FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 12/6 - 12/12/2013

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

December 6-December 12, 2013

 

This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;

however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

 

Patrol, Protect, Preserve

 

NORTHWEST REGION

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officers Bartlett and Maltais were on land patrol conducting fisheries inspections.  The officers observed a subject fishing from the Shalimar Bridge.  Officer Bartlett conducted a fisheries inspection of this subject and located nine mangrove snapper, five of which were undersized. Officer Bartlett issued the subject citations for the violations.

 

WALTON COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Hollinhead and Officer Arnette met with Officer Yates after he had received information of an antlerless deer being killed near Glendale. The officers made contact with a subject at a residence and confirmed a doe deer had been killed and the property where the deer was taken had been issued antlerless deer tags. It was later determined the subject was in possession of antlerless deer tags, but they were at his residence when the deer was taken and a tag was never placed on the deer in the field or when he returned to his residence. The subject was cited for taking/possession of an untagged antlerless deer. A juvenile was issued a warning for the same violation and for not having a hunting license.

 

BAY COUNTY

 

Officer Hellett received a complaint of a subject keeping undersized mangrove snapper on the jetties at St. Andrews State Park. He arrived at the jetties and found a subject who fit the description. He conducted an inspection of the angler’s catch and determined he was in possession of and had harvested three undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. The subject was issued a notice to appear for the violation.

 

GADSDEN COUNTY

 

Officer Johnson and Lieutenant Parker worked a trespass complaint in the Quincy area. After locating the individual at his home, the officers issued a citation to the subject for taking over the limit of squirrels and no hunting license. While at the subject's home, the officers also found a carcass of a doe deer. Further investigation revealed it was a road kill that had been skinned and then illegally sold. The officers located the man who sold the deer. He was issued a citation for illegal sale of deer.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

DUVAL COUNTY

 

Officer Holleman was fishing while off duty when he observed five individuals fishing from the shore with cast nets in a remote area. Officer Holleman had observed the individuals catching several small fish. He contacted Officer Hayes and Lieutenant Thompson and told them of the individuals and advised that it might be a good idea to conduct an inspection on them. As Officer Hayes and Lieutenant Thompson approached the area by vessel, two of the individuals fled on foot. With Officer Holleman’s assistance, Officer Hayes and Lieutenant Thompson were able to locate the other three individuals who had hidden their cast nets in the woods nearby. Officer Hayes stayed with two of the individuals while Lieutenant Thompson went with one of the individuals back to their vehicle in an attempt to locate the two who had fled. While walking back to the vehicle, Lieutenant Thompson was able to locate the two individuals as they attempted to hide in the wood line along the CSX railroad tracks and took them into custody. Both individuals were charged with trespassing on CSX railroad property and one of the individuals was charged with interfering with FWC Officers’ inspection.

 

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a $2,000 Notice of Violation Assessment (NOVA) to a boat crew that Investigator Izsak and Officer Bryan stopped 25 miles offshore last September. The recreation fishing crew of 7 had numerous fishing violations consisting of possession of 28 black sea bass during a federal closure (10 of which were undersized) and 18 undersized dolphins.

 

HAMILTON COUNTY

 

Officers Nichols and Hoyle were checking a known hunting location (from last hunting season) within the Suwannee River State Park when they noticed it was actively being hunted. At the access point on the Suwannee River, the officers noticed a blood-stained spot on the white sand along the river bank. Officer Nichols located a carcass of a cleaned button buck left behind. A few weeks later, both Officers returned via boat to this location. As the Officers’ boat was idling up to the spot, they noticed a suspect’s boat pull up to the bank. The Officers observed dried blood and deer hair in the vessel along with an empty rifle case. A hunter was observed walking and cautiously looking around. The Officers made contact with the hunter and advised him that he was hunting on Suwannee River State Park property. The Officers issued the hunter a notice to appear for hunting in a state park. A second hunter, who was not present at that time, will have charges filed against him with the State Attorney’s Office for taking an antlerless deer during closed season and hunting in a state park.

 

MADISON COUNTY

 

On Thanksgiving afternoon, Officer Huff was patrolling in Madison County when he heard several shots. The shots came from an area in which he had received complaints before in reference to illegal hunting. Officer Huff then observed three subjects dressed in camouflage and carrying rifles exit the woods. Officer Huff made contact with the three subjects and during a hunting license check, he discovered that one of the subjects was a known convicted felon. The subject was in possession of a .50 caliber in-line muzzleloader. The subject stated that he knew he could not be in possession of a firearm, but thought he could hunt with a muzzleloader. Officer Huff did a criminal history check to confirm that the subject was in fact a convicted felon, then seized the rifle and placed it in an FWC evidence storage facility.

 

NASSAU COUNTY

 

Officer Stuhr was fishing while off duty when he observed an individual catch an undersized red drum and hide it in some nearby bushes. He made contact with Officer Tucker and advised him of the scenario. Due to his distance from the location, Officer Tucker contacted Lieutenant Thompson to go to the area. Officer Stuhr observed that the fisherman had a woman sitting in a vehicle parked next to the road and was acting as a lookout for law enforcement. Lieutenant Thompson was able to reach the fisherman’s location surreptitiously and secured the scene. Officer Stuhr and Lieutenant Thompson searched for the fish but were unable to locate it. Shortly after Officer Tucker arrived, the man decided to come clean and showed the Officers where he had hidden the fish which was covered with some rocks. Officer Tucker arrested the man for the possession of undersized red drum and issued him a warning for interfering with an FWC Officer’s inspection.

 

TAYLOR COUNTY

 

Investigator McMillan and Officer Wilcox located a baited area near a tree stand in one of the local wildlife management areas. The officers waited for the individual to show and announced their presence as he sat down in the stand to begin the hunt. Through investigation, the officers located three other baited sites within the management area that were being hunted by members of the same hunting party. The officers issued notices to appear for the violations.

 

Officer Yates spent the afternoon working an area of Suwannee River Water Management District land that is closed to hunting. Officer Yates heard dogs running in the area and located the owner of the dogs who had driven down a closed road and had a rifle in his hands. Officer Yates will be filing charges for the violations.

 

Officer Yates observed three adults and a juvenile hunting in an area that is not open to hunting during general gun season. Officer Yates issued notices to appear to the three adults for the violations.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

OSCEOLA COUNTY

 

Officers responded to hunting accident in Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Investigator Morgan, Officer Mendez and Officer Trusley were notified and responded.  At the scene, Officer Mendez and Investigator Morgan took possession of the firearm and interviewed witnesses.  The witnesses stated that they were finished hunting for the day and were clearing their firearms.  As they cleared their individual firearms, they heard the victim state that his rifle was jammed.  As he said that, his rifle discharged into his foot severing his middle toe.  This account of the incident was confirmed by Officer Trusley’s interview with the victim.

 

VOLUSIA COUNTY

 

In the early morning hours Officers Meurlot, Malicoat, McDonough and Goodreau were working an illegal use of net detail in coastal Volusia County backwaters.  After setting up in different areas, a commercial fisherman was observed setting an illegal seine to attempt to harvest fish.  He was subsequently arrested for the criminal charge of illegal use of a seine net in Volusia County and his net was seized as evidence.  All fish were returned to the water.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Officer Platt attended the grand opening of Bass Pro Shop in Palm Bay, Brevard County.  Officer Platt spoke with approximately 300 people speaking on various topics and answered questions.  There were approximately 5,000 in attendance.  

 

Officer Dias received the Eagle Eye Award from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for locating a juvenile that a BOLO (be on the lookout) had been issued for. The juvenile was impersonating a Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy by pulling citizens over and walking through the woods asking hunters for their hunting license.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

 

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

 

Officer Zimmerman investigated a complaint concerning the unlawful feeding of a black bear and encountered a subject who was actively feeding bears in the Sebring area. The woman was issued a notice to appear in court. She has again been seen feeding bears; thus, Officer Zimmerman will direct file an additional charge with the Highlands County State Attorney’s Office for the second offense.

 

LEE COUNTY

 

Officer McColgin and Lieutenant Andriano worked a panther speed enforcement detail in south Lee County. The operation was to have high-visibility law enforcement patrols within the designated panther zones when the nighttime speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. The reduced speeds are to prevent unwarranted automobile collisions with panthers as they cross the roadways. The four-hour detail resulted in 14 citations and warnings being issued and the highest violator speed was 74 mph in the posted, nighttime 45 mph panther speed zone.

 

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

 

Officer Ervin was on patrol in the Kissimmee River Public Use Area at Starvation Slough when he observed four subjects hunting wild hogs with dogs. Starvation Slough is a primitive weapons-only area where hunting with dogs is prohibited during the general gun season. The four subjects were observed walking out of the area bent over to avoid being seen. Officer Ervin apprehended the subjects and issued three adult males notices to appear for attempting to take wild hogs by an illegal method. A juvenile received a warning. One of the adults had outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court for attempting to take wild hogs in a closed area in the previous hunting season issued by Lieutenant Allen. The second warrant was for contempt of court in Hendry County. The man was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail.

 

POLK COUNTY

 

Officer Still participated in a Wounded Warrior Hunt on the Division of Forestry property near Lake Kissimmee. The hunt consisted of volunteers assisting disabled veterans hunting wild hogs and quail in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. The event started Friday and concluded Sunday.

 

COPS

 

Officers Adams, Morrow and Furbay represented FWC at the Great Outdoor Adventure Day at Lovers Key State Park. The Officers had a tent set up with an American Alligator and an African Ball Python.  Attendees were able to interact with the reptiles. The Officers also handed out fishing regulations and various informational pamphlets.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

MARTIN COUNTY

 

Officer Doricchi was heading north on Fox Brown Road off of Beeline Highway in Indiantown when he pulled up on a cow that had escaped its pasture and was standing right next to the roadway.  A Martin County Deputy also arrived about the same time.  Officer Doricchi assisted the Martin County Deputy with getting the cow back in the pasture so it wouldn’t be a hazard to passing motorists.

 

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

 

Officers Willems and Payne checked a person fishing in Ft. Pierce and found them to be in possession of four undersized mutton snapper. The subject stated he knew they were snapper, but did not know the size limit. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.

 

Officers Willems and Payne were doing fishery and boating safety inspections at a Ft. Pierce boat ramp when a vessel came to the ramp. The operator of the vessel got out of the vessel and went to get the truck and trailer as the officers approached the vessel. The operator of the vessel had a hard time getting the trailer to the ramp and jackknifed a few times attempting to back the trailer into the water. The operator got out and loaded the boat up. At this point, the officers made contact and told the subject to pull the vehicle up to complete a vessel safety inspection. When the operator got out of the vehicle, the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol. The subject performed badly on field sobriety tasks and was arrested for boating and driving under the influence (DUI). He was transported to St. Lucie County Jail where he refused to provide a breath sample. He was charged for refusal to submit to a breath test as well. This was the subject’s third DUI.

 

Officers Payne and Willems inspected a local fish house in Ft. Pierce and found an undersized cobia and a spotted sea trout out of the commercial season in the freezer room. When asked about where the fish came from, a copy of the trip tickets showed the two fish had come from the same commercial vessel in two different trips. The vessel operator was questioned and stated that he must have accidentally brought the spotted sea trout in and that he had brought some cobia in as well. He was shown the undersized cobia and stated that it appeared to be his fish. The operator of the vessel was issued a citation for selling a spotted sea trout out of season and for attempting to sell an undersized cobia. The fish house owner was issued a citation for possession of a spotted sea trout out of the commercial season.

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

COLLIER

 

While on water patrol in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Lieutenant Barrett observed three men fishing inside of the ABC Islands Critical Wildlife Area, which is a designated “no entry” and “no fishing” bird sanctuary.  Lieutenant Barrett educated and warned the three men about the importance of staying out of the area in order to avoid disturbing the nesting birds and not fishing nearby to avoid entangling birds in fishing line.

 

Officers Futch and Tolbert conducted a detail in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.  The Officers were able to make contact with different landowners and users within the state park and educate them on current regulations.  During their surveillance, they discovered an ATV being driven in a prohibited area of the park.  The Officers issued 1 warning and 3 citations.  Two of those citations were for damage to park property.

 

Officers Gerdeman, Harris, Van Trees and White responded by boat to help rescue approximately 45 stranded pilot whales in Everglades National Park.  Additionally, Lieutenant Caraker responded to the scene by air with the Collier County Sherriff’s Office.  In cooperation with FWC biologists, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration biologists, US Coast Guard, National Park Service and volunteers, they helped approximately 36 of the whales navigate offshore to safer water depths.

 

Investigator Haney, Officers Bibeau and Miller were on water patrol on Turtle Creek in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve when they discovered a large, green plastic bin among the mangroves which contained a large net.  Neither the net nor the bin had any identifying marks and no individuals were observed within the area.  The owner of the net was unidentified and it was destroyed.

 

MIAMI-DADE

 

Officer Yanez and Lieutenant Kaloostian were on nighttime water patrol when they stopped a 34-foot vessel two miles offshore of Bear Cut.  The two males on board were acting suspicious and could not provide satisfactory answers to questions asked about the ownership of the vessel.  Consequently, they were detained and handcuffed and the vessel taken to the Miami US Coast Guard station.  The officers eventually were able to identify and speak to the vessel's owner, who was not on board.  The vessel stop and subsequent investigation revealed the fact that the vessel, worth approximately $150,000, had been stolen from a local marina approximately 50 minutes earlier and the owner was not aware of the theft.  The two subjects were arrested and charged with felony grand theft.

 

MONROE COUNTY

 

Officers Garrison and Robb were patrolling the waters of Monroe County at night when they saw a small vessel being operated with no navigational lights. The officers attempted to stop the vessel, but the operator continued to motor away. After several attempts, the officers managed to stop the vessel. Almost immediately, the officers noticed the operator of the vessel was demonstrating signs of impairment. The subject was having difficulty speaking clearly and was stumbling around the vessel. After failing several sobriety tests, the subject was brought to shore. Once on shore, other tests were administered that confirmed the officers’ suspicions that the subject was drunk. The subject was ultimately arrested for boating under the influence and booked into the Monroe County Jail.

 

Monroe County officers were dispatched to a search and rescue call in northern Monroe County where two subjects were believed to be in the water after their canoe capsized. Investigator Daniels responded via water and Investigator Fugate responded by land into the area where the two individuals were believed to be clinging on to the mangroves. After a lengthy search, the two wet, yet relieved, canoeist were rescued and brought to shore where they received the necessary medical attention.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

Officer Thurkettle gave a presentation to 180 second graders at Big Cypress Elementary school.  Officer Thurkettle talked about the importance of education in becoming a FWC Officer as well as informing the students about native animals and what to do if they encounter them.  Officer Thurkettle brought Ranger, the stuffed Florida Panther, and a three-foot live alligator for the students to interact with.

 

Officer Polly and Administrative Assistant Alexzandria James provided a booth at the Annual Swamp Heritage Festival at Big Cypress National Preserve.  The festival promoted past and present swamp culture with artists, speakers, musicians and swamp buggies. Officer Polly brought Ranger the Panther and provided information to the visitors about hunting regulations.  Ms. James spoke about panther food sources, habitat and provided statistics on panther physicality and traits.