FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Aug. 23-29

August 23, 2024, through August 29, 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

• Officer Waters observed an individual fishing from the sea wall near Community Maritime Park. Upon conducting a resource inspection, the individual was found to be in possession of two undersized flounder. The individual was cited accordingly for the violations. 
• Officer Waters observed two individuals fishing at Fort Pickens Pier. Upon conducting a resource inspection, the individuals were found to be in possession of three undersized Spanish mackerel. The individuals were cited accordingly. 
• While on patrol near Pensacola Pass, Officer Lugg observed a group of individuals fishing near the shoreline of Ferry Pier along Fort Pickens National Seashore. Upon performing a marine fisheries inspection, undersized Spanish mackerel were located in a cooler. The individual responsible was cited accordingly.
• Officer Lugg observed a group of individuals fishing on the shoreline of Fort Pickens National Seashore. A marine fisheries inspection revealed undersized pompano, which were being used for bait, and an undersized Spanish mackerel. The individual responsible was cited accordingly. 
• Officer Lugg observed an offshore style vessel returning to Pensacola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico with fishing equipment. A marine fisheries inspection was performed and an out-of-season gag grouper was located during the inspection. The individual responsible was cited accordingly.

Franklin County

• Officer Hartzog was patrolling the Apalachicola River and observed a vessel with two individuals on board returning from the bay with fishing gear. The officer stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. During the inspection, the officer observed multiple boating safety violations and the individuals possessed undersized tripletail. The violations were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Hartzog was conducting night water patrol on East Bay and observed a vessel with one individual on board flounder gigging. The officer conducted surveillance on the subject and observed him come under power on his vessel without navigation lights. The officer stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. The individual was identified as a commercial angler with an extensive history of resource violations. During the inspection, the angler was observed to be in possession of 19 flounder and four of them being undersized. The angler also did not possess any current recreational or commercial saltwater license. The violations were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Hartzog was patrolling East Bay and observed a commercial fishing vessel with three individuals on board and gear consistent with net fishing. The officer stopped the vessel to conduct a resource inspection and while initiating the stop the subjects attempted to discard a net overboard. During the inspection, Officer Hartzog observed the subjects to be in possession of a monofilament gill net over 2,000 square feet and three seine nets over 500 square feet. The subjects were simultaneously in possession of the illegal nets as well as being in possession of a commercial quantity of mullet. The individuals were identified as commercial anglers with an extensive history of resource violations. All three individuals were arrested and transported to Franklin County Jail. The individuals were cited accordingly. 

Gulf County

• While on patrol during scallop season, Officer Butts observed one individual on a vessel returning to a local boat ramp. The individual was in possession of over the daily bag limit of bay scallops. The appropriate law enforcement action was taken. 
• Officers Gerber, Coker, and Butts were on patrol during alligator season when they discovered several unattended baited wooden pegs, which is a violation. The officers stopped a vessel with two individuals alligator hunting, and they admitted they set the bait. Several other violations were discovered during the inspection and the appropriate law enforcement action was taken. 
• Master Officer M. Webb was on patrol and conducting resource inspections on vessels returning from fishing at a local ramp. He observed a vessel with two subjects on board with fishing equipment. An inspection revealed the captain was in possession of two oversized spotted seatrout. A citation was issued for more than one spotted seatrout over 19 inches per vessel. 

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Bower and Lieutenant Corbin received information that undersized Spanish mackerel were being caught at a local fishing area late at night. The subjects were catching the Spanish mackerel and keeping them to use as bait in their crab traps. The officers arrived and located the subjects matching the description. They located several undersized fish in the cooler and after further investigation the officers located the subject’s crab trap. The officers found Spanish mackerel not in whole condition inside the trap being used as bait. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the undersized fish and Spanish mackerel not in whole condition.  

Walton County

• Officers R. Brooks and Rice were given information about individuals fishing with illegal equipment on Mitchell River. The officers located several pool noodle style jug fishing devices freely floating on the river. The officers conducted surveillance on a vessel with two individuals checking the devices. The officers contacted the subjects who admitted to using the illegal fishing devices and failing to mark them properly with their names and addresses. The suspects were cited for taking of freshwater fish by an illegal method.  
• Officer R. Brooks and Lieutenant Tison were on patrol near the Bay and Walton County line. They encountered an individual on a vessel engaged in fishing. While conducting a resource inspection, they observed on the bank only feet from the subject’s vessel, a large chain hoist attached to a cypress tree, and the chain was supporting a freshly pulled log. The individual admitted to attempting to remove the log to see if it was a dead head. The subject also was in possession of a .22 rifle and ammunition and was a convicted felon. Officer Brooks and Lieutenant Tison charged the individual for dredge and fill violation of illegally logging/ disturbing sovereign submerged land without a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection and the subject was charged and arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  
• Lieutenant Tison responded to a call for assistance from the Walton County Sheriff's Office where a deputy observed an individual breaking into and damaging a sea turtle nesting site. According to the deputy’s observations the individual kicked down one of the marked posts and flagging around the nest and entered it. The subject was cited for knowingly disturbing the nest of a sea turtle.  

Washington County

• Officer Homan was on patrol in Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area checking various lakes for boating safety and resource inspections. While at White Oak Landing on Porter Pond he observed a vessel with a single operator making its way to the landing. He conducted a vessel inspection and found three Florida bass of which two were over 16 inches. The subject was educated and cited accordingly.  

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Mullins taught two hunter safety courses, reaching more than 40 students. He covered local laws and regulations, focusing on key aspects such as hunting seasons, hunting methods, reporting requirements, and licensing. Officer Mullins answered multiple questions and educated the students about responsible hunting practices, wildlife conservation, and safety measures to ensure a safe hunting experience.

Walton County

• K-9 Officer Graves along with K-9 Timber and Lieutenant Tison participated at the “Public Safety Day” for the Masonic Lodge in DeFuniak Springs. They spoke to members of the public about the roles and responsibilities of FWC law enforcement officers and answered many hunting and fishing related questions.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Washington County

• Officer Homan and Lieutenant Allen responded to an early morning search and rescue in Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area regarding four individuals who were stranded on tubes in the dark on Econfina Creek South of Walsingham Bridge Park. They had used up all the lights they had and only had limited battery life remaining on a cell phone. Using the Washington County Sheriff’s Office drone, the officers located the individuals near Blue Springs on Econfina Creek. Officer Homan walked through the woods and waded in the water to reach them and bring them safely back to Blue Springs Recreation Area.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Marshall observed an individual throwing a cast net and netting and keeping a red drum. Once the subject returned to shore, Officer Marshall conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the subject was in possession of red drum during the closed season. The subject was cited accordingly.

Lake County

• Officer Stamp responded to Seminole State Forest regarding subjects who were observed harvesting saw palmetto berries from the wildlife management area. Officer Stamp and Smith observed fresh foot sign and sign of something being dragged. Senior K-9 Officer North and K-9 Maggie responded to assist with locating the subject. The K-9 team tracked through the WMA to a nearby residence where they located a subject standing outside sorting through buckets. After contacting the subject and conducting an interview, it was learned the subject was sorting saw palmetto berries they recently harvested from the WMA. Appropriate charges were filed with the Lake County State Attorney’s Office for removing protected plant life from a WMA.

Osceola County

• Officer Wild and Senior Officer Swensson patrolled East Lake Toho for a popular event that attracts hundreds of vessels. The officers conducted patrols enforcing boating safety and initiated vessel stops.

Putnam County

• Officer Galvan was on patrol at the Palatka riverfront when he encountered multiple people using cast nets. One of the subjects appeared to be catching shrimp. A resource inspection of their catch revealed six gamefish taken by illegal method. The subject was cited accordingly.

Seminole County

• Officer Wild patrolled the St. John’s River at night to conduct alligator hunting resource inspections and boating safety inspections. He conducted a vessel stop after observing a vessel shining a spotlight and operating in a careless manner in a slow speed area, resulting in large wakes onto properties.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Volusia County

• Officer Velez and Officer Specialist Rasey received a call to assist with an overdue kayaker around Daytona Beach and Halifax Harbor. According to the reporting party, an adult male was supposed to return to Halifax Harbor by noon and was last seen that morning at approximately 6:30. The call was received close to sundown and time was of the essence due to decreasing visibility. Officers Velez and Rasey responded by water to the kayaker’s last known location. Officer Stoker responded by land. It was determined after speaking with the reporting party that the subject possibly had narcolepsy. Air support was provided by Volusia County Sheriff's Office and produced negative results. Later that night while canvassing the area, Lieutenant Eason spoke to a shoreline angler near the Main Street Bridge in Daytona. The angler said he had seen a kayaker sleeping in his kayak under the bridge for most of the afternoon, and then they left the area just before sundown and headed south. With this information, search efforts narrowed to the immediate areas south of the Main Street Bridge in Daytona. On a hunch, Officer Stoker began checking private docks on the west side of the Halifax River. These areas are restricted with gated access. Officer Stoker observed what he thought to be a kayak tied off to a dock near the News Journal building. Once he got closer, he identified the subject as the missing kayaker, as he was sleeping again on his kayak. The subject was okay and was returned to the reporting party.

CASES

Hernando County

• Officer Kevin Grover was conducting a freshwater fishery license and resource check at a local pond. One of the subjects provided a false name and information. The subject then fled the scene on foot. Officer Grover apprehended the subject, who had a pending warrant out of Hernando County. The subject was taken into custody and booked into the county jail.

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Rigali responded to a complaint of individuals keeping undersized fish at Hillsboro Inlet. Officer Rigali contacted and conducted several resource inspections of people fishing near the inlet bridge. His inspections revealed one subject was in possession of dead parrotfish and undersized stone crabs with claws. Rigali issued the subject a notice to appear citation for marine life not kept alive and possession of undersized clawed stone crabs. 
• Officer Hammad conducted a resource inspection on a subject hunting alligators at STA 3/4, which revealed the subject (permit holder) was hunting in the wrong area of STA 3/4. Hammad issued the subject a notice to appear citation for hunting alligators in the wrong area. The subject was also issued a warning for hunting during the wrong permit phase. 
• Officer Comartin observed several individuals fishing with a cast net and contacted them to conduct a fisheries inspection. His inspection revealed one of the individuals in possession of two dead peacock bass. Comartin issued the individual a notice to appear for harvesting Florida gamefish with a cast net.
• Officers Bovee and Rigali observed a vessel with rods and reels in the Intracoastal Waterway at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. They stopped the vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection. Their inspection revealed a subject onboard the vessel had an active warrant for his arrest. Officer Bovee arrested the subject and transported him to Broward County Jail. 
• Officer Hammad observed a vehicle illegally parked blocking a gate at the Miramar Mitigation. Hammad contacted the owner of the vehicle. The owner informed Hammad that his driver’s license was expired. After that contact and while at her patrol vehicle, Hammad observed the subject get into his vehicle and drive. The subject drove to where his UTV was located to load it on a trailer.  Hammad issued the subject a notice to appear citation for driving without a valid license.
• Officer Moss responded to a call about two vessels in the Abaco’s Island Bahamas. A Bahamian law enforcement officer indicated the subjects on these two vessels were keeping over the bag limit of fish and lobster. Officers Moss, Landers and Koger stopped the vessels as they entered the inlet, for the purpose of fisheries inspection. Their inspection revealed the subjects on board the vessels were in possession of stone crab out of season and grouper fillets with no skin. Moss issued the subjects federal citations for the violations. 
• Officers Perez, Dudas, Willis, Beppel, Bouras, Brevik, and Simmons, along with Lieutenant Harp and Captain Hart, responded to Miami-Dade County to assist partner law enforcement agencies in the search for an escaped prisoner. The prisoner was last seen running into a heavily wooded and swampy area east of the facility. Officer Perez conducted flight grid searches of the wooded area using his FLIR-equipped drone, while the other officers assisted with planning, transporting equipment, and conducting land searches.

Martin County

• Officer Landers stopped to back-up Officer Yaw who was with Sewall's Point Police Department on a stop of a vehicle with fishing poles in the bed. Officer Landers conducted a fisheries inspection and found a 34” snook wrapped up in a towel and stone crab claws in the bed of the truck. The driver was issued a notice to appear for possession of snook and stone crab out of season along with multiple infractions. 
• Officer Reinhardt was on patrol when he observed an individual fishing from the Stuart Causeway auxiliary bridge.  Upon inspection Officer Reinhardt found the individual to be possession of an undersized mutton snapper.  The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violation. 

Palm Beach County

• Officer Klein was checking fisherman for compliance at Sawfish Bay Park where he inspected the catch of two individuals fishing. The inspection revealed two undersized gray (mangrove) snapper and neither of the individuals were properly licensed. Both subjects were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Eustice was checking fisherman for license and fisheries compliance at Cato’s Bridge when he discovered an individual in possession of four undersized mutton snapper. The subject was cited accordingly.
• Officer Klein responded to a boat explosion in which an individual was severely injured. The injured subject was air lifted to the Ryder Burn Trama Center in Miami. The State Fire Marshall is investigating the explosion and Officer Klein is working with the U.S. Coast Guard and State Fire Marshall on the investigation. 
• Officers Morgan, Eustice, and Riggs were on vessel patrol in Palm Beach Inlet when they observed an individual cast netting from a vessel. They boarded the vessel to conduct a resource inspection and discovered the subject was fishing commercially.  After inspecting the catch, they found the subject was not keeping the catch on ice as required, was in possession of three undersize gray (mangrove) snapper, and was not properly licensed to retain for sale restricted species such as the mangrove snapper and bluefish that were located on the deck of his boat with the rest of his unregulated species. The subject was cited accordingly.

St. Lucie County

• Officer Barghouty observed two individuals fishing and one subject was seen harvesting a goliath grouper.  Instead of releasing it, the subject walked to his vehicle and placed the fish in a bucket on the passenger side of the vehicle. After covering the fish with a cast net, he returned to fishing. Officer Barghouty contacted the two subjects and confirmed what was observed. The harvester was arrested and transported to jail for the violation.  
• Officer Bingham was advised of subjects fishing from a vessel and catching undersized snappers. Upon his arrival at the location, three subjects were observed in the boat. One subject admitted to catching one of the fish while another admitted to catching the rest. In all, eight mutton snappers were located and all measured under the required 18-inch minimum harvest size limit. Several warnings were issued as well as a citation.  
• Over the weekend, Officer Miano made multiple felony arrests of subjects illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries, a protected plant species. Officer Miano responded to Avalon State Park twice and Interstate 95 once. State troopers spotted four individuals harvesting saw palmetto berries on I-95, which is a limited access highway. Officer Maino responded to assist and after an investigation, determined all four subjects were involved in illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries. They were arrested and booked in jail. Responding to Avalon State Park, another trooper had conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle where the driver was suspected of harvesting saw palmetto berries. He was found to have harvested saw palmetto berries and was driving on a suspended license. The subject was arrested and booked in jail. Then, Officer Miano observed a vehicle parked on the road right of way at an angle at Avalon State Park and decided to conduct a welfare check.  As she approached, a subject was observed in the bushes with a machete harvesting saw palmetto berries. The subject was apprehended and booked in jail.  

MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE

Broward County

• Officers Comartin and Rigali responded to a house in Miramar where a person requested assistance with snake removal. Upon the Officers’ arrival on scene, they observed a cottonmouth snake in the middle of the entryway to the house. The snake blocked the path and the residents were unable to leave the residence. Officers were able to safely catch the snake and transport it to the Everglades where it was released.

CASES

Monroe County

• Captain David Dipre and Officer Michael Alvarez were patrolling the area of Tripod Bank, Gulf of Mexico and conducted a fisheries inspection on a commercial (snapper/grouper) vessel that was diving for lobster recreationally. An inspection identified an undersized spiny lobster and undersized red grouper. The spiny lobster was harvested by a juvenile and the grouper was harvested by one of the occupants. The juvenile was educated on the proper way of measuring the lobster and the occupant was charged with the undersized grouper.

Officer Shawn Turner was conducting water patrol bayside of Spanish Harbor and observed a vessel improperly displaying their dive flag. The officer stopped the vessel to address the violation and conduct a boating safety and resource inspection. The resource inspection revealed five undersized spiny lobster, two wrung tails and two out-of-season stone crab claws. The individual was issued a resource citation with a mandatory notice to appear.

Statewide Summary of Boating Related Law Enforcement Activities

For August 1 - 31, 2024