FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Aug. 9-15

August 9, 2024 through August 15, 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

Franklin County

• Officer Hartzog observed a vessel violating the no wake zone on the river while patrolling Highway 98 in Carrabelle. He observed the individual come to a stop and begin fishing along the riverbank. The officer announced himself and conducted an inspection. Upon preforming a resource and boating safety inspection, Officer Hartzog observed the subject to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. The individual was arrested and transported to Franklin County jail. 

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Lewis responded to a complaint about a large and disorderly campsite. The officer observed the campsite was littered with trash and the camper cut various plants in the forest, which is prohibited. A records check showed the camper had an out of county warrant. The officer arrested the camper for the warrant, transported him to the Santa Rosa County jail, and issued him citations for the violations. 
• Officer Roberson responded to a call about someone dumping garbage on Blackwater State Forest. He located 13 bags of trash scattered in the woods. Officer Roberson looked through the trash bags and discovered mail with a name and address. Upon further investigation, Officer Roberson located a subject who stated they paid someone to let them put their trash in their trash cans. After interviewing the subject for a while, the subject confessed to throwing the trash bags in the woods and they were able to show Officer Roberson exactly where it had been dumped. The subject cleaned up the trash and then was issued a notice to appear.

Wakulla County

• Officers T. Nelson and Hartzog were patrolling on Ochlockonee River and observed a single occupied vessel with gear on board consistent with fishing. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a resource inspection and observed the subject possessed over the daily bag limit of largemouth bass and possessed multiple fish over the allowed size limit. The subject had multiple previous violations for the same violations and was cited accordingly. 

OFFSHORE PATROL

• While conducting vessel patrol in federal waters south of Franklin County, Officers Hartzog, T. Nelson, and L. Mcleod observed a commercial fishing vessel with multiple individuals on board fishing. The officers conducted a resource and boating safety inspection and located multiple grouper fillets and on the hooks, being used as bait. The officers documented the violations and forwarded details of the violation to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
• While conducting vessel patrol in federal waters south of Franklin County, Officers Hartzog, T. Nelson, and L. Mcleod conducted a resource and boating safety inspection on a recreational fishing vessel with multiple individuals on board fishing. The officers located an out-of-season gray triggerfish and undersized African pompano. The officers cited the violations accordingly.

CASES

Clay County

• Officer Nasworth responded to a residence in reference to a hawk that had been killed. The complainant showed him the deceased hawk and said he heard a noise from the neighbor’s yard and then observed a hawk fall from a limb where it died in the yard. Officer Nasworth observed a recent wound in the chest of the hawk. He conducted an interview with the subject who admitted to killing the hawk. The subject was charged for violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Duval County

• Officer Austin responded to a complaint of a subject placing food in their yard, which was attracting raccoons. The raccoons were then visiting other homes and causing damage. Multiple reports of this activity had been received previously and the person putting the food out had been educated about the law. However, the person continued to place food outside. This time, when Officer Austin arrived, he could see two piles of cat food in the yard. Officer Austin contacted the subject who admitted to placing the food in the yard. The subject was issued a citation for the violation. 
• Lieutenant Givens observed a vessel sitting in the water at a popular fishing spot with three people on board and multiple fishing lines in the water. Lieutenant Givens conducted a boating safety and fisheries inspection and immediately saw a spotted sea trout on the deck of the boat.  However, when asked if there were any fish on the boat, the owner and operator of the vessel said, “No.”  Lieutenant Givens then asked to see the inside of the live well and when one of the other occupants opened the lid, the owner of the vessel stated they had two gray (mangrove) snapper in the live well. There also was another spotted sea trout in the live well. The mangrove snapper on board were of legal size, however, both spotted sea trout were undersized. The operator of the vessel stated they had caught both trout and when Lieutenant Givens ran the subject’s driver’s license, discovered the subject had previously been issued a warning for possession of undersized fish as well as a citation for undersized black drum. The subject was issued a citation and charged for both undersized spotted sea trout and must appear in court.  
• Officer Goodfellow conducted a vessel inspection on an aluminum boat and found there was no hull identification number. The owner of the vessel revealed he had purchased the boat from another individual and was attempting to get the vessel registered. Officer Goodfellow located the seller of the vessel and learned the seller had purchased the vessel without paperwork from a subject on SnapChat. The seller was issued a citations and warnings for purchasing and selling a vessel without a title or HIN. 

Nassau County

• Senior Officer Tom Tucker observed two individuals with a cast net gathering fish on a creek bank near Ameilia Island State Park. A resource inspection revealed there were several mullet along with an undersized spotted seatrout and an undersized red drum in their cooler. Senior Officer Tucker identified the subject throwing the cast net and issued a citation for the undersized fish violations and a written warning for not having a valid fishing license. 
• Senior Officer Tom Tucker conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject engaged in saltwater fishing at the docks at the Pogy Plant in Fernandina Beach. He asked the subject for a fishing license and the subject said it was probably expired. The resource inspection revealed two undersized flounder. The subject stated he was given the fish.  Senior Officer Tucker explained he was responsible for ensuring the fish were of legal size when taking them into his possession. The subject was issued a citation for the undersized flounder and a written warning for not having a valid fishing license.  

OFFSHORE PATROL

• Offshore patrol vessel Sentinel crewed by Senior Officers Geib and Read was on federal water patrol when they observed a vessel with people fishing. Officer Geib boarded the vessel and determined it was a paid charter. During the inspection, nine over-the-bag vermilion snapper were found.  When asked, the captain of the vessel was unsure of how many fish they had caught during the trip. The captain was issued a federal citation for the violations.  The case will be turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for prosecution. 
• Offshore patrol vessel Sentinel crewed by Senior Officers Read, Geib and Captain Glover was on federal water patrol when they observed a vessel with people fishing. Officer Read boarded the vessel for a resource inspection. During the inspection, Officer Read located vermilion snapper in a live well including three that were undersized. The subject was issued a citation for the offense and issued other various warnings 

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Snyder conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning from fishing near Freddie Patrick Boat Ramp. The inspection revealed the subject possessed an undersized red snapper and an undersized flounder. The violations were addressed accordingly. 

Orange County

• Officer Naules patrolled a local wildlife management area when he observed individuals harvesting fish from the St. Johns River using cast nets. Officer Naules conducted a resource and license inspection and found gamefish harvested by the cast net. Gamefish may only be taken by rod and reel or hook and line. During the inspection, Officer Naules discovered the subjects did not have a valid day use pass or WMA permit, which is required at that WMA. One subject also did not have a valid freshwater fishing license. The individual who harvested the gamefish with a cast net was issued a notice to appear for the illegal method of take of freshwater gamefish. The permit/license violations were also addressed.

Volusia County

• Officer Specialist Rasey and Officer Velez  conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject using a recreational crab trap around the North Causeway Bridge and Flagler Avenue. The subject was found to be in possession of three stone crab claws, one egg bearing blue crab, and the trap was not marked as required. All violations were addressed accordingly.
• Senior Officer Bertolami and Officer Velez were on patrol near the Seabreeze Bridge in Daytona Beach when they observed two subjects loading their vessel. Officer Bertolami recognized both subjects from prior enforcement actions. The two subjects were found to be in possession of 21 sheepshead with three measuring under the legal size limit of 12 inches. Additionally, one of the subjects failed to produce a valid saltwater fishing license.  All violations were addressed with both subjects.
• Over a two-day period, Officer Velez targeted Turnbill Bay Road for unlawful oyster harvesting. The environment is not suitable for harvesting oysters in this area and is closed year-round. Officer Velez apprehended two subjects on separate days harvesting oysters and trespassing near the Turnbill Bay Road bridge. The violations were addressed with both subjects.

CASES

Lee County

• Officer Hardgrove conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning from fishing and found three mutton snappers, two of which were undersized. The officer issued a citation for the violation.

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on a vessel at Port Everglades that was returning from the Bahamas. The officer’s inspection revealed a subject onboard the vessel was in possession of 10 bags of wrung lobster tails. Willis issued the subject a federal citation. 
• Officer Bruder responded to a call about a diver who speared a snook at Hillsboro Inlet. The officer saw the subject sitting on the beach with a cooler and speargun. Officer Dudas arrived on scene as backup. Bruder contacted the subject, who immediately stated he was the one who shot the snook. The officer determined the snook, which was in a cooler, was 37” long. The officer issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession off oversized snook, out-of-season snook, prohibited method of take, and spearfishing within 100 feet of a jetty. 
• Officer McCollin-Davis conducted a fisheries inspection on four subjects at the Dania Beach Pier. The officer’s inspection revealed the subjects were putting their fish into the same cooler without marking them for identification. The cooler contained 10 undersized mutton snapper and one undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. The officer issued all four subjects notice to appear citations for possession of undersized mutton and gray snapper. 
• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on a vessel at the boat ramp at Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. His inspection revealed a subject was in possession of two undersized mutton snapper and one puddingwife wrasse (marine life). Willis issued the subject two notice to appear citations for the violations. 
• Officer Bouras stopped a vessel for the purpose of a fisheries inspection at Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. The inspection revealed a subject onboard possessed an undersized mutton snapper. Bouras issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of an undersized mutton snapper.  
• Officers Bovee, Rigali, and Lieutenant Padilla conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at the Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. Their inspection revealed a subject onboard possessed an undersized hogfish. Rigali issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of an undersized hogfish.
• Officer Willis contacted a shore diver for the purpose of a resource inspection near Commercial Pier. His resource inspection revealed the subject was in possession of 11 lobster, five over the daily bag. Willis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of over the bag lobster.
• Officers Bovee and Rigali and Lieutenant Padilla conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at Port Everglades Inlet. Their inspection revealed a subject in possession of undersized lobster. Bovee issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation. 
• Officers Bovee, Rigali, and Lieutenant Padilla conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at Port Everglades Inlet. Their inspection revealed a subject possessed undersized lobster. It was also revealed the subject had an expired charter fishing license. Bovee issued the subject a notice to appear citation for possession of undersized lobster and a civil infraction for no valid charter fishing license. 
• Officer Hammad conducted patrol at the Holey Land Wildlife Management Area during the opening weekend of archery season. There, she observed a subject riding in the bed of a pickup truck with a compound bow. Hammad stopped the truck to investigate and found the subject had an arrow nocked in the bow and a quick release trigger mechanism on his wrist. Hammad’s investigation revealed the subject was attempting to take wildlife from the levee. The officer issued the subject a notice to appear citation for hunting from the roadway in a moving vehicle. 
• Officer Comartin conducted patrol at Holey Land Wildlife Management Area during archery season and observed a truck traveling down the Miami canal levee with subjects in the bed. Those subjects had quick releases on their hands. Comartin stopped the vehicle to investigate and found two subjects were attempting to hunt wildlife from the roadway. Comartin issued both subjects notice to appear citations for the violation. 
• Officer McCollin-Davis responded to a call at Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park about a subject illegally spearfishing. McCollin-Davis observed a subject emerging from the water with a mask, a spotlight, and two spearguns. The subject was in an area of the park closed to the public due to safety concerns. McCollin-Davis issued the subject a notice to appear citation for spearfishing in the state park. The subject was also issued an infraction for being in the closed area of the state park.

Hendry County

• Officer Specialist Carbello observed a vehicle at Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area without headlights on and a light coming from the window. A traffic stop was initiated due to the vehicle not having a license plate or tag light. The officer discovered a .22 rifle, spotlight, and trash bags inside the vehicle within all passengers' reach. The driver was identified and found to be a convicted felon. The subject was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon as well as written a citation for failure to register a vehicle. 

Martin County

• Officer Specialist Cernuto observed four subjects cast netting in the canal at Hungryland Wildlife Environmental Area. She contacted the group and discovered none of the subjects had a freshwater fishing licenses. She inspected their cooler, which contained several fish, including two bluegill. It is illegal to harvest gamefish with a cast net or by any means other than hook and line. The angler with the cast net was issued a notice to appear for taking gamefish by illegal method. The cast netter and other subjects were issued infractions for expired freshwater fishing licenses.
• Officer Lardakis and Officer Spirito observed three subjects under the east side of the Stuart Causeway catching fish. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection that revealed 20 undersized mutton snapper, two undersized gray (mangrove) snapper and an illegally harvested porkfish. All subjects admitted to illegally harvesting the fish and were placed under arrest for the violations.

St. Lucie County

• Officer Dave Bingham was patrolling offshore when he observed a vessel displaying a dive flag while underway. Upon stopping the vessel, he discovered they had harvested four undersized mutton snapper. The captain was cited for the violations. 
• Officer Alicia Castle apprehended two subjects taking saw palmetto berries out of a county property. Both subjects were arrested and taken to the county jail.
• Officer Yousef Barghouty conducted fisheries inspections at Stan Blum boat ramp and discovered a subject who had harvested undersized and out-of-season stone crab claws. The subject was cited for the violation. Another vessel check revealed a subject with prior violations had harvested undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. That subject was also cited. 
• Officer Barghouty and Officer Payne responded to a complaint about two people picking saw palmetto berries in Port St Lucie. Officers arrived at the location where Port St. Lucie Police Department had two subjects detained.  It was found the subjects did not possess a valid harvest permit to pick saw palmetto berries nor did they have written permission from the landowner. The two subjects were arrested and transported to the St Lucie County Jail for the harvest of saw palmetto berries without a permit.
• Officer Payne and Officer Barghouty responded to a county preserve where a preserve ranger had located a subject in the parking lot with saw palmetto berries. It was found the subject had harvested saw palmetto berries from the preserve and did not have a permit or written permission. It was also found that the subject had an active warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and transported to the St Lucie County Jail for the harvest of saw palmetto berries with no permit or permission as well as the warrant.

MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE

Broward County

• Officers Willis, Beppel, and Akram responded to call about an alligator being trapped in a pool. The officers arrived on scene and observed a 9-foot American crocodile in a pool. The officers immediately notified SNAP. Crocodile response agents safely removed and relocated the crocodile.  

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Broward County

• Officer Specialist Perez, Officers Olivera and Walcott, and Captain Hart participated in BSO City of Parkland National Night Out Against Crime.  The officers set up a static display with a patrol truck and airboat. They also had a live juvenile alligator on display. Perez displayed his drone with the display screen showing the thermal image of people passing by to show the capabilities of the new drone program.

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Goff observed an individual with a commercially made slingshot attached to a glove on one hand and a reel with a spear attached to a glove on the other hand at the L-28 boat ramp. After locating a speared peacock bass, the individual admitted to spearing the fish. The appropriate citation was issued to the individual. 

Miami-Dade County

• Officer Perez conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning from the Bahamas that revealed multiple violations including no valid Bahamian cruising and sportfishing permits, possession of prohibited species and a Lacey Act violation. Appropriate law enforcement actions were taken.

Monroe County

• Officer Piekenbrock conducted a boating safety and marine resources check on a Georgia vessel at the Spanish Harbor Boat Ramp with two people on board.  The inspection revealed approximately 25 lobster tails on board. Most of them were frozen and in plastic bags. There were also multiple plastic bags containing frozen reef fish fillets. The subject claimed the tails and fish fillets were harvested during sport season and he was transporting them from his rental house. Two of the lobster tails were under the legal-size limit. A live queen conch was in a bucket near the stern of the vessel. Officer Sturgeon arrived on scene to assist. The subject was given a notice to appear for possession of undersized spiny lobster tails and possession of queen conch.  He was issued the appropriate warnings for the other reef fish and lobster wrung/bag limit violations.
• The Offshore Patrol Vessel Gulf Ranger was patrolling from Marco Island to Marathon and conducted over 75 inspections before and during the two-day spiny lobster sport season. The OPV Gulf Ranger officers encountered multiple resource violations over the six-day patrol. Resource violations encountered included one vessel with three undersize hogfish, over the bag limit of hogfish and undersize red grouper; one vessel with one undersize hogfish; one vessel with two undersize hogfish and over the bag limit of hogfish. All violations were documented appropriately throughout the patrol.