FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Oct. 4-10

October 4, 2024, through October 10, 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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View previous editions.

NOTE: Due to FWC officers across the state devoting resources in response to areas impacted by Hurricane Milton, case information for some regions is unavailable at this time.

CASES

Leon County

• Officer L. Glover and Lieutenant G. Louque conducted a resource inspection on two subjects who were hunting dove on opening day of the season. The inspection revealed the subjects were hunting over bait. Citations were issued for hunting migratory birds over bait.  
• Officer L. Glover and Lieutenant G. Louque were conducting resource inspections after sunset on Lake Iamonia. A vessel was observed returning to the boat ramp with no navigational lights. During a boating safety and resource inspection it was found the two subjects were returning from duck hunting. Citations and warnings were issued for unplugged shotguns, license violations, and boating safety violations.  
• Officer B. Johnson II and Lieutenant G. Louque responded to a call about several subjects hunting doves over bait in the Apalachicola National Forest. Officer Johnson and Lieutenant Louque located five individuals hunting migratory birds (dove) over bait. Citations and warnings were issued for the violations. 
• Officer B. Johnson II and Lieutenant Louque were on patrol in the Apalachicola National Forest and observed a truck parked on a closed road. Upon approaching the vehicle, two subjects were observed loading bags of saw palmetto berries into the bed of the truck. Officer H. Keels arrived to assist with the arrest. Two subjects were arrested and booked into the Leon County Jail. 

Okaloosa County

• Officer Ates conducted a resource inspection on dove hunters and located wheat seed spread throughout the field. The landowner admitted to placing the bait on the property and stated the subjects he invited were unaware of it. The owner was cited for taking migratory birds with the use of bait. 

Santa Rosa County

• FWC officers came together to work the early waterfowl season, conducting several stops and educating participants about hunting regulations and boating safety. Officer Brown observed a vessel return to the boat ramp with multiple subjects on board. Upon conducting a resource and boat safety inspection, the operator was unable to present the required boating safety equipment. Additionally, one of the individuals on board could not provide a Federal Duck Stamp and Migratory Bird Permit. The individuals were cited in accordance with regulations. This proactive approach highlights the commitment of officers to promote compliance and safety among the hunting community.

Walton County

• K-9 Officer Graves, Senior Officer H. Rockwell and Lieutenant Tison observed a group of duck hunters on a lake while on patrol during early teal and wood duck season. At the conclusion of the hunt, one of the individuals left the water and shot once at something in a tree. After the shot, the individual was seen throwing a bird into the woods. Officers conducted a resource inspection on the individuals who claimed to have killed three ducks only. K-9 Timber was deployed and conducted an area search, locating a mourning dove the subject threw in the woods. The subject was cited for taking dove out of season and willful wanton waste.  

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Jefferson County

• Officer L. Glover and Lieutenant G. Louque responded to a report about an individual who had been missing for two days on Aucilla River. After a brief search the individual was located and safety returned to his family.  

CASES

Duval County

• Officer Moran observed an individual who had pulled their vehicle along the St. Johns River along Heckscher Drive. The individual was fishing from the shoreline. A resource inspection revealed the individual was in possession of two undersized red drum (redfish) and two undersized black drum. The individual was given the appropriate citations.  
• Officer Moran responded to a report of an individual fishing from the beach who was keeping undersized bluefish. Officer Moran conducted a resource inspection and found the subject was in possession of five bluefish, which is two in excess of the bag limit for Atlantic waters. Three of the bluefish were undersized. The individual was given the appropriate citations.  
• Officer Moran observed a woman stow a baggie full of fish between two slats at the Jacksonville Fishing Pier. Officer Moran conducted a resource inspection and found an undersized pompano, an undersized bluefish, and a shark not in whole condition. The appropriate citations were addressed.  
• Officer Hausler received information that two subjects were illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries along a state road. Due to his location at the time, Officer Hausler contacted Florida Highway Patrol and requested their assistance with locating the subjects and temporarily detaining them until he could arrive. When Officer Hausler arrived, the two subjects and trooper were standing next to a vehicle with several totes and feed bags filled with saw palmetto berries with an estimated value of around $3,000. Officers Culbreth and Goodfellow also arrived on scene to assist. The two subjects were arrested and booked into the Duval County Detention Center and their vehicle was towed. This case represented excellent teamwork among squad members and an outstanding display of interagency cooperation, communication, and teamwork. 

Lafayette County

• Officer Clark was conducting resource inspections in Lafayette Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area when he encountered subjects returning from an afternoon hunt. One of the subjects was carrying a crossbow and admitted to using it to attempt to harvest wildlife.  The subject did not possess a Persons with Disabilities Crossbow Permit. Appropriate citations were issued for the violation.

CASES

Brevard County

• Officer St. Martin responded to information about a subject keeping red drum (redfish) in the catch and release only region for red drum at the Sebastian Inlet State Park. Officer St. Martin conducted a resource inspection of his cooler and discovered the subject was in possession of redfish. The violation was cited accordingly.

Indian River County

• Officer Specialist Delano observed a vehicle parked in a concealed manner near a restricted access gate for a wildlife management area. Officer Delano located the subject on an e-bike within the WMA and conducted a resource inspection. The subject admitted he knew he wasn’t allowed to park there and observed the sign that stated, “Restricted area. No public access beyond this point.” The subject was cited accordingly.
• Lieutenant Lightsey was on night patrol when he observed a light shining from a roadway. After watching a vehicle slowly drive down the road while shining a light into private properties, a stop was conducted. Two subjects were found to have a rifle, shotgun and pistol next to them. The subjects were using a spotlight and thermal imaging device to disclose the location of wildlife from the roadway. They also had dogs with activated GPS collars in dog boxes on the back of the vehicle. A notice to appear citation was issued for the violations.

Osceola County

• While Officer Crespi was conducting resource inspections in a wildlife management area during archery only season, a hunter told the officer he heard gunshots. A side-by-side was seen leaving the area and Officer Crespi approached the subject to conduct a resource inspection. During the inspection, the subject was found to be in possession of a wild hog and stated he took it with a muzzleloader. Officer Crespi inspected the vehicle and located the muzzleloader that was used. The violation was addressed accordingly.
• Officer Crespi responded to a call about an illegal deer that had been harvested at a wildlife management area. An inspection was conducted and a subject was found to be in possession of one deer in violation of the antler point regulations. A citation was issued for the offense.
• Officer Crespi was contacted by K-9 Officer Hocker in reference to an illegal entry at a wildlife management area. Officer Crespi contacted the individual at the WMA. The individual did not enter from a designated entrance and entered during a posted storm closure. A citation was issued for the violations.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Brevard County

• Investigator Saunders and Lieutenant Lightsey spoke to a group of young people at the Pineapple Academy about how to become a wildlife officer and about FWC officers’ role in search and rescue efforts. They were also able to show the group an eastern indigo snake and an American alligator, which were the highlight of the day!

Indian River County

• The city of Fellsmere hosted “Coffee with a Cop,” an event where law enforcement can meet and build great relationships with stakeholders in the community. Lieutenant Lightsey participated in this annual event and was able to discuss the mission of the FWC.

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Giani and Antonini observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road near a body of water. They investigated and found a subject trespassing on a private dock. The subject admitted to climbing the fence and seeing the posted no trespass sign. He was charged with trespassing and removed from the property.  
• Officers Giani and Antonini conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel near 14^th St. boat ramp and found the operator in possession of two undersized spiny lobster. The subject was issued a citation for the violation. 
• Officer Willis found two subjects trespassing in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subjects had walked past multiple no trespassing signs to fish. The subjects were issued a citation for violating administrative code 40E-7.5383(1)(a) fishing or frogging in areas closed to fishing or frogging within the stormwater treatment areas as restricted by posted by signage. 
• Officer Willis found a subject trespassing in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subject had walked past multiple no trespassing signs to go fishing. The subject was issued a citation for violating administrative code 40E-7.5383(1)(a) fishing or frogging in areas closed to fishing or frogging within the stormwater treatment areas as restricted by posted by signage. 
• Officers Olivera, Walcott, and Rigali conducted a seafood quality control inspection at New York Mart and found numerous violations including a freezer with fish that was above the minimum temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and improperly stored fish products. The manager was issued citations for the violations.
• Officer Bouras and Officer Giani witnessed a group of people hunting on the south levee, which was closed to hunting. That closure information was provided in a packet to those participating in the statewide alligator harvest program. The officers issued all three subjects citations for the violations.
• Officer Giani witnessed a pickup truck with a jon boat and fishing rods in the truck bed while on patrol at the L-5 in the Everglades. The subject was trespassing during a high-water closure. The levee the subject was operating on had two signs, two orange barricades and an orange cone indicating the road was closed. The subject’s license was suspended and had a seize tag order. The truck was towed, and the subject was issued a citation for entering an area posted as “closed to public access.” The subject was also issued a citation for driving while license suspended without knowledge.
• Officer Giani observed a subject fishing on the north levee at Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4 during the statewide alligator harvest season. The subject was parked in front of the sign that read no trespassing and another sign that read no public access. The subject was issued a citation for fishing in an area closed to fishing within the STA as restricted by posted signage. 
• Officer Walcott observed a subject fishing at the Sewell Lock and conducted a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, the subject stated he caught a peacock bass. The subject was found to be in possession of a peacock bass and an undersized snook.  The subject was issued a citation for the undersized snook.
• Lieutenant McDonald was patrolling the L5 and Holey Land Wildlife Management Area during the executive order closure for high water and observed a vehicle with a dirt bike in the bed of truck approaching. McDonald conducted a stop on the vehicle and the driver was not able to provide a driver’s license. The subject was accompanied by two other vehicles. All three drivers were issued a citation for violating the high-water closure. In addition, the driver without a license was issued a citation for not having a license, never had one issued. 
• Lieutenant McDonald conducted patrol in Stormwater Treatment Area 2 when she observed two vehicles with subjects hunting for alligators. Upon further inspection, Lt. McDonald observed the subjects were hunting outside of their permit’s designated harvest period. The permit holder was issued a citation for hunting outside of the period specified on the permit.

Martin County

• Officer Landers responded to information about an individual keeping undersized fish at Stuart Causeway. He conducted a fisheries inspection on the subject and observed undersized lane snapper and multiple porkfish. Porkfish fall under the category of Marine Life Species and cannot be harvested by rod and reel for food purposes and must be kept alive. The subject was issued citations for the Marine Life Species violation and undersized lane snapper.
• Officer Landers responded to a call at the Hobe Sound Public Beach regarding an individual keeping undersized pompano. Officer Landers conducted a fisheries inspection and found the subject was in possession of four undersized pompano. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.

Palm Beach County

• While on vessel patrol near Palm Beach Inlet, Officers Gilmore and Eustice encountered a subject snorkeling near the south jetty without a diver down flag displayed. As the officers approached to address the violation, they noticed the subject was in possession of a speargun. Upon further inspection, the subject was found to be in possession of a speared permit. Another subject claimed to have caught the permit with hook and line gear, but the officers could see the hole in the fish consistent with the speargun. The subject was cited for taking permit by illegal method, spearfishing within 100 feet of the jetty, and failure to display a diver down flag. 
• Officer Morgan was conducting resource inspections at the Blue Heron Bridge when he encountered a subject in possession of several undersized mangrove and mutton snapper.  The subject claimed to not know what species of snapper they were; however, the subject had recently been warned and cited for the same violations.  Officer Morgan issued the subject citations for all observed violations.