FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Oct. 11-17

October 11, 2024, through October 17, 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.

CASES

Gulf County

• Officer Butts responded to a complaint about a subject who was observed trespassing. During the encounter, the subject was found to have a shocking device for harvesting freshwater fish. Officer Butts took appropriate action. 
• Master Officer M. Webb was conducting resource inspections at a local ramp on vessels returning from fishing. He observed a vessel with four people on board and fishing equipment. An inspection revealed the captain was in possession of eight red snapper, one of which was undersized and an undersized greater amberjack. The captain was cited for possession of undersized greater amberjack and warned for the undersized red snapper. 

Wakulla County

• Officer Gray was conducting Joint Enforcement Agreement patrol targeting reef fish enforcement. During a resource inspection an undersized triggerfish was discovered. The appropriate resource citations were issued. 
• Officer Gray was on patrol in the St. Marks River targeting boating safety and inshore fisheries. While conducting a resource inspection, undersized seatrout were discovered. The appropriate citations were issued. 
• Officer M. Fernbach was on patrol and observed a vessel approach the boat ramp off Lighthouse Road. Officer Fernbach conducted a resource inspection and discovered the subject to be in possession of two flounder over his daily bag limit. Officer Fernbach issued the subject a citation.
• Officer Fernbach was on patrol and observed a vessel approach the boat ramp at the end of Bottoms Road. The vessel was occupied by three subjects who were fishing for flounder. Officer Fernbach conducted a resource inspection on the vessel and observed the subjects to be in possession of two undersized flounder. The operator of the vessel was issued a citation for undersized flounder. 
• Officer L. Glover and M. Fernbach were patrolling the area of Lighthouse Road when they observed a vessel approach the ramp. The vessel was occupied by two subjects who were fishing for flounder. The officers conducted a resource inspection on the vessel and found the subjects to be in possession of one undersized flounder and one gigged red drum (redfish). Officer Fernbach issued one citation to the subject who admitted to gigging the redfish and warnings for the undersized flounder.

Walton County

• While on patrol, K-9 Officer Graves and Lieutenant Tison heard shots similar to those conducted during a dove hunt. Officer Graves and Lieutenant Tison conducted a resource inspection on subjects as they were leaving the field where the shots came from. The officers found two of them to be over the bag limit of 15 mourning doves. One subject was found to have taken 19 and the other had 22 mourning doves. K-9 Timber was deployed for an area search and located two additional doves not recovered by the group of hunters. The two subjects were issued notice to appear citations for taking over the bag limit of mourning doves.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

• Officers R. Brooks and H. Rockwell were dispatched to a call of a missing man on Morrison Spring Run near the Choctawhatchee River. The man was last seen wading in a shallow tributary of the spring run dragging a small jon boat when he and his friend became disoriented. The friend decided to leave and try to locate a better route back to the spring run and eventually found his way out to the landing. He returned several times to try and locate his lost companion but did not call for help until over 24 hours after getting separated.  Multiple FWC officers from surrounding areas arrived to assist, bringing equipment including drones. In addition, Walton Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Division responded. Investigator T. Basford was in the nearby area and located the missing man walking down a highway. He did not need medical attention and was safely returned to his home. 

CASES

Columbia County

• Officer Specialist Cline responded to information regarding several individuals hunting for deer with rifles during the archery only season. The officer located a subject in a treestand in possession of a rifle and dressed in camouflage. The officer called nearby Officers Yates and Nichols for assistance. During surveillance, the officers heard a rifle shot come from the property. The officers then set up surveillance on the hunting camp they believed the hunters would return to. Just after dark four individuals returned to the camp and one subject was in possession of an antlered deer that did not meet antler point regulations. All four subjects admitted to hunting with firearms during the archery only season. Appropriate citations were issued the violations. 

Duval County

• Officer Yakel conducted a resource inspection on an angler at the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier who explained he had caught several bluefish. Upon closer inspection, Officer Yakel located several undersized bluefish. The individual was issued a notice to appear for the violation. 
• Officer Kirkey observed a vehicle driving inside a closed fish management area. This particular FMA closed at sunset. Officer Kirkey conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.  At the conclusion of the traffic stop, the operator of the vehicle was issued a notice to appear for having a driver’s license that was expired greater than six months.  Additionally, the operator was issued a citation for being inside an FMA 30 minutes after sunset.  
• Officer Kirkey conducted resource inspections on individuals fishing in the FMA. Officer Kirkey learned one of the individuals had an active arrest warrant out of Duval County.  Officer Kirkey placed the individual under arrest and transported the individual to Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
• Officer Martin and Officer Specialist Barry were patrolling near Little Talbot Island State Park in a closed section when they noticed several individuals jump over a closed gate exiting the closed section of the park. Officer Martin and Officer Specialist Barry contacted the individuals to address the violation and one of them began resisting lawful orders from the officers. After an extended period and numerous opportunities to comply, the subject was placed under arrest for resisting without violence and transported to Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.  
• Officer Kirkey conducted a resource inspection on a subject fishing from a public dock. During the resource inspection, he identified an undersized black drum. The officer also discovered the individual had an active arrest warrant out of Texas for capital murder.  Officer Kirkey arrested the individual and transported them to the Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Additionally, the subject was charged for possession of undersized black drum. 
• Officers Kirkey and Martin conducted a stop on a vessel heading to the boat ramp. During a resource inspection, it was confirmed the occupants had caught fish. Upon closer inspection, it was determined one of the individuals was in possession of undersized spotted seatrout.  The individual was issued a notice to appear for the violation.  
• Officer Specialist Barry and Master Officer Burnsed noticed several individuals fishing and wading in the water in a secluded location. Master Officer Burnsed and Officer Specialist Barry responded to the individuals by boat.  The subjects admitted to catching several fish and allowed the officers to inspect their catch. The officers located several spotted seatrout and an out-of-season flounder. At the conclusion of the investigation, the officers located 21 spotted seatrout, 14 of which were undersized, and one out-of-season, undersized flounder. Both subjects were arrested for the resource violations and transported to the Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
• Lieutenant Hein observed an open gate to a retention pond that was supposed to be closed and recognized the property belonged to the City of Jacksonville. While investigating the open gate, Lieutenant Hein noticed a vehicle parked behind brush approximately 100 yards away. Lieutenant Hein responded to the location of the vehicle and located an individual who was trespassing and while doing so, got his vehicle stuck in mud. At the conclusion of the interaction, the individual was issued a notice to appear for trespassing. 

Suwannee County

• Officer Boone was patrolling the Little River Wildlife Management Area during the closed season.  During his patrol, he located a subject who was hunting deer.  Appropriate citations were issued for the violation. 

CASES

Brevard County Officer Marshall observed an angler returning to the parking lot with a snook in his bucket at Sebastian Inlet State Park. Officer Marshall began to approach the angler who changed directions and began to walk away. Officer Marshall caught up to the angler and conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the snook was undersized.  Immediately following this interaction, Officer Marshall witnessed an angler filleting an undersized snook. At the conclusion of this interaction, Officer Marshall observed another angler quickly exiting the jetty. Officer Marshall conducted a resource inspection of the subject and discovered and undersized snook and a spotted seatrout. All three subjects were cited accordingly.  Officer St. Martin responded to information about an angler at Sebastian Inlet State Park who was attempting to hide an out-of-season red drum in his cooler. Officer St. Martin located the subject and conducted a resource inspection of his cooler. The inspection revealed the out-of-season red drum and the officer cited the subject accordingly.

Indian River County

• Officer Specialist Delano observed a vehicle parked at an illegal entry point to Fort Drum Wildlife Management Area. Officer Delano waited for the subject to return. Officer Delano interviewed the subject who admitted he knew he could not enter the WMA there. The subject was cited accordingly.

Orange County

• Officer Poley was contacted by Investigator Teal regarding four individuals cast netting freshwater gamefish at Johns Lake Conservation Area. Investigator Teal observed the individuals put bass harvested by cast net into their cooler. The officers conducted a resource and license inspection on the subjects. Inside the subject’s cooler, there were 17 Florida Bass, nine of which were over the legal-size limit, and seven panfish. The majority of the Florida Bass and all panfish showed signs consistent with being harvested by cast net, which is not a legal method for taking Florida Bass. Several charges were issued.
• Officer Naules responded to an area in Winter Garden where he was advised a subject was keeping oversized and over-the-bag limit of Florida Bass. In this area, anglers are allowed to harvest a daily bag limit of five Florida Bass with only one measuring 16 inches or greater. Officer Naules observed the subject fishing and conducted a resource and license inspection. Officer Naules found a total of six Florida Bass with two measuring 16 inches or greater. The individual was charged for being over the daily bag limit of Florida Bass and a warning for one of the Florida Bass over 16 inches.

CASES

Charlotte County

• Lieutenant Ruggiero was on patrol when he observed a subject walk over to a fence on the boundary of a wildlife management area and use pliers and a screw driver to pull the staples out of the posts that held the barbed wire. The subject continued to pull staples until he observed a hunter walking down a trail. At that point the subject quickly put the tools away and walked back over to some bushes. The officer conducted an interview with the subject, who admitted to pulling the staples out and had intended to cross the fence to hunt on the other side. When Lieutenant Ruggiero told him the other side of the fence was private property and issued the subject a citation for damaging the fence and educated the subject about the seriousness of potentially trespassing with a firearm on private property.   

Polk County

• Officer Jerod Gadd and Investigator Jacob Carter were patrolling rural Fort Meade when they observed a vessel shining a spotlight along the bank of a lake. The officers observed the vessel and the occupants before conducting a resource inspection. The inspection revealed the subjects harvested an 8-foot alligator. Officer Gadd noted the subject did not properly lock the tag in the alligator’s tail. The subject was written a notice to appear for the violation.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Lee County

• Officer Lejarzar conducted a public speaking event for numerous residents about the FWC and fishing regulations. The attendees were given various handouts and regulations and were provided the opportunity to ask questions. 

Polk County

• Captive Investigator Tyer responded to a call from her church asking if they knew of any places hit hard by Hurricane Milton where a food distribution site could be set up. They also needed someone to run and manage the site. Due to flooding, Investigator Tyer wasn’t sure if the community where the church was located could get to the supplies, so she called FWC Captain Bontrager for assistance, which resulted in 10 officers, including Investigator Tyer, and two airboats delivering supplies. The church also sent volunteers to help at the distribution site.

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Willis observed a subject fishing at A-1 FEB. The officer conducted a resource inspection and discovered the subject did not have a Florida driver’s license/never had one and was in possession of a counterfeit Florida driver’s license. Willis placed the subject under arrest for the violations. 
• Officer Willis witnessed two subjects alligator hunting in an area closed to alligator hunting in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. Officer Willis issued both subjects citations for violating administrative code 68A-25.042(3)(f) alligators may only be taken in the area specified in the alligator harvest permit.
• Officer Beppel observed a vehicle drive past the sign stating Holey Land Wildlife Management Area was closed to public access due to the high-water advisory. Beppel stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver to investigate. Beppel issued the driver a notice to appear for violating the public access closure.
• Officer Willis observed a vehicle in Holey Land Wildlife Management Area spotlight hunting. The vehicle drove past several posted signs advising the WMA was closed due to high-water advisory. Willis issued the driver a notice to appear citation for the violation.
• Officer Willis observed three subjects fishing in Holey Land Wildlife Management Area during a high-water closure. The three subjects passed multiple signs posted in the WMA stating that the area was closed. Officer Willis issued the three subjects a citation for violating administrative code 68A-13.007(2)(j) Public access is prohibited in portions of public hunting areas that are posted as closed or restricted. 
• Officer Willis witnessed a subject fishing in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subject had walked past multiple no trespassing signs from A-1 FEB to STA 3/4. 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 signage. 
• Officer witnessed a subject fishing in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subject had walked past multiple no trespassing signs from A-1 FEB to STA 3/4. 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 signage. 
• Officer Willis witnessed two subjects cast netting and one subject bow fishing in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subjects had walked past multiple no trespassing signs from A-1 FEB to STA 3/4. The three 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 signage. 
• Officer Willis witnessed two subjects fishing and one subject assisting them in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subjects had walked past multiple no trespassing signs. Two 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 signage. One subject was issued a citation for violating administrative code 40E-7.523(3) entry onto district lands when said lands are closed. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Broward County

• Officer Willis was a guest speaker at an outreach event at Bass Pro Shops. Officer Willis’s informed attendees about the rules and regulations pertaining to duck hunting and deer hunting. Willis also fielded questions from several of the attendees in reference to state hunting and fishing regulations

CASES

Miami-Dade County

• Captive Wildlife Investigator Fernandez responded to information about an individual catching birds using a bird trap.  Upon arrival, he observed the subject with a trap deployed and in possession of four painted buntings. The subject was cited for the illegal possession of migratory birds, and for the possession of an illegal bird trap. The buntings were released. Officers Romero and Dinu responded and assisted with this incident as well.   

Monroe County

• While on unmarked state water patrol in Islamorada, Investigator Chris Mattson observed several commercial stone crab traps in in Lignumvitae Channel. The traps were in the middle of the marked navigable channel.  After identifying the trap owner, Investigator Mattson called the commercial angler, who agreed to meet with him. Investigator Mattson issued citations for having commercial stone crab traps in the marked channel.