FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: July 26-Aug. 1

July 26, 2024 through Aug. 1, 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

• While on patrol in the Pensacola Pass, Officer Lugg observed a commercial fishing vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico heading toward a commercial offloading dock. Officer Lugg could not locate a three-hour notification of landing declaration time through any source and observed the vessel appeared to have been returning from fishing. Officer Lugg with the assistance of Officer Bower traveled to the commercial offloading dock and found the vessel had docked. The officers made contact with the captain who stated he had been fishing under commercial limits but had no species managed under the IFQ (individual fishing quota) program on board and did not need to report his landing. A marine fisheries inspection located approximately 175 pounds of red snapper in multiple fish holds on the vessel as well as vermillion snapper. Undersized commercial length red snapper was also located during the inspection. During a records search, the captain was found to have a warrant for his arrest. The individual was arrested for the warrant and charged with possession of undersized red snapper and issued federal citations for failing to provide a three-hour notification of landing (reporting fish in possession/sold) and for failing to follow VMS (vessel monitoring system) protocol, which is active at all times while on the water. 
• While on patrol at the Palafox Pier, Officer Lugg observed a subject returning from fishing carrying fishing gear and a cooler. Officer Lugg conducted a fisheries inspection and located an undersized gray snapper in a cooler under a large amount of glass minnows. Officer Lugg was about to inspect a large cooler in the subject’s vehicle when the subject stated there may be a large redfish in the cooler. The subject possessed an undersized out-of-season gag grouper, an oversized redfish, undersized spotted trout, and undersized gray snapper that exceeded the recreational bag limit. The subject was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Waters conducted a resource inspection on an individual who was fishing. The subject stated he had caught some mullet. The officer found an undersized black drum and a gray snapper that had been harvested with a cast net in the cooler. The subject was cited accordingly.  
• Lieutenant Corbin was on patrol at a local boat ramp when he observed a vessel returning from flounder fishing. A resource inspection revealed several fish were inside a cooler, including a redfish that had been gigged. One of the occupants admitted to gigging the redfish and was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Lieutenant Corbin located a derelict vessel while patrolling Bayou Chico. The vessel was approximately 50 percent submerged and sitting on the bottom. The cabin was holding several feet of water and the mast was broken. The owner of the vessel was located and issued a notice to appear citation for storing a derelict vessel on state waters. 

Leon County

• Officers R. Hildebrand, L. Glover, Investigator J. Bryant and Lieutenant G. Louque responded to a personal watercraft accident on Lake Bradford. The subject hit a cypress tree at a high rate of speed and was ejected from the PWC. The individual was transported to hospital by emergency medical services. The officers conducted a boating accident investigation. 
• Officer B. Johnson II and Senior Officer B. Johnson responded to a complaint in reference to a subject catching and possessing a small alligator at a residence. The officers responded to the residence and interviewed the subjects there. The officers seized the small alligator and released it back to the resource. The individual who allegedly caught the alligator was not present at the time the interviews were conducted. An investigation is ongoing.
• Officer B. Johnson II and Senior Officer B. Johnson responded to a complaint of a bear that was shot and killed near a road. The officers tracked a blood trail to another piece of property. A subject was identified and interviewed. The subject admitted to shooting at the bear. An investigation is ongoing.  

Santa Rosa County

• Officers Bower and Roberson were patrolling on the Gulf Breeze side of the three-mile bridge when they observed a vehicle with a fishing vessel parked under the bridge. Officer Bower contacted the individuals who had been fishing and conducted a resource inspection. The officer was given permission to look at coolers inside the individual’s vehicle. The inspection revealed they were in possession of a whole stone crab, which was out of season. Officer Bower issued a notice to appear for the violation. 

Walton County

• Officer R. Brooks and Lieutenant Tison were patrolling Eglin Reservation, investigating reports of an illegal campsite. The officers encountered a subject on the Eglin property who did not have a valid Eglin recreational permit. The subject admitted to having a campsite further in the wooded area. The officers followed the subject back to his campsite where an additional subject was located. The campsite was littered with waste, bicycle parts, abandoned tents and containers, clothing, and other litter. The second subject was unable to provide an Eglin permit. While the officers attempted to run the subjects’ information, one of them attempted to flee on foot. She was apprehended and admitted to providing a false name due to having an active warrant out of Okaloosa County. Both subjects were arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence, felony drug charges, criminal littering over 15 pounds, no Eglin permit, and illegal camping on Eglin Reservation.  

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Jefferson County

• Officer B. Johnson II, M. Mcleod, M. Fernbach, and Lieutenant G. Louque responded to a couple of kayakers who were lost on the Wacissa River after dark. The officers located the kayakers and transported them back to safety.  

CASES

Columbia County

• Senior Officers Davenport and Yates responded to complaints of individuals harassing alligators within the various lakes in the Lake City area. The officers were conducting land-based patrols of these waterbodies and Officer Yates observed a subject attempting to catch an alligator with a rod and reel and remove it from the water. The subject tossed the alligator in the water after observing Officer Davenport pulling up.  The subject admitted to attempting to catch the alligator. Charges pursuant to this violation will be turned over to the local State Attorney’s Office pending their review of the case. 

Lafayette County 

• Officer Covington and Hilliard were on Patrol in Mallory Swamp Wildlife Management Area when they encountered several subjects illegally running dogs.  The officers took appropriate actions and issued charges accordingly.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLCING

Gilchrist County

• Officer Specialist Hilliard participated in a Touch a Truck outreach event and interacted with the public and explained the unique duties and responsibilities of a FWC officer.  He also spoke about the importance of conservation and answered general questions.

CASES

Indian River County

• Officer Rivard responded to a call about two subjects under a bridge who were attempting to harvest a goliath grouper. Officer Rivard then arrived on scene and located the subjects. She observed for several minutes and then conducted a resource inspection, which revealed a goliath grouper attached to a stringer. In Florida, it is illegal to possess a goliath grouper. The subjects were cited accordingly.
• Lieutenant Lightsey observed a truck slowly rolling down the road at night near agricultural lands. He watched as the truck stopped and shined a light bar and flashlight into fields and groves. The truck eventually left the roadway and entered one of the groves. Lieutenant Lightsey conducted a stop and found two subjects possessed three loaded rifles, multiple GPS collared dogs and other activated GPS gear. The subjects did not have permission to be on the private property. A notice to appear was issued for the violations.

Marion County

• Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Lambert responded to a call about a subject harvesting blue crabs inside the Salt Springs Recreation Area. Harvesting Blue Crabs inside the recreation area is prohibited and the subject refused to comply with instructions given by park staff and a deputy to leave the area. FWC officers arrived at an adjacent boat ramp and observed the subject pulling up anchor and leaving the area. Officer Dickson made verbal contact with the subject from the boat ramp and instructed him to dock his vessel for an inspection. The subject ignored her instructions and proceeded to leave the area. Officers boarded a patrol vessel and caught up to the subject. The subject refused to identify himself and was uncooperative throughout the encounter. He was arrested and charged with failure to allow inspection, fleeing and eluding by vessel and resisting without violence.

Monroe County

• Officer Specialist McConnell was conducting resource inspections around Channel 2 Bridge in Islamorada during the recreational spiny lobster sport season when he observed a subject exiting the water carrying a five-gallon bucket, buoy with a dive flag and a spear gun. During a resource inspection, Officer McConnell observed five spiny lobster and one hogfish inside the bucket. Upon further inspection, one of the lobsters measured under the legal minimum size limit of a three-inch carapace. The hogfish was determined to be speared and was undersized. Spearfishing is not legal in the area the subject was located. During the inspection, Officer McConnell learned the subject had a cooler in their vehicle and allowed the officer to inspect it. Inside the cooler was an undersized snook that had a hole in it consistent with being speared. Spearing is not a legal method of take for that fish species and snook season was closed. Officer McConnell issued the subject notice to appear citations for possession of undersized lobster, possession of undersized hogfish, illegal method of take of snook, possession of snook during closed season, possession of undersized snook, and spearfishing in the upper Keys.

Putnam County

• Officer Specialist D. Dickson was patrolling the area around County Road 309C when he spotted individuals who appeared to be pursuing deer with dogs during the closed season. K-9 Senior Officer North and Officer Specialist Christmas along with Officers Galvan, Lambert, and Hayden arrived to assist with the investigation. Officers observed several trucks in the area and several hunting dogs pursuing wildlife. They determined the subjects were targeting deer and the dogs were deployed to pursue deer during the closed deer season. Charges were forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for the violations. 

St. John’s County

• While conducting fisheries inspections at Vilano Beach Boat Ramp, Senior Officer Thomas and Officer Specialist Lawrence observed a subject returning from offshore fishing. The subject stated he had snapper, cobia, and a greater amberjack. Upon inspection of his fish, four undersized dolphinfish (mahi-mahi) were discovered at the bottom of the fish box. The operator claimed possession. Officer Thomas issued the subject a citation for possession of undersized dolphinfish.
• Senior Officer Thomas and Officer Specialist Harris responded to a call at Guana River State Park about a group of subjects harvesting blue crabs using a cast net. The officers located the group and watched them cast net blue crabs. As the officers approached, the subjects dropped the cast net in the water and walked away from it. Blue crabs were in their cooler. All four subjects admitted to using a cast net to harvest blue crab and they were issued citations for the violation.

Orange County

• Officer Wild observed an individual fishing with a cast net on a lake. He conducted a license and resource inspection and found the individual had harvested gamefish. Gamefish can only be harvested by use of hook and line or rod and reel. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violation.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Lake County

• Officer Specialist Weber (public information officer) was invited to speak at Skate World in Leesburg for their Summer Skate Camp. Officer Weber spoke about the importance of wearing a life jacket while enjoying Florida’s many lakes, rivers and springs.  Furthermore, Officer Weber explained how feeding wild animals can be dangerous.

Orange County

• Officer Specialist Weber (public information officer) and Officers McDonough, Demeter, Maslo, and Drake attended ICAST, the largest sportfishing tradeshow in the world, which was held in Orlando. The officers interacted with hundreds of stakeholders from around the state and answered an array of questions pertaining to fish and wildlife.

Seminole County

• Officer Specialist Weber (public information officer) spoke to Cub Scout Group 773 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The Cub Scout group’s theme for their camp was “Outside Adventures.” Officer Weber spoke about what an FWC officer does and why conserving and protecting Florida’s natural resources and wildlife is important. The Wildlife Alert trailer was a big hit and the children had fun identifying the animals in the trailer.

CASES

Lee County

• Officers Stapleton and Garcia and Lieutenant Ruggiero observed a vehicle at a wildlife management area. The vehicle eventually pulled into the woods where subjects loaded 20 bags of saw palmetto berries. The officers apprehended all the subjects. Officers Lejarzar and Salem and Lieutenant Barrett arrived on scene to assist with processing the scene and the subjects were arrested for illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries in a wildlife management area. 

Pinellas County

• While on water patrol, Officers Ferguson and Criswell observed a vessel in the closed scallop zone and conducted a resource inspection. One scallop was found onboard the vessel along with eight hogfish and eight gray snappers. One of the vessel occupants had speared all eight hogfish, three hogfish over the bag limit of five. Six of the eight hogfish were under the 14-inch size limit. The appropriate citation and warnings were issued to the subjects. 
• While on water patrol, Officers Ferguson and Criswell conducted a resource inspection of a vessel with spearfishing equipment onboard. The officers located six hogfish onboard the vessel and three of them were undersized. The appropriate citation was issued.

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Willis and Officer Specialist Bruder conducted a resource inspection on a sportfishing vessel at the Port Everglades Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway. The officers believed the vessel’s track was consistent with vessels leaving the Bahamas. Their inspection revealed 52 fish of the Demersal species onboard the vessel, 32 over the allowable limit from the Bahamas. The officers issued the owner/operator a federal citation for the violation. Case packet was forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for processing.  
• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on a vessel at the Port Everglades Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway. The inspection revealed several fish fillets in a cooler. The subject admitted to harvesting the fish from the Bahamas and returning to Florida. There were 18 bags of skinless fish fillets recovered from the cooler. Willis issued the subject a federal citation for violating federal code 50 CFR 622.13(Q) dolphinfish/wahoo/reef fish no skin on fillet. 
• Officers Bouras and Giani were patrolling at the 14^th Street Boat Ramp in Ft. Lauderdale and conducted a resource inspection on a vessel. Their inspection revealed the subject possessed 49 snapper and grouper fish. It was also discovered that the fish were acquired/harvested while in the Bahamas. Officers issued the subject federal citations for fish and license violations. 
• Officers Beppel and Walcott conducted a resource inspection on a charter vessel while patrolling at the 17^th St. Bridge and Intracoastal Waterway. Their inspection revealed a cooler containing five queen conch. The owner of the cooler admitted to harvesting the conch. The officers issued the owner a notice to appear citation for harvest and possession of queen conch in state waters. 
• Officer Willis contacted two shore divers at Pompano Beach during the two-day recreational spiny lobster sport season for the purpose of a resource inspection. Willis’ inspection revealed one of the subjects was found in possession of queen conch. Queen conch is illegal to possess in Florida, regardless of where harvested. Willis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of queen conch. 
• Officers Beppel and Walcott conducted water patrol at the 17^th St. Bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway and stopped a dive charter vessel for the purpose of a resource inspection. Their inspection revealed a bucket with two egg-bearing lobsters hidden at the bottom. Four subjects admitted to ownership of the bucket. The officers issued all four subjects citations for possession of egg-bearing lobster. 
• Officers Beppel and Walcott conducted water patrol at the 17^th St. Bridge and Intracoastal Waterway and stopped a vessel for the purpose of resource inspection. Their inspection revealed one subject onboard the vessel was in possession of egg-bearing and undersized lobster. The officers issued the subject two notice to appear citations for the violations. 
• Officers Bouras and Giani responded to a complaint about an individual spearfishing near the Hillsboro Inlet Jetty. The officers observed a subject spearfishing in the water near the jetty and contacted the subject to conduct a resource inspection. Their inspection revealed the subject was in possession of a speared snook and an out-of-season spiny lobster. The officers issued the subject notice to appear citations for out-of-season spiny lobster and out-of-season, over slot, and speared snook.
• Officers Beppel and Walcott conducted water patrol at 17^th St. Bridge and the Intracoastal Waterway and stopped a vessel to conduct a resource inspection. Their inspection revealed two subjects onboard the vessel possessed three undersized lobster. The officers issued the subjects notice to appear citations for the violation. 
• Officers Comartin and Rigali conducted water patrol at the Port Everglades Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway and stopped a vessel with dive gear displayed to conduct a resource inspection. Their inspection revealed a subject onboard the vessel was in possession of an undersized lobster. The officers issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of undersize lobster.  
• Officer Willis conducted water patrol at the Port Everglades Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway and stopped a vessel for the purpose of resource inspection. Willis’ inspection revealed a subject onboard the vessel possessed an undersized hogfish. Willis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of an undersized hogfish.
• Officer Specialist Perez responded to a call regarding a subject with a caged raccoon and observed a juvenile raccoon in a cage that appeared to be kept as a pet. The subject did not have a permit to possess a captive raccoon. The subject had previous charges with FWC for the same violation. Perez issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of a raccoon without a permit. The raccoon was taken to a wildlife facility.

Statewide Summary of Boating Related Law Enforcement Activities

For July 1 - 31, 2024