a citation for spearfishing within 100 feet of a jetty less than 1,500 yards long from shore at the same location a year ago. The individual was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officer S. Valdez and Officer C. Senst responded to a residence where an eastern diamondback rattlesnake was reportedly kept inside. The subject showed the officers where he was keeping the snake in an enclosure inside the residence. The subject did not have the proper permits issued by the FWC and the cage the snake was kept in did not meet requirements. The subject stated he captured the snake from the wild in 2023 and had been keeping it inside since that time. Officer Valdez issued the subject a citation for not having the proper permit and a warning for improper caging requirements. Captive Wildlife Investigator R. Nelson responded to the residence and took possession of the snake. 

Wakulla County

• Officer Specialist S. Gray conducted a resource and boating and safety inspection on a vessel returning to a local boat ramp. The captain of the vessel showed Officer Gray a cooler containing an undersized spotted seatrout. The captain received a written warning in 2017 for possession of undersized seatrout. Officer Gray gave the subject a notice to appear for the violation. 
• Officer D. Travis observed a vehicle in an area known for fishing at Mashes Sands Road and conducted a resource inspection. The officer observed a set of fishing rods and reels leaning against the guard rail at Tide Creek with a cooler close by. The officer located a subject fishing below the bridge. An inspection revealed an undersized redfish and the subject claimed responsibility for catching it. He was given a notice to appear for the violation.
• Officer M. Fernbach was patrolling off Live Oak Island and observed a group of individuals fishing from a vessel. A boating and safety and resource inspection was conducted and it revealed a redfish over the 27” slot was in possession. The captain claimed responsibility for catching the fish and was issued a notice to appear.

CASES

Brevard County

• While on vessel patrol offshore, Officers Hedgepeth and Synder conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel near Port Canaveral and found two undersized red snapper. Violations were addressed accordingly.

Lake County

• Officer Stamp received information from Umatilla Police Department of a subject in possession of a recently killed deer. Umatilla Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a sport utility vehicle and located a deer carcass in the rear trunk area and fresh blood on the bumper. The driver stated they killed the deer earlier in the night using a handgun. The handgun used to shoot the deer was reported stolen. The driver was arrested on charges from Umatilla Police Department and additional charges from Officer Stamp for taking deer out of season and taking deer using a gun and light.
• While on water patrol, Officers Constance and Aultman received information about a subject cast netting and possibly keeping gamefish. The officers conducted a vessel stop to perform a resource inspection and found the subject was in possession of three black bass. There was no other fishing gear on board the vessel. The subject was cited accordingly.
• While patrolling a local wildlife management area, Officer Lambert and Officer Specialist L. Dickson observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road. After checking the area, they encountered two subjects walking, one of whom was carrying a crossbow. The officers contacted the subjects and during interviews they admitted to hunting small game. The subject possessing the crossbow was cited for taking game out of season.

Marion County

• Officer Lambert and Officer Specialist L. Dickson conducted a freshwater fishing resource inspection on a subject at Moss Bluff South Fishing Pier. Five black bass were located with three of them measuring over 16”. Officer Lambert cited the subject for oversized black bass.
• Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Lambert conducted a vessel safety and fishing resource inspection on a vessel at Rodman Dam Boat Ramp. The vessel had three subjects on board, along with fishing equipment including gigs and fishing rods. During the resource inspection, a large black bass was in a cooler, with gig marks in the dorsal fin area. One of the subjects admitted to gigging the bass. Officer Dickson cited the subject for illegal method of take for freshwater gamefish. Officer Lambert cited the other two subjects for no resident freshwater fishing licenses.

Osceola County

• While on patrol in the early morning hours, Officer Armstrong observed a truck shining spotlights from both sides of a vehicle across the fields of a management area currently closed to hunting. Officer Armstrong also observed a dog box in the back of the truck. As the vehicle was attempting to leave the area, Officer Armstrong stopped it to conduct a resource inspection. The dogs were equipped with GPS tracking collars and cut vests, commonly used on dogs hunting wild hogs. The occupants of the vehicle admitted they were hunting wild hogs and were charged accordingly.

Putnam County

• Officers D. Dickson, Hayden, L. Dickson, and Lambert conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving Murphy Creek Conservation Area, an area that recently has seen an increase in illegal hunting and drug use. The officers discovered the vehicle had a tag attached that was not assigned to it, and the driver had a suspended driver’s license. Due to the driver’s behavior during the stop, Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Sharp and K-9 Jaeger responded to the scene.
• Officer Carroll received information about a subject catching and selling blue crabs unlawfully and without the proper licensing. Officers Carroll and Galvan located a subject matching the description and observed the subject catching blue crabs with a hoop style net and placing them into a bucket. A short time later the subject was observed in front of a local business offering the crabs for sale to the public. Officers Carroll and Galvan contacted the subject and conducted a resource inspection and license check. During the interaction, it was determined the subject did not have the proper licenses to sell saltwater products to the public. Officer Carroll explained the license application process and printed off a copy of an application. The subject was educated and warned. Later in the day the subject was again sitting in front of the retail location selling blue crabs from the bucket without the proper licenses. The subject was issued citations for the violations.

St. Johns County

• Officer Self organized a pompano detail focused on St. Johns and Flagler County beaches. The detail was a major success resulting in five resource citations. Out of 15 pompano checked for compliance, four were undersized. Red drum and bluefish violations were also found and addressed by written warning and notice to appear citations. About 400 surf anglers were checked and many were thankful for the patrol presence along the beaches.
• While conducting fisheries inspections at Shore Drive Boat Ramp, Senior Officer Thomas observed a vessel returning from fishing. Upon contact, the owner stated he had three black sea bass. The officer measured the fish and all were found to be undersized. The subject was issued a citation for the violation. The subject also received one infraction for no life jacket and four warnings for no saltwater fishing license, no whistle, no hull identification number affixed to his vessel, and no trailer tag assigned/attached to his vessel trailer.

Sumter County

• Officer Smith and Officer Specialist Scrambling received information of subjects illegally driving a vehicle on Southwest Florida Water Management District property along the Withlacoochee River. Officer Smith observed the vehicle in question approaching the gate to leave the property. The officers contacted the two occupants who said they knew the area was closed to driving but were looking for their game camera. They stated they accessed the property by lifting the chain over the gatepost to open the locked gate. The officers located a loaded rifle inside the vehicle, but the driver denied they were hunting because they knew it was not allowed on the property. After identifying the individuals, the officers learned the driver had a suspended driver’s license. Officer Smith issued the driver two notice to appear citations for illegal entry into Southwest Florida Water Management District property and driving with a suspended license with knowledge.

Volusia County                                                                                             

• While on road patrol, Officer Specialist Rasey checked an area plagued with resource violations and complaints from the nearby neighborhood. During his inspections, he found two subjects in possession of oysters in an area where it's prohibited to harvest or possess them. In addition, the subjects were also trespassing and fishing without valid saltwater fishing licenses. Several citations were issued to the subjects.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Brevard County

• Officers from the Northeast Region participated in the annual Memorial Day at the American Police Hall of Fame. The event honors and remembers the officers lost in 2023 and their families for their courage and strength going forward.

Seminole County

• Officer Wild attended the Family Fest event in Altamonte Springs organized by the Altamonte Springs Police Department. Multiple local, county and state agencies participated with educational displays. Officer Wild brought an FWC airboat, and multiple items for display to educate the public about black bears, freshwater fishing, boating safety, birds of prey and reptiles. Officer Wild also brought a small alligator for educational purposes and explained to the community how to avoid human-wildlife conflicts.

CASES

Hernando County

• Officer Kevin Grover located stone crab traps left in Gulf waters after the season closed. The owner of the traps was identified, located and cited for failure to remove stone crab traps after season closure and additional warnings for gear violations.

Hillsborough County

• Officer Criswell responded to a call at the North Skyway Fishing Pier regarding two subjects who were catching and keeping gag grouper, which were out of season in the Gulf of Mexico.  Upon inspection, Officer Criswell found the subjects were in possession of eight out-of-season and undersized gag grouper. The subjects also had 14 undersized lane snappers and 15 mangrove snappers, 7 of which were undersized, which was over the possession limit as well. Both subjects were issued the appropriate citations and warnings. 
• While on patrol Officer McCormack observed a subject throwing a cast net on the Hillsborough River (freshwater) within the city limits of Temple Terrace. Officer McCormack approached the individual and conducted a freshwater resource inspection. A consensual inspection of a cooler revealed multiple freshwater gamefish and nongame fish. Additionally, the subject did not have a freshwater fishing license and admitted to using the cast net to catch freshwater gamefish. The appropriate citation and warnings were issued.  
• Officer McCormack responded to a tip from Wildlife Alert, regarding multiple individuals in a green canoe with a speargun on the Hillsborough River. Officer McCormack observed a canoe matching the description of the vessel arrive at the boat ramp. During a resource inspection, he located a speargun, crossbow, cast net, fishing rods, and two rifles. In a cooler onboard the canoe, he located multiple freshwater gamefish, spotted gar, and a softshell turtle. One of the three individuals claimed ownership of all equipment and firearms, along with being the only person onboard who fished and harvested all the fish and the turtle. The subject was found to be in possession of a speargun on freshwater and a cast net with freshwater game fish. Additionally, the subject did not have a freshwater fishing license and had taken softshell turtles out of season. Appropriate citations and warnings were issued. 
• K-9 Officer Wilkins received a call from a Department of Environmental Protection manager advising they observed an individual digging for artifacts on an island in the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. After meeting with the DEP manager, Officers Wilkins and Rorer located a dig site and encountered a subject who was in possession of a machete and a shovel. The subject admitted to digging the holes and was arrested and charged with damaging historical property, illegal excavating on state lands without a permit and altering an archeological site. 

Lee County

• Officer Hardgrove was on patrol when he conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject who said he had caught some peacock bass. During the inspection, Officer Hardgrove determined the subject was in possession of seven peacock bass. The officer issued a citation to the subject for being over the daily bag limit of two peacock bass. 

Manatee County

• Officer Wesche observed a group of people fishing the shoreline around the Palma Sola Causeway. A resource inspection revealed two of the individuals had caught and kept two undersized snook and four undersized sheepshead. Both individuals were issued a notice to appear for the violations.
• Officer Specialist Gonzales was patrolling the South Skyway area when he observed an individual emerge from under a bridge carrying a bonnethead shark. As he approached the individual to conduct a resource inspection, the individual attempted to hide the shark in a nearby trash can. Officer Specialist Gonzales discovered the shark and an undersized gag grouper and several undersized gray snappers. The individual was cited for multiple violations and must appear in Manatee County Court for the violations.

Pasco County

• Lieutenant Alberto Canamero and Investigator Clint Williams responded to a call regarding an alligator harvested out of season. Officers located the subject and the harvested alligator. After further investigation, it was determined the subject did not have required licenses or permits. The subject received several citations and must appear in court.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Charlotte County

• Officers Salem and Perry did a public speaking event for the Scouting America Troop 433. The officers displayed the FWC swamp buggy and provided information about boating and hunting education, archery, conservation and fish and wildlife management for the troop’s merit badge requirements. The officers also did a presentation about alligators. About 25 Scouts attended the event. 

CASES

Palm Beach County

• While on patrol near the Lake Worth Inlet, Officers Klein and Rea stopped a vessel with fishing equipment to conduct a resource inspection. The captain was found to be in possession of two sailfish fillets and claimed he did not know all billfish must be landed in whole condition. He was also displaying a dealer registration tag while using his boat for recreational purposes. The captain was issued a summons for the sailfish and a warning for improper use of a dealer tag.

St. Lucie County

• Officers Levesque and Bingham responded to a complaint about an individual keeping undersized snook at Gordy Spillway. Upon speaking with the subject, he admitted to possessing the snook, which Officer Levesque found along the rocky shoreline. The subject was issued a summons for the violation. The subject was also cited for possessing a snook without a snook permit.  

CASES 

Collier County

• Captive Wildlife Investigator Corteguera investigated the possession of a juvenile raccoon based on a social media post.  An inspection of the property revealed the possession of the raccoon without the required licenses. A citation was issued for the violation along with seven warnings for related violations. The raccoon was placed at a licensed rehabilitation facility.  

Miami-Dade County  

• Captive Wildlife Investigator Fernandez and Officer Romero responded to a complaint regarding poor conditions at a bird facility. An unannounced inspection was performed at the facility, which was properly licensed to sell wildlife. Numerous sanitation violations were discovered and two citations and six warnings were issued for the poor conditions. A follow up inspection will occur to verify compliance. 
• Officers Carvajal, Mosquera, and Lieutenant Thompson were conducting livery inspections on multiple personal watercraft near Marine Stadium when they were notified by dispatch that the livery operator had a felony warrant out of Broward County for grand theft. The livery operator was arrested and issued five charges for livery rule violations.
• Officers Carvajal and Mosquera worked with the U.S. Coast Guard Miami (USCG) and the Miami Dade Police Department Marine units to inspect potential illegal charters along the Miami River. Through their combined efforts and multiple inspections, an illegal charter was identified and the USCG boarding members directed it to terminate the voyage immediately.
• Officer Whale, Officer Begera and Lieutenant Thompson worked with the U.S. Coast Guard Miami (USCG) to inspect a cargo ship entering Miami from Cuba. Upon inspection, they located an injured crewmen that needed immediate medical attention. The crewmen received medical attention due to the swift actions of the FWC and USCG.

Monroe County

• Investigator Chris Mattson was patrolling the Key Largo Existing Management Area, which is closed to spearfishing. He observed two subjects free diving and one of the subjects had a speargun in his hand and had just shot a fish. The subject was federally cited for spearfishing in the Key Largo Existing Management Area. 
• Investigators Mattson and Saavedra were patrolling the French Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area and observed a vessel attached to a “no fishing” buoy with a subject onboard who was fishing. The subject was federally cited for fishing in the sanctuary preservation area. 
• Investigators Mattson and Saavedra were patrolling the Triangles, an area located in state waters off Key Largo that is closed to spearfishing. The investigators observed a subject hand a speargun from the water into the boat. The investigators conducted a resource inspection and issued the subject a citation for the spearfishing violation and possession of undersized mutton snapper. 
• Investigators Mattson and Saavedra were patrolling the area west of Turtle Reef in North Key Largo. They observed a commercial stone crab and lobster boat pulling traps. The investigators stopped the vessel to address the violation. The captain had no paperwork granting an extension to take his stone crab traps out of the water. The vessel captain was cited for not removing traps within five days after season closure and transporting stone crab traps during the closed season.
• Officer Garcia was on water patrol on a U.S. Coast Guard vessel when she observed a charter fishing vessel going through a minimum wake zone in Whale Harbor Channel. Officer Garcia and one USCG officer boarded the vessel to discover an individual suffering from heatstroke. The officers provided first aid while the charter captain maneuvered to the docks to meet emergency medical services. After the individual was safely transported by EMS, Officer Garcia conducted a boating safety inspection. During the inspection, Officer Garcia discovered the charter captain to have an expired charter fishing license as well as several safety violations and an expired Certificate of Documentation. The charter captain was issued a citation for the expired charter license and a Captain of the Port order for an illegal charter and undocumented vessel. 
• Officers Sample and Ruiz observed a vessel anchored north of the Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, which is inside the Key Largo Existing Management Area. The officers observed four individuals snorkeling about 30 meters behind the vessel and conducted a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the divers to be in possession of seven speared Atlantic triggerfish, one speared black grouper, one speared mutton snapper, and one speared schoolmaster snapper.  Two of the individuals aboard the vessel claimed to have speared the fish on board and were issued federal citations for possession of speared fish inside the Key Largo Existing Management Area. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Miami-Dade County

• Officers Washington and Reynaud visited a local elementary school and engaged students with an informative session about boating safety, the importance of life jackets, and co-existing with alligators. To enhance the learning experience, they provided educational resources and introduced a small alligator, allowing the students to gain a hands-on understanding.