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November 15, 2024, through November 21, 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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 COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Santa Rosa County
- Officer Bower participated in a community outreach event at Navy Point, where she engaged with families during the Navy base annual campout. The event focused on educating kids about local fish, wildlife, and the importance of outdoor conservation, inspiring a deeper appreciation for nature and Florida’s natural resources.
 CASES
Columbia County
- Senior Officer Davenport observed two individuals gigging fish from the bow of an airboat. Upon making contact and conducting a boating safety and resource inspection, Officer Davenport discovered a Florida bass had been gigged. During an interview, one of the subjects admitted to illegally gigging the bass. Appropriate charges were filed with the Columbia County State Attorney's Office and citations were issued for boating safety violations.
Dixie County
- Officer Specialist Reith and Lieutenant Ward were on state water patrol when they observed a vessel with four occupants fishing at the entrance to Johnson Creek. A vessel safety and marine resource inspection was conducted. During the inspection, four undersized spotted seatrout were found in a cooler aboard the vessel. The vessel operator was issued a notice to appear citation. The subject was also issued two written warnings for vessel safety violations.
Hamilton County
- Senior Officer Johnston responded to information about individuals trespassing and illegally taking gamefish on Nutrien property. Senior Officer Johnston contacted three individuals and with the assistance of Senior Officer Nichols, Officer Vazquez, and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, determined they were in possession of bass and panfish illegally harvested with a cast net while trespassing on the property. Appropriate charges were issued with Hamilton County Courts.
Madison County
- Officer Vazquez was on patrol near Twin Rivers State Forest when he heard a rifle shot. He located a parked vehicle and observed a subject come out of the woods and walk toward the parked vehicle. Officer Vazquez contacted the subject and conducted a resource inspection. During the inspection the subject admitted to shooting an antlered deer and that during his quota hunt dates, he had brought guests and they had killed four deer. In addition, a second antlered deer was taken that day. Officer Vazquez instructed the subject that the quota hunts allowed only two deer total to be harvested. Officer Vazquez cited the subject for being over the quota bag limit.
INVESTIGATIONS
- Investigator Crane concluded an investigation into a subject that was stealing vessels and then illegally obtaining titles so they could be registered. The investigation lasted several years and spanned several regions around the state. At the conclusion of the investigation, the subject pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
- Investigator Crane concluded an investigation of a serious boating accident that resulted in the victim losing their life. The subject pleaded no contest to the charge of vessel homicide and the judge sentenced the subject to one year in prison.
- Investigator Crane was working a detail targeting suspected night hunting in Citrus County when he observed a vehicle displaying a spotlight in a manner indicative of night hunting. Investigator Crane conducted an investigative traffic stop on the vehicle and discovered a rifle located in the front seat next to the driver. The subject admitted to riding around and looking for deer and knowing it was unlawful to be spotlighting with a firearm at night in his vehicle. The subject was issued a citation for night hunting.
 CASES
Marion County
- Officer Specialist L. Dickson discovered evidence of a subject possibly hunting during the closed season at a local wildlife management area. She checked the area and observed a subject dressed in camo and carrying a muzzleloading gun walking out of the woods. Officer Dickson contacted the subject and after an interview, it was determined the subject had been hunting in the WMA during the closed season. The subject was cited appropriately.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Lake County
- Senior Officer Weber participated in the Lake County Early Learning Coalition’s “Day in the Park” hosted at Ski Beach. This is an annual event where pre-k children from Lake County interact with first responders and participate in outdoor activities. There were over 500 children in attendance. This is the 11th year that the FWC has participated in this event.
Volusia County
- Senior Officer Weber and Public Information Director Kristine Turner spoke to over 60 new Florida residents at the Latitude Margaritaville community in Daytona Beach. The residents were educated on topics such preventing human/wildlife conflicts, what wildlife they can expect to see in the area, and when to call the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) regarding nuisance alligators.
 CASES
Charlotte County
- Officer Perry observed several people harvest doves after legal shooting hours. Officer Perry issued the subjects citations for taking migratory birds after legal shooting hours.
Highlands County
- Investigator Ervin and Officer Allen were on patrol along the Kissimmee River Public Use Area where they conducted a boating and hunting inspection on an airboat. The individuals were in possession of recently killed lesser yellowlegs (shorebird), which are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both individuals were issued notice to appear citations for violating the migratory bird treaty act and taking protected nongame migratory birds.
Hillsborough County
- K-9 Officer Wilkins concluded an investigation that lasted several weeks involving a felony dumping case on the Hillsborough County Preserve Property. After reviewing game camera footage of the incident, interviewing witnesses and other investigative means, a subject was identified. With help from the Florida Department of Corrections, the identified subject was brought into the Hillsborough County DOC Office for questioning. During the interview, the subject admitted to dumping the trash and was arrested for the violations.
 CASES
Broward County
- Officers Rigali, Bovee and Officer Specialist Bruder observed a vessel with multiple fishing rods at Port Everglades Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway and stopped it to conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, Bruder discovered nine plastic bags containing 51 skinless wahoo fillets. The owner/operator was issued federal citations for no skin attached on wahoo fillets and violation of the Lacey act.
- Officer Bouras stopped a vessel east of Commercial Pier to conduct a fisheries inspection. The officer’s inspection revealed both subjects on board had been spearfishing and had taken an undersized hogfish. Bouras issued the responsible subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
- Officer Beppel was conducting offshore patrol east of Fort Lauderdale and observed a vessel with fishing rod and reels. The officer stopped the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and discovered an undersized gray triggerfish. Beppel issued the subject a notice to appear citation for the violation.
- Officer Willis conducted land patrol at the STA 3/4 and observed two subjects fishing in a posted “closed area.” Officer Willis contacted the subjects to investigate the violation and learned they passed by the “closed area” signage. Willis issued both subjects citations for the violation and escorted them off the property.
- Officer Schroer and Officer Moss observed a vessel with fishing rods entering the Lake Worth Inlet. The officers stopped the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and discovered five golden tilefish and one red snapper. Further investigation revealed the fish were caught approximately 4.5 miles offshore of Juno Beach. The season was closed for golden tilefish and red snapper. Officers issued the operator two federal citations for the violations.
Martin County
- Officer Godward responded to Jensen Beach Causeway regarding an individual keeping red drum. When Officer Godward arrived on scene, he saw a subject who matched the description. He approached the individual and asked him if he had caught any fish. The subject said no and showed Officer Godward an empty bucket. Officer Godward requested the subject show him his other bucket and found a red drum inside. It is illegal to harvest red drum in the Indian River Lagoon. The subject also had an active warrant out of Martin County for violation of probation. The subject was issued a notice to appear for possession of the red drum and arrested for the active warrant.
St. Lucie County
- Officer Levesque was patrolling C23/C24 public use area when he observed two subjects landing a boat along the bank of the C24 canal. The officer learned the subjects were fishing from the vessel. Upon conducting a resource inspection, it was determined the subjects were in possession of 64 crappie. Both subjects were issued a notice to appear for possessing over the bag limit of crappie.
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