FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: July 12-18

July 12, 2024 through July 18, 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

Escambia County

• During the annual Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Air Show July 10-13, FWC officers worked with local law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard conducting heightened patrols to help keep the waters safe for the many boaters enjoying the event. FWC officers removed 14 impaired vessel operators from the water for boating under the influence, protecting them, their passengers and the public from potential tragedy.

Gulf County

• Officer Butts and Lieutenant Guy were conducting resource inspections at the Mexico Beach boat ramp and discovered a recreational vessel with two out-of-season red grouper. Officer Butts handled the violation accordingly.
• Officers M. and H. Webb were on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico off Cape San Blas. They stopped a vessel with a few people and fishing equipment to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the captain was in possession of an undersized red grouper out of season. The officers cited the captain for the possessing out-of-season violation and warned him for undersized red grouper.
• Officers M. and H. Webb were on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico off Cape San Blas. They stopped a vessel returning with seven people and fishing equipment to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the captain was in possession of three red grouper out of season. A citation was issued for possession out of season.
• Officers M. and H. Webb were on patrol in St. Joe Bay and stopped a vessel with a few people and fishing equipment to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the captain possessed four gray triggerfish out of season and undersized. A citation was issued for the violations. 
• Officers M. and H. Webb were on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico off Cape San Blas and stopped a vessel returning with six people and fishing equipment to conduct a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the captain possessed a red grouper out of season. A citation was issued for possession out of season.
• Officer Butts and Lieutenant Guy were on patrol at Mexico Beach boat ramp conducting resource inspections when a recreational vessel was discovered to have one out-of-season red grouper. Officer Butts handled the violation accordingly. 
• Officer Lipford was conducting a resource inspection at a popular fishing spot. During the inspection violations pertaining to flounder and saltwater fishing license were discovered. The appropriate action was taken. 
• Officers Scott and Gerber observed a vessel illegally moored to a navigation marker. During a subsequent resource and boating safety inspection, they found the operator was in possession of over-the-bag-limit of redfish, undersized redfish, undersized sheepshead, and no fishing license. The appropriate action was taken. 
• Officers Gerber, Butts, and Jarrell were on patrol conducting commercial blue crab trap inspections. Several violations were discovered with one individual’s traps. Officers watched the individual working the traps and later conducted a stop. The appropriate action was taken.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

• Lieutenant Guy, Officer M. Webb and Officer Butts responded to a search and rescue call offshore between Cape San Blas and Indian Pass. While enroute the vessel completely sank leaving three adults and two children floating and adrift at sea. All five individuals were rescued and transported inland with no injuries reported. 

CASES

Columbia County

• Officer Clark responded to a traffic stop conducted by the Sheriff’s Office after deputies located a gopher tortoise in a grocery bag in the vehicle they were searching. Upon arriving on scene, the officer issued the appropriate citations. 

Dixie County

• Senior Officer Cooper and Officer Specialist Sheffield observed a vessel with fishing rods return to a boat ramp in Horseshoe Beach. Officer Cooper conducted a marine resource inspection, which revealed the subject possessed six undersized red grouper. Additionally, the harvest of red grouper is closed. Upon conducting a boating safety inspection, the subject was unable to produce the required flares and type IV throwable device. Officer Cooper issued a citation with charges of possessing undersized red grouper and harvest of red grouper during the closure and written warnings for the safety violations. 

Duval County

• Officers Schirbock and Sayne were conducting a fisheries inspection on a vessel in the St. Johns River. Officer Schirbock discovered an undersized black sea bass in the livewell. Officer Schirbock asked about a cooler in the back of the boat and as he was opening the cooler the boat operator said there were redfish in the cooler. Officer Schirbock found red drum fillets in the cooler. Officer Schirbock conducted a resource inspection on another vessel and when he asked the operator if they had any fish in the live well, the operator said no. However, when Officer Schirbock inspected the livewell he found three undersized vermillion snapper and four undesized red snapper. When asked where they had caught the fish, the operator stated someone had given them the fish. The operator of both vessels and occupants of the second vessel were all issued citations for the violations and must appear in court. 
• Officer Tyler conducted a resource inspection on a vessel coming back to the St. Johns River from offshore and found a gag grouper in an ice box in the forward part of the vessel. Gag grouper are currently closed for possession in Florida state waters and federal waters of the south Atlantic.  The captain of the vessel accepted responsibility for the violations. During the same patrol, Officer Tyler stopped another vessel and found the operator of that vessel possessed two undersized dolphinfish (mahi-mahi). In both cases, the responsible parties were issued citations for their violations and must appear in court. 
• Officer Kirkey was approached by an angler at a boat ramp about a possible illegal net in the water. Officer Kirkey passed the information to Officer Tyler and he and Officer Schirbock responded to the area in an unmarked boat and plain clothes.  As they approached the creek where the net was reported to be located, the officers saw a subject fishing from a kayak.  As the officers approached, the angler instructed the officers to wait for him to remove his net so they didn’t damage it. The officers watched as the subject removed a net made wholly of monofilament from the water, which is considered an illegal entangling net. The officers then identified themselves, placed the subject under arrest and took him into custody for using an entangling net in state waters, having an entangling net on a vessel less than 22 feet, being in simultaneous possession of red drum and an entangling net, possession of undersized red drum, and possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia.  The subject was also cited for not having a valid fishing license. The subject was booked into the Duval County jail.  
• Officer Specialist Hausler conducted a resource inspection on a vessel at a local boat ramp. The operator advised Officer Specialist Hausler there were no fish on board. An  inspection of the cooler revealed a bag with fish fillets that were recently cleaned and did not have the tail, head, or skin.  Upon completion of the inspection, the operator was issued a uniform boating citation for the failure to transfer title within 30 days, a resource citation for failure to land gray snapper in whole condition, and a resource citation for no current saltwater fishing license.  The operator was also issued warnings for his boating safety equipment and not having his registration certificate on board the vessel.  

Gilchrist County

• Officer Specialist Hilliard received information about an illegal dumpsite on a county-maintained road. Officer Hilliard located the trash, measured the amount of trash, and located several personal identifiers. The officer conducted interviews with the subjects who were identified and one of them admitted to illegally dumping the trash.  One charge of littering will be directly filed with the State Attorney’s Office.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officers Hedgepeth, St. Martin, and Marshall observed a vessel with subjects fishing outside Sebastian Inlet prior to the opening of red snapper season. The officers conducted a resource inspection and found the subjects were in possession of red snapper before the opening of red snapper season. The subjects were cited accordingly.

Indian River County

• While on patrol, Officer Rivard responded to a call about a subject taking a red drum out of season. Officer Rivard observed a vessel returning to the boat ramp that matched the description given and conducted a resource inspection. Officer Rivard’s inspection revealed the subject possessed an out-of-season red drum. Through interviewing the subjects, she identified which subject on the vessel had caught the red drum and cited that subject accordingly.

St. Johns County

• While on federal water patrol during the one-day Atlantic red snapper season, Officer Lemaster and Senior Officer Thomas stopped a vessel returning from fishing. During the fisheries inspection, five undersized vermilion snapper were located. The owner claimed possession of all undersized fish. Officer Thomas issued the owner one state citation for possession of undersized vermilion snapper. On another vessel stop in federal waters, the officers located an undersized red snapper a subject misidentified as a vermilion snapper. The subject had a prior violation for no descending device. The subject still did not have a device onboard. Officer Lemaster issued the subject a citation for no descending device in state waters and a warning for over-the-bag-limit of red snapper.
• While conducting fisheries inspections at Matanzas Inlet Bridge, Senior Officer Thomas checked a subject who stated he had caught a red drum. Upon measuring the red drum, it was determined to be oversized and the subject was issued a citation for possessing an oversized red drum.
• While conducting fisheries inspections at Matanzas Inlet Bridge, Officer Lemaster and Senior Officer Thomas checked a subject fishing who had a bag of fish. Upon inspection, Officer Lemaster located 12 gray snapper with six of them being undersized and seven were over the allowed bag limit. Officer Lemaster issued the subject a citation for possessing undersized gray snapper and a citation for possessing over-the-bag limit of gray snapper.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Lake County

• Officer Specialist Weber (public information officer) conducted an outreach event at the Mt. Dora Brazilian Jujitsu Academy. Officer Weber brought the Wildlife Alert display trailer as well as a small alligator. There were approximately 75 youth and adults in attendance. Officer Weber spoke about preventing wildlife conflicts and answered many questions from the audience.

CASES

Hillsborough County

• Officer Specialist Rorer saw a vehicle parked next to a freshwater canal and four individuals carrying coolers and a cast net returning to the vehicle. She contacted the individuals and conducted a fisheries inspection and found the individuals to be in possession of 42 panfish and four Florida bass. The individuals did not have any hook and line gear and admitted to catching the fish with a cast net. Officer Specialist Rorer issued the four individuals citations for harvesting freshwater gamefish with the use of a net. 

Manatee County

• Officer Specialist Gonsales was on patrol around the South Skyway Fishing Pier when he observed an individual fishing from a sea wall. A resource inspection revealed the subject had caught and kept an out-of-season and undersized snook. The individual was given a notice to appear in Manatee County Court for the violation.
• Officer Wesche was patrolling the area around the South Skyway Fishing Pier when he observed an individual spearfishing around the pier. A resource inspection revealed the person had speared a snook that was about 33 inches and filleted it. The subject will have to appear in Manatee County Court for the violation.
• Officer Specialist Miller was on land patrol around Bradenton Beach when he spotted an individual fishing from a finger pier on the beach. As the subject was packing up, Officer Specialist Miller conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the subject had caught and kept seven undersized gray snapper, two over the bag limit. The subject will have to appear in Manatee County Court for the violations.

Polk County

• Officers Cody Seitz and Vincent Fioramanti responded to a possible illegal harvesting of saw palmetto berries in the Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area. The officers observed two individuals harvesting saw palmetto berries. As Officers approached, the two individuals fled on foot away. Officer Seitz located the two individuals hiding in the saw palmettos. The officers found a bin and mesh bag containing 30 pounds of harvested saw palmetto berries along with a hand saw and a pair of garden shears. Officers also found drug paraphernalia on both individuals. Polk County deputies arrived on scene and field tested the drug paraphernalia which tested positive for methamphetamine. The two individuals were arrested for harvesting saw palmetto berries without a valid permit or written landowner’s permission and Polk County will be filing added drug charges. Both individuals were booked into Polk County Jail.

Sarasota County

• Senior Officer Hinds was on land patrol around New Pass when he spotted an individual fishing from the beach. A resource inspection revealed the subject had caught and kept an undersized and out-of-season snook. The subject was issued a notice to appear in Sarasota County Court for the violation.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Lee County

• Officers Lejarzar and Hardgrove did a public speaking event at a local elementary school. The event gave the students a chance to interact with the officers, learn about our local resources and safely get a close up look at a small alligator.

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Olivera and Walcott observed a vessel with dive gear displayed at Port Everglades Inlet. The officers conducted a resource inspection that revealed one diver on the vessel possessed egg bearing lobster. Officers issued the subject a notice to appear citation for harvesting egg bearing lobster.
• Officers Olivera and Walcott were conducting water patrol at the Port Everglades Inlet when a Hollywood Police Department Marine Unit requested assistance. An HPD officer informed Olivera and Walcott the vessel he had stopped was in possession of egg bearing and undersized lobster. Olivera and Walcott conducted a resource inspection and found two subjects onboard the vessel possessed egg bearing and undersized lobster. The officers issued both subjects notice to appear citations for the violations. 
• Officers Walcott and Olivera conducted water patrol at the Port Everglades Inlet when they were notified by the U.S. Coast Guard of a vessel in possession of undersized lobster. The officers responded and conducted a resource inspection. One subject onboard the vessel was found to possess five undersized Lobster. Officers issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possessing undersized lobster.
• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning to the Port Everglades Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway. His resource inspection revealed the operator of the vessel possessed undersized mutton snapper. Willis issued the operator a notice to appear citation for the violation.
• Officer Lopez  was patrolling the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park when the park manager informed him about a diver launching a kayak from the beach, near parking lot 5. Lopez conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the diver possessed speared, out-of-season, and undersized snook. Lopez issued the diver notice to appear citations for the violations.
• Officers Comartin and Lopez were conducting water patrol at the Port Everglades Inlet when they received a call about narcotics found floating in the water. The officers responded and retrieved the narcotics from state waters and turned them over to the Fort Lauderdale Police Evidence Unit. 
• Officer Willis, Beppel, and Favrot responded to a call about a personal watercraft explosion on Fort Lauderdale beach. The officers arrived at the location and secured the scene. They checked for injuries and maintained the scene for safety. There were no injuries reported.

Martin County

• Officer’s Koger and Bingham were 25 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean at the Oculina Bank Experimental Closed Area when they observed individuals bottom fishing. They stopped the vessel to address the violation. The officers inspected the vessel and found the subjects possessed scamp grouper and two mahi mahi, which is a violation within the Oculina Bank Experimental Closed Area. An FWC resource citation was issued to document the violation and a case packet sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address the federal violation. 

St. Lucie County

• Officer Bingham observed a vessel displaying a diver’s down flag on the north side of the Fort Pierce Inlet. He then observed a diver come up out of the water and hand a catch bag to a person on board. The officer conducted a resource and license inspection and found the subject possessed eleven Florida spiney lobster, six of which were under sized. The subject was cited for the violation.
• Officer Barghouty observed a vessel coming in from offshore with several individuals on board and multiple fishing rods. A license and resource inspection were conducted. Harvested fish were in a cooler including an undersized cobia. When asked about the cobia, one subject stated it measured 32 inches and pointed to an old regulation sticker, which indicated cobia needed to be 34 inches. The subject was informed the fish was undersized by the old regulations and that current regulations require cobia measure 36 inches to the fork. The subject was cited for the violation.

CASES

Collier County

• While conducting inspections at the Jolley Bridge, Officer Jackson encountered a subject with an undersized sheepshead and two out-of-season, undersized stone crab claws. The subject was cited accordingly. 

Miami-Dade County

• Officers Martinez and Presser conducted a fisheries check at Cocoplum Circle on a subject’s cooler. The cooler contained 10 undersized gray snapper and four undersized schoolmaster snapper. The subject was charged with possession of undersized gray snapper, possession of undersized schoolmaster snapper, over the bag limit of mangrove snapper and over the aggregate bag limit for snapper.
• Officer Santiago Mosquera was conducting resource inspections along L 31 E Canal when he observed two motorized vehicles driving inside the South Florida Water Management District. While conducting a stop on both vehicles, he observed five occupants and two large trash cans in the back of a pickup truck. The subject advised Officer Mosquera the trash cans contained blue land crabs they had harvested. A  resource inspection revealed the subjects possessed 194 blue land crabs. Officer Whale and Veiga arrived to assist Officer Mosquera and discovered an additional bucket with blue land crabs in the back of the pick-up truck. A total of 198 blue land crabs were found during the inspection. All five subjects received notice to appear citations for possession of blue land crabs over the bag limit (20 per person), and the two owners of the vehicles received an additional charge for operating a motorized vehicle on SFWMD property.
• Officers Tuckfield and Espinosa were conducting late night patrol on the offshore patrol vessel Fearless on the reef line in the Miami-Dade area. During the patrol, officers conducted multiple inspections and located multiple violations including: two undersized mutton snapper; three individuals in possession of 33 snappers, including gray snapper and one yellowtail snapper; and nine undersized snapper (eight yellowtail, and one gray). They also discovered a vessel with a commercial quantity of gray snapper (81) with an expired saltwater products license (no endorsements) and no federal fisheries commercial snapper grouper permit. All the violations were cited appropriately. 
• While patrolling on the offshore patrol vessel Fearless in Miami, Officers Montero and Espinosa observed a vessel with individuals bull-netting in the lobster sanctuary. Upon doing a resource inspection, they located seven lobsters. The individuals were cited according for lobstering inside the lobster sanctuary. 

SEARCH AND RESCUE

• Officers Jackson and Pierre-Louis were patrolling Keewaydin Island when a vessel approached them with a passenger who needed immediate medical attention. The officers were informed the individual had a faint pulse and was experiencing a loss of consciousness. Officer Jackson assessed the individual and provided immediate medical attention on their patrol vessel while Officer Pierre-Louis operated the vessel to bring the individual to emergency medical services. The subject regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital by EMS.