January 31, 2025, through February 6, 2025

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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Important Update: Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report Discontinuation

We want to inform you the Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report will be discontinued, with the final issue being distributed by March 5. To continue receiving updates about significant FWC law enforcement cases, we encourage you to subscribe to the News - Law Enforcement email list (under the "Law Enforcement" category).

Additionally, we are working on expanding how FWC law enforcement news and information is shared, with plans for updates on other platforms in the near future.

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CASES

Franklin County

• Officers Hartzog and T. Nelson observed a group of individuals duck hunting at Lake Wimico. The officers conducted surveillance on the group and observed them shoot and harvest a large number of waterfowl. Officer Hartzog and Nelson conducted a resource inspection on the group and found them to be over their daily bag limit of ducks. The violations were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Hartzog observed two individuals harvest multiple red drum from a dock on Apalachicola Bay. Officer Hartzog conducted a resource inspection and found the subjects to be over their daily bag limit and in possession of many undersized red drum. The violations were cited accordingly. 
• Officer Hartzog observed two individuals returning from fishing along the Ochlockonee Bay bridge. The officer conducted a resource inspection and observed the subjects to be in possession of several undersized spotted seatrout. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Gulf County

• Officer Hartzog was on patrol at Odena boat ramp and observed a group who had been duck hunting return to the ramp without proper navigation lights. Officer Hartzog stopped the vessel to conduct a boating safety and resource inspection. The group was observed to be in possession of recently harvested waterfowl and upon inspection, one subject did not have a valid hunting license and another subject’s shotgun was unplugged. The violations were cited accordingly. 

Santa Rosa County

• Officer Roberson was conducting night hunting surveillance when he observed a vehicle shining a light onto farm fields. Officer Roberson stopped the vehicle to conduct a resource inspection and found the individual to be in possession of a loaded rifle. The rifle had a flashlight mounted to the barrel of the gun and the individual admitted to shining the fields. Officer Roberson issued an individual a notice to appear for night hunting with gun and light.

Walton County

• K-9 Officer Graves and Officer J. M. Phillips were on patrol in Lafayette Creek Wildlife Management Area when they checked a subject hunting from a treestand. The treestand was near illegally placed corn that Officer Phillips had located on a prior date. The suspect was found to be hunting over bait including corn and freshly cut up pieces of apple. The subject was also hunting in the wildlife management area without a quota hunt permit. The subject was cited for baiting violations and warned for various other violations.

CASES

Dixie County

• Officer Reith observed a vessel with fishing gear occupied by two subjects returning to an area boat ramp near Horseshoe Beach. Upon conducting a marine fisheries inspection, it was determined the subjects were in possession of two redfish, 10 spotted seatrout, and two flounder.  Both flounder were undersized and four of the seatrout were over the maximum of 19 inches (only one spotted seatrout may be over 19 inches per vessel). Officer Reith issued the captain of the vessel a written warning for the undersized flounder and a citation for the oversized seatrout.  

Madsion County

• Officers Vazquez and Clark conducted a resource check on a group of people hunting doves.  After the check was completed, the officers walked to the field to be sure the hunt was in compliance. They discovered there was corn placed on the field where the hunt had been occurring. On the field was corn that was placed and hunted over, which violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Appropriate citations and warnings were issued to the subjects.

Taylor County

• Officer Williamson conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject who was returning to Spring Creek. The inspection revealed the subject was in possession of 35 seatrout with 30 of them under the size limit. Appropriate law enforcement action was taken.

CASES

Lake County

• Senior Officer Phillips discovered several areas around documented archeological sites that had been freshly dug. Over the next several months, officers monitored the area and developed intel on a possible subject. Officer Phillips received information the subject was at the site digging and Officer McConnell and Investigator Teal located him. During an interview, the subject admitted to digging for artifacts and had pieces of pottery and flint in his pocket. He also showed the officers where he had been digging and where he hid his rake, shovel, and probe in the woods. Officer McConnell placed the subject under arrest and booked him into the Lake County Jail for unlawful excavation of an archeological site.

Marion County

• While conducting night patrol in a local wildlife management area, Officer Specialist L. Dickson and Officer Brooks observed a slow-moving vehicle with a spotlight shining along the wood line. They surveilled the vehicle before conducting a traffic stop. Their investigation revealed the occupants to have a readily accessible loaded shotgun. Appropriate citations were issued.

CASES

MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE

Lee County

• Officers Perry, Faught and Lieutenant Ruggiero responded to a call about a dolphin caught in a crab trap line. The officers coordinated with local biologists and loaded up their patrol boat with special gear to safely free the aquatic mammal. They located the dolphin just off the beach near Captiva.  Using a hook, they pulled the trap in and saw the trap line was looped around the dolphin’s tail. They quickly cut the line and the dolphin swam away. Biologists monitored the mammal for a few minutes and determined no further medical attention was necessary. 

CASES

Broward County

• Officers Gonzalez and Willis observed two personal watercraft violating a manatee zone while patrolling near the Oakland Park boat ramp. They stopped the PWCs to address the violation and learned they had been rented from an individual who listed them online. The PWCs were escorted back to where they were rented and the officers interviewed the subject who provided the rentals. The interview revealed the subject was a repeat offender who was previously cited and arrested for operating an illegal livery. During this encounter, officers arrested the subject and charged him with the following violations: failure to provide pre-rental instructions, failure to display boating safety information, knowingly leasing or renting a vessel without required safety equipment, and no insurance for livery. Additionally, the subject was issued the following civil infractions: expired registration more than one-year, improper display of registration, improper display registration number, and no registration certificate. The subject was booked into Broward County Jail. 
• Officer Giani stopped a vessel to conduct a resource inspection near the Port Everglades Inlet. His inspection revealed 37 yellowtail snapper onboard the vessel and that the subject was returning from fishing in the Bahamas. Giani issued the subject a federal citation for over demersal limit.  
• Officers Walcott, Comartin, and Palacios stopped a vessel to conduct a marine fisheries inspection around the Port Everglades Inlet. Their inspection revealed one undersize hogfish and one deceased porkfish.  Porkfish are considered a marine life species and are required to be kept alive in a circulating live well. Two subjects were on board the vessel. One subject advised he harvested the hogfish and was issued a citation for possession of an undersized hogfish. The other subject advised he harvested the porkfish and was issued a citation for possession of marine life not kept alive.  
• Officer Giani stopped a vessel to conduct a resource inspection near the Port Everglades Inlet. His inspection revealed one filleted dolphinfish/mahi-mahi onboard the vessel. Giani issued the subject a notice to appear citation for fish not in whole condition. 
• Officers Cusick and Rigali stopped a vessel to conduct a resource and boating safety inspection in the Intracoastal Waterway near Whiskey Creek in Hollywood. Pursuant to their inspection, one individual was issued a citation for possession of undersized greater amberjack.  
• Officers Palacios and Olivera conducted a resource inspection on an inbound vessel near Hillsboro Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway. Their inspection revealed an undersized cobia fish onboard the vessel. Palacios issued the subject a notice to appear citation the violation. 
• Officer Dudas and Officer Specialist Bruder observed a commercial fishing vessel coming into the inlet from offshore. They conducted a resource inspection of the cooler onboard the vessel and found six undersized spiny lobster. The owner was given a notice to appear citation.
• Officer Dudas and Officer Specialist Bruder observed a vessel with fishing rods coming in the inlet from offshore. The officers conducted a fisheries inspection and found two undersized king mackerels. The owner of the vessel admitted to catching the undersized fish and was issued a notice to appear citation. 
• Officers Moss and Yetter were on federal water patrol offshore Hobe Sound Beach when they saw two vessels in the St Lucie Humps Marine Protected Area (MPA). Officer Moss observed both vessels bottom fishing with an electric reel through his binoculars. They conducted a fisheries inspection on the first vessel.  The operator of that vessel said he didn’t know the area was closed to bottom fishing. He was in possession of one snowy grouper.  The season for snowy grouper is currently closed to harvest.  The operator was federally cited for fishing for and possession of snowy grouper in the closed St Lucie Hump MPA. After the first vessel stop was completed, the officers conducted a fisheries inspection on the second vessel.  The operator of the second vessel advised he didn’t know the area was closed to bottom fishing.  He was in possession of three golden tilefish and one amberjack.  He was federally cited for bottom fishing in the closed St. Lucie Hump MPA. 

Collier County

• Officer Pierre-Louis stopped a 12’ vessel at Bayview Boat Ramp to conduct a safety inspection. Officer Pierre reviewed the vessel’s registration, which stated the vessel was a 13' personal watercraft. Officer Pierre checked the transom and found no HIN was displayed. He then inspected the displayed registration numbers and found they were placed on top of a well-sanded down area, commonly done to prevent identification of the true registration. The vessel on its trailer was seized for operation on state waters without a HIN displayed and for further investigation.

CASES

Monroe County

• Officer Catalano observed a vehicle parked in the center of Loop Road with its high beams activated. Officer Catalano conducted a stop on the vehicle and found five subjects fishing with rod and reels. Officer Catalano conducted a resource inspection and found none of the subjects had valid freshwater fishing licenses. During the inspection, Officer Catalano observed a bucket with a large quantity of bluegill inside. When asked if the subjects had any other fish, they stated they did not. Officer Catalano observed another white bucket with several cleaning supplies and rags inside. Officer Catalano checked the bucket and found a live juvenile alligator underneath the rags. One of the subjects admitted to catching the alligator and stated he planned to take it home with him. The individual was arrested for illegal take of an American alligator and transported to the Plantation Key jail.