FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 12/20/13 - 01/02/14

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

December 20, 2013 - January 2, 2014

 

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

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer Hoomes received a complaint of two overdue boaters.  With the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the individuals’ vehicle and boat trailer were located at Navy Point Boat Ramp. Officers Livesay and Cushing responded to assist with the search.  A short time later, the individuals’ vessel, a 14­‑foot Jon boat, was found washed up near Fort Pickens Pier.  A short distance away, one victim was located deceased.  A short time later, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy called to report they were picking up the second individual at a convenient store several miles away.  Officer Hoomes spoke to the second occupant and determined the two individuals were fishing near the Pensacola Pass and their vessel partially sank after a large wave washed over the bow.  The surviving occupant reportedly was in the water several hours before making it to shore.  He then walked several miles before he was able to report what had happened.  Investigator Goley is investigating the accident.

 

Santa Rosa County

 

While working on the Eglin Reservation, Officer Jones was checking hunters who were walking out of a still-hunt area. After conversing with the hunters, Officer Jones was told that a couple of shots were heard across a nearby creek moments earlier. Officer Jones observed a vehicle parked at a trail head in the vicinity of where the shots were heard. Officer Jones went to the vehicle and waited for the hunter's return. Well after dark, the hunter arrived carrying a deer on a pack frame. The deer was a short-antlered buck with its longest antler approximately one inch in length. The hunter was cited with a notice to appear in county court for taking an antlerless deer. Eglin Range Patrol Officers arrived and issued a notice of violation suspending the hunter’s Eglin privileges.

 

Okaloosa County

 

Officers Jarvis and Rockwell responded to a complaint at the Eglin spray fields in Fort Walton Beach near unit H15 regarding a subject hunting during closed season on the Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The complainant showed Officers Jarvis and Rockwell where the man was hunting alongside the spray fields and advised that he was shooting arrows into the spray fields. Officers Jarvis and Rockwell began to search the area for the hunter and found him hiding in some bushes several hundred yards away from his tree stand. Officer Jarvis issued the hunter a citation for hunting during closed season and a warning for not having his Eglin permit.

 

Officers Jarvis and Rockwell responded to a complaint on Eglin WMA off Range Road 454 and 577, adjacent to Duke Field. An off-duty Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputy was driving his truck down Range Road 577 and when he thought he heard the sound of bushes and trees being cut in a closed area. He then heard two people talking and noticed a truck parked off the side of the road. Two men eventually walked out of the closed area and the off-duty deputy identified himself and detained the two men until Officers Jarvis and Rockwell, along with Range Patrol, arrived. The two men admitted to cutting down trees in the closed area and had installed one tree stand and were planning to install more. Officers Jarvis and Rockwell charged both men with cutting down trees in a WMA, entering an area posted as “closed to public access” in a WMA, and entering or exiting Eglin WMA in areas or times other than specified by the area commander. Eglin Range Patrol also suspended the men’s hunting privileges for two weeks.

 

Walton County

 

Officer Brooks and Lieutenant Walsingham responded to Eglin WMA near Freeport on a report of a convicted felon hunting with a firearm.  Surveillance was conducted and a vehicle matching the description was stopped.  The subject was in possession of a modern rifle and had an eight-point buck deer on the dog box.  A computer check revealed that he was not a convicted felon; however, he was on felony probation.  The probation officer was notified and confirmed that the subject was in violation by possessing a firearm.  The subject was issued a citation for expired hunting license and booked into the Walton County Jail for violation of probation.  The rifle was seized as evidence.

 

Bay County

 

Officer Price received information concerning an illegally killed doe.  Officers Price and Palmer located the subject and conducted an interview.  A written confession was obtained in which the subject admitted to the violation. He advised he hadn’t been hunting in a long time and he wanted to kill something.  A citation was issued for the violation.

 

Lieutenant Chesser and Officers Leonard, Price and Palmer worked the shorelines of the bays in an attempt to locate hidden illegal nets.  One oversized monofilament gill net was located and destroyed.

 

Officers Goodwin and Hellett were working an undercover detail in Warren Bayou, also known as the Steam Plant Canal. The area is closed to the harvest of marine fish species from November to the end of February. The Officers observed a subject throwing a cast net from a vessel and harvesting mullet. They approached the subject and issued the subject a citation for harvesting fish in a closed area.

 

WAKULLA COUNTY

 

Officer Hoelscher was on water patrol when he received a complaint of individuals illegally harvesting oysters from a closed area.  Officer Hoelscher located the individuals and cited both for harvesting in a closed area and possession of undersized oysters.

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY

 

Officer Allen received information that a habitual offender would be out fishing for mullet with a large mesh net during the evening near St. George Island. Officers Allen and Stephens worked for several hours in the afternoon attempting to locate the suspect’s vehicle and launch location.  In the early evening, Officer Allen located the suspect’s vehicle at a private ramp on St. George Island and contacted Officers Gore and Nelson to assist with the surveillance of the ramp.  The officers concealed themselves for several hours waiting for the suspect to arrive and disclosed their location and identified themselves as the vessel was being pulled from the water.  The primary suspect has an extensive history of net violations and has had his fishing privileges revoked, but was in possession of three, large mesh nylon nets, several hundred pounds of mullet, three red drum and four black drum.  Numerous resource and boating safety citations were issued in the case, including a felony for fishing with privileges revoked.  The suspect was booked into the Franklin County Jail.

 

During the past two weeks, Officers Allen and Stephens have been diligent on patrol locating individuals harvesting undersized oysters in Apalachicola Bay.  Their persistence has paid off, with the Officers making several undersized cases.  Some of the percentages for the undersized oysters were as high as 90 percent.

 

While in Apalachicola, Officer Bunker was approached by an individual with information reference to a boat coming in with undersized oysters. Officer Bunker investigated the information and discovered activity associated with the intelligence. Due to Officer Bunker’s efforts, he was able to make a possession of undersized oyster case. Later in the week, Officer Bunker was patrolling the Bald Point area. Officer Bunker heard gunfire coming from a private lease and saw a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road. Officer Bunker waited for the hunter to come out of the woods. Upon encountering the hunter, Officer Bunker noticed multiple indicators of alcohol impairment. Officer Bunker completed his investigation and the subject was arrested for use of a firearm while impaired by alcohol as well as possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Due to Officer Bunker’s efforts, this individual was kept off of the highway where he would have been a risk to public safety.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

                                      

CLAY COUNTY

 

Officer Bryan was patrolling Camp Blanding WMA prior to the opening season when he observed a vehicle parked with the driver’s door and trunk open. An individual exited the woods, tossed what appeared to be a turkey in the vehicle’s trunk then sped away. Officer Bryan conducted a vehicle stop and noticed a bolt action rifle lying on the back seat. The driver stated he was turkey hunting for Thanksgiving and had killed three turkeys so far. The driver also admitted to entering the WMA through an unauthorized access point. A search of the vehicle’s trunk disclosed three, freshly killed hen turkeys. Officer Bryan charged the subject with taking turkey during the closed season. Five warnings were also issued.

 

Officer Hopp was dispatched to a call regarding an individual who had shot a deer from a public roadway. Unable to locate the subject, Officer Hopp was able to obtain the name of the person that allegedly shot the deer and turned the information over to Officer Justus for follow-up. Officer Justus located and interviewed the subject at his residence. The subject admitted to shooting a doe deer by illuminating it with the vehicle’s headlights and escorted Officer Justus to the location where the incident occurred. While conducting a canvas of the area, Officer Justus discovered a doe deer carcass that had been shot through the stomach and intestines. Charges of taking deer at night with gun and light were filed with the Clay County State Attorney’s Office. A warning was also issued for discharging a firearm over a public right-of-way.

 

DUVAL COUNTY

 

Officers Sapp, Hayes and Holleman responded to a complaint of someone fishing with a large trotline in the Trout River. Officers Hayes and Holleman located the subject late at night, concealed in a lightless vessel baiting his hooks. Officers Holleman and Hayes made contact with the subject and identified several fisheries and boating safety violations. The subject was issued citations and warnings for fishing with over the allowed 25 hooks, not marking his gear properly, operating at night without navigation lights, no life jackets, no sound-producing device and trespassing on a private residence dock. The 60+-year-old subject stated that he has been fishing these trotlines in the same area in this manner since his youth.

 

MADISON COUNTY

 

Officer Huff received a complaint of an illegal doe deer being killed off a roadway near a residence. The complainant advised they had seen an individual they knew, drive by their residence and shoot a high-caliber rifle at a deer. The individual said he had shot at a coyote. After responding to the area, Officer Huff found fresh blood in the road and a freshly killed doe deer 20 yards in the woods. While waiting by the deer, Officer Huff observed a vehicle matching the description given by the complainant come by at a slow speed. After stopping the vehicle, Officer Huff saw a 30-06 rifle next to the driver. The rifle had been recently fired and the subject admitted to shooting from the roadway. The rifle and deer were seized and charges of taking doe deer during closed season and hunting from roadway were filed through the State Attorney’s Office.

 

NASSAU COUNTY

 

Officer Blackburn was working illegal night hunting and trespassing activities when she observed a vehicle leaving private property. She attempted to make contact with the vehicle but it went back on the property. She maintained surveillance on the vehicle and, when it attempted to leave a second time, she stopped it and discovered the driver was dressed in camouflage. Officer Sweat arrived to provide assistance. Officers Blackburn and Sweat located a rifle near the vehicle as well as other hunting gear. The operator of the vehicle was providing conflicting stories to the Officers and did not have permission to be on the property. The subject was taken into custody for trespassing. While Officers Sweat and Blackburn were conducting an inventory of the vehicle, they discovered a white, powdery substance which appeared to be crystal methamphetamine. Officers also discovered a wallet in the vehicle that did not belong to the driver. They contacted FWC K-9 Officer Gill and K-9 Friar to respond to the incident. FWC K-9 Team Officer Gill and K-9 Friar, Baker County Correctional K-9 Officers, FWC Officers Johnston and Shearer as well as FWC Lieutenants Lee and Thompson arrived to assist with the perimeter and search for the other possible subject. While working their way through the woods, K-9 Team Officer Gill and K-9 Friar located several other hunting accessories, another firearm and a second suspect hiding on the property was taken into custody by Officer Sweat. Once back to their patrol vehicles, the Officers observed there were two rifles, two convicted felons in custody for trespassing and three different types of rounds. Through interviews, the officers discovered there was a third possible suspect that they were not able to locate due to the amount of time that had elapsed. The powdery substance and firearms are in the process of being submitted to FDLE for processing. Charges for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance are being filed. Officer Blackburn arrested the two individuals for trespassing on private property.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Lieutenant Kiss was invited to the December Turkey Shoot sponsored by the Hamilton County Chapter of the Kiwanis Club. The shoot was held just outside the City of Jasper. There were approximately 45 members participating and Lieutenant Kiss answered general questions from the group.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

VOLUSIA COUNTY

 

A detail was implemented in the coastal waters of Volusia County to address possible violations concerning the use of illegal nets to saltwater species, licensing requirements and the quality control of the harvested food fish. Officers Meurlot, Yetter and Koble worked in conjunction with Officers Goodreau, Creese, LaRoche, McDonough and Malicoat to attempt to cover as much waterway as possible.  Pilot/Lieutenant Waldeck and Lieutenant Urban assisted this effort from the air by helicopter.  Late in the evening, a fishing vessel with three adult males on board was observed being operated without running lights and in an area that was known to hold schooling fish.  Officers Creese and Yetter approached and attempted to stop the vessel for an inspection.  They could observe an entangling/gill net being “struck” from the back of the boat.  The boat operator did not stop and attempted to flee and elude officers across shallow flats and mangrove islands; however, the FWC helicopter was able to closely track the fleeing vessel until Officers McDonough and Malicoat could successfully stop the boat.  Felony charges of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement by boat, illegal use of more than 2,000 square feet of entangling net and transiting entangling net within state waters have been filed with the local State Attorney’s Office.  Civil infractions were also issued to the adult male operator. The net was seized and stored for evidence.

 

While on night patrol, Officer North heard a gunshot from Lake Monroe WMA. He went to investigate and found a suspicious vehicle in the WMA parking lot. As he approached, he heard several more gunshots from inside the WMA. A short time later, two subjects exited the woods. Further investigation revealed one of the subjects was target practicing with a newly purchased handgun. The subject had shot up several live pine trees in the WMA. He was also found to be in possession of cannabis. He was issued criminal citations for damaging trees/vegetation on St. Johns Water Management District property and possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.

 

While on patrol at a small Volusia County lake, Officer North heard gunfire in the area right at dark.  He also observed several wood ducks flying into the lake. Suspecting someone may be shooting at the ducks after legal shooting hours, Officer North enlisted the help of Officer Yetter and Officer Edson. The three officers returned to work the area later in the week. Thirty minutes after legal shooting hours Officer Yetter was able to observe the suspect attempting to take ducks. The officers contacted the suspect and cited him for several migratory bird hunting violations including shooting after legal hours, use of lead shot and no federal waterfowl stamp.

 

PUTNAM COUNTY

 

Investigator Bonds completed an investigation involving two deer that were killed illegally. Investigator Bonds received information that a subject out of Welaka was seen cleaning a doe out of season. Investigator Bonds made contact with the subject and began to question him. During the interview, Investigator Bonds learned that the subject was still in possession of the doe deer and learned of a large 9-point that the subject had killed also. Investigator Bonds obtained evidence that the 9-point had been killed with a crossbow at 3:30 AM on November 2, 2013. The subject gave a full confession to both offenses, and the crossbow, deer and horns were seized. Charges were filed with the State Attorney’s Office for taking deer with gun and light and taking antlerless deer out of season.

 

Investigator Bonds gained information that a deer had been cleaned at a private residence and there were no antlers visible on the deer’s head. Investigator Bonds made contact with the homeowner in Citra and provided him with the information he had obtained. During the interview, Investigator Bonds learned that a doe had been killed on December 7, 2013, around 5:45 PM, and that it was taken to the Citra address. The subject was read Miranda and admitted to killing and cleaning the deer. The suspect provided a rifle, deer meat and a written statement. Investigator Bonds seized the evidence and issued the suspect a criminal citation for taking an antlerless deer out of season.  

 

LAKE COUNTY

 

Officer Douglas received a report of someone taking a hen turkey near Rock Springs Run State Reserve. Officers Douglas and Connery responded and found three individuals present at the residence in question. One of the adults admitted to killing the hen and led officers to the carcass. Officer Douglas issued citations for taking a hen and no hunting license. Officer Douglas then ran the subjects who were present, and a 17-year-old had an outstanding felony warrant out of Lake County. The 17-year-old also had a container with cannabis residue. Officer Douglas issued a citation for drug paraphernalia and transported the subject to Lake County Jail.

 

ORANGE COUNTY

 

Officer Douglas received a report from Wekiwa Springs State Park about a red SUV that was coming into the park after hours and was being left until early the next day. Officer Douglas ran the tag and it came back as stolen from the local area. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office was notified and they contacted the owner who recovered his vehicle.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

 

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Allen, Investigator Brooks and Officer Ervin participated in a New Year’s Eve detail targeting disturbances and traffic violations in Highlands Hammock State Park. No significant disturbances occurred during the New Year’s Eve celebrations in the campground. Four warnings and two citations were issued for various traffic offenses.   Investigator Brooks made one DUI on a subject who registered .16 on the breathalyzer at the Highlands County jail.

 

After the detail, while on his way home, Investigator Brooks encountered a subject on US 27 in Sebring who was travelling in excess of 90 MPH. The man was stopped and was observed to be extremely intoxicated. He was booked into the Highlands County Jail where the subject refused the breath test. A close search of the man resulted in finding a pipe with cannabis residue. In addition to DUI, he was charged with possession of cannabis under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia and the smuggling of contraband into a jail which is a third degree felony.

 

Officer Ervin investigated a complaint concerning a subject feeding sandhill cranes in Sebring. Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Ervin observed several containers of corn and dog food in the yard and several sandhill cranes and raccoons feeding there. The homeowner admitted to feeding the cranes and raccoons and was given a notice to appear in court for feeding the sandhill cranes and warned about feeding the raccoons. The man agreed to remove the corn and dog food from the yard.

 

LEE COUNTY

 

Officer Bryson received a call from dispatch advising that a 73-year-old man got separated from his group while exploring Mound Key State Park on kayaks. The group returned to Carl Johnson Boat Ramp and the man was nowhere to be found. Officers Bryson and Bell responded by vessel and headed towards Mound Key. The man was found on the southwestern side of Mound Key. He was a little confused and unsure of his location. The officers transported the man and his kayak in their patrol vessel and returned him to his friends at the boat ramp. Many agencies were dispatched, including a Lee County Sheriff’s helicopter. The man was thankful for all the help.

 

Officer Morrow was dispatched to the area of the Fort Myers Fishing Pier to investigate a report of three individuals fishing along the beach, catching and keeping snook. Snook season is currently closed on the Gulf side from December 1 to February 28. When he arrived in the area, he was unable to locate anyone fishing near the beach. While in the parking lot, he saw three people fitting the same general description walking back to their vehicle carrying poles, tackle gear, and a five-gallon bucket. Officer Morrow approached them and conducted a fisheries inspection and they advised him that they just left the beach and only caught one fish. A 23 ¼” snook was found inside the bucket. One of the individuals admitted catching the fish and stated he did not know what it was. This subject was charged with two misdemeanor offenses, one for being in possession of a snook during closed season and the other for being undersized. He was given a court date and released with a notice to appear.

 

Officer Raczek was on ATV patrol in the South Florida Water Management District’s Vacant Land area in Lee County when he located several trucks and trailers inside an area posted as a “No Vehicle” area. Officer Raczek called additional FWC personnel for assistance and Officer McColgin and Lieutenant Ruggiero responded.  Just as darkness was setting in, the officers located the individuals who were riding off-road vehicles on the property. While attempting to identify the men, a bag of marijuana was found in the possession of one of the men and the other man was in possession of cocaine. Further investigation revealed that the man with the cocaine possessed over $600 cash and several small baggies for the selling of cocaine. The officers issued 15 warnings for riding ATV’s in a posted “No Vehicle” area. Officer Raczek issued a criminal citation to one of the subjects for marijuana possession less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officer McColgin physically arrested the man with the cocaine for possession with intent to distribute.  Officers Zampella and Stanley assisted with evidence processing.

 

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Allen was on water patrol in E pool of the Kissimmee River when he observed a boat moored in the Kissimmee River Public Use Area. Two hunters were found hunting wild hogs with a dog. The dog did not have the hunter’s name and address on the collar as required by law. One of the hunters, the dog’s owner, was issued a citation for the misdemeanor.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

BROWARD COUNTY

 

Officers Basford and Brock were on water patrol when they received a call from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in regard to a subject that had caught a large shark on the Pompano Pier. The Officers responded to the scene and identified the shark as a sandbar shark. Sandbar sharks are a prohibited species to harvest. The subject was cited for harvesting a prohibited species and the shark was seized as evidence.

 

Officers Brock and Wright were on water patrol when they observed a brown pelican hanging from a dock piling with a fishing lure in its mouth. The wire leader attached to the fishing lure had become entangled on the piling. The Officers cut the pelican loose and removed the fishing lure from its mouth. The pelican was exhausted, but uninjured, so it was released.

 

GLADES COUNTY

 

Officers Alford and Barber responded to a trespass complaint on U.S. Sugar Property at Distant Island.  Two subjects were being detained on the property by Padgett Security.  Neither subject could provide appropriate identification and posed a significant flight risk. The subjects were arrested and booked at the Glades County Jail. There it was discovered that one of the subjects had provided a false name.  The subject had an arrest warrant out of Hendry County.

 

HENDRY COUNTY

 

Officer Lilley was off duty when he was contacted by a local landowner about a picture that was taken by his game camera on his property. He emailed Officer Lilley the picture of a hunting dog with a tracking collar.  Officer Lilley advised dispatch of the situation and they contacted Officers Greene and Tison.  The landowner advised Officer Lilley that the suspects had just run from him and were headed towards the Caloosahatchee River.  Officer Lilley arrived on scene first where he was able to locate the suspects’ truck hidden in a block of woods next to the highway.  Officers Greene and Tison arrived on scene and they created a tight perimeter to await the suspects return to their vehicle.  After a short time, Officer Greene observed the three suspects, along with three dogs, walking from the orange grove and advised the other Officers of the situation.  The Officers made contact with the suspects where they were issued citations for the violations.

 

Officer Lilley received a call from dispatch stating that a caller wanted to speak to him in reference to an ongoing trespass in an orange grove in Hendry County.  Officer Lilley made contact with the complainant who advised him of a couple of subjects with dogs on foot inside of a privately-owned orange grove.  Officer Lilley, along with Officers Mclendon, Taylor and Miller, headed to the area to investigate.  Officers Lilley and Mclendon arrived to the Hendry and Lee county line where a vehicle loaded with dogs was located.  The subjects quickly admitted to trespassing on the privately-owned orange grove.  The subjects were issued citations for the violations of state law regarding trespass.  Officers Taylor and Miller photographed the footprints inside of the orange grove which clearly matched the suspects’ footprints.    

 

MARTIN COUNTY

 

Officer Moss stopped a 21’ white, center-console boat at Sandsprit Boat Ramp for a fisheries inspection. After the inspection, the operator was found to be in possession of 33 Spanish mackerel over the bag limit. The owner/operator stated that he used to be a commercial fisherman, but no longer does that. Officer Moss asked the subject why he had caught so many fish over the bag limit. He advised “he did not know why.” The operator was issued a citation for possession of over the bag limit of Spanish mackerel.

 

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

 

Officers Barber, Davis and Alford responded to a boating accident on Lake Okeechobee on the outside Rim Canal.  Once on scene, the Officers discovered a subject claiming to be the operator of the vessel.  The vessel was sunken and tied off to the sea wall behind the reporting party’s residence.  The subject claimed that he lost steering and the vessel made an abrupt turn causing the vessel to sink.  The Officers then moved on to a BUI investigation once they observed several alcohol containers in the vessel and around it.  The results from the field sobriety tests gave the Officers probable cause to arrest for BUI. A test of the subject’s breath found him to be over three times the legal limit.  Following booking the subject into the county jail, the officers removed the vessel from the water.  The vessel had an altered hull identification number (HIN) and the registration number did not match up to the vessel, the vessel’s altered HIN, or the original HIN.  The Officers seized the vessel for further investigation.  

 

PALM BEACH COUNTY

 

Officers Brock and Basford were on land patrol when they observed two subjects freshwater fishing in Stormwater Treatment Area 3/4. The subjects had ridden bicycles into the area past several “No Public Access” and “No Fishing” signs. The two subjects were cited for fishing in a closed area.

 

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

 

In late June 2013, Officers Payne, Pifer and Sapp assisted U.S. Customs and Border Patrol with a vessel stop they had initiated on a vessel returning to Florida from the Bahamas. The vessel was found to have illegally harvested marine resource and possession limit violations. The owner of the vessel was charged federally and the case has recently been closed in court. U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced the subject to two years probation and a $2,500.00 fine, charging him with importing and attempting to import queen conch, spiny lobster, stone crab claws and (fin fish), namely snapper and grouper in violation of the possession limits for each of the species as set forth in the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Approximately 338 queen conch, 11 spiny lobster tails, 31 stone crab claws, and 140 pounds of snapper and grouper fillets were found on the vessel.

 

Officer Pifer was conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections in the ICW near Ft. Pierce when he made contact with a vessel with three individuals on board actively engaged in fishing. A fisheries inspection of the vessel revealed an undersized gag grouper, two undersized mangrove snappers, and one undersized sheepshead. One of the individuals claimed possession of the fish and was issued a citation for the violations.

 

Officer Pifer was conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections at a local boat ramp when he made contact with a vessel that was returning to the dock. A fisheries inspection of the vessel revealed two each undersized mutton snapper and sheepshead. One of the individuals on board the vessel claimed possession of the fish and was issued a citation for the violations. 

 

Officer Pifer was conducting boating safety and fisheries inspections at a local boat ramp in Fort Pierce when he made contact with a vessel returning to the dock with three individuals on board. A fisheries inspection revealed 11 undersized mutton snapper on board. Mutton snapper must be at least 16 inches in length and these measured between ten and twelve inches long.  All individuals claimed to have participated equally in the taking of the undersized fish and each received a citation for possession of undersized mutton snapper.

 

Officer Pifer was conducting fisheries inspections at a local fishing spot in Fort Pierce when he made contact with an individual. An inspection revealed two undersized red drum in the individual’s cooler. The individual was issued a citation for possession of undersized and over the bag limit of red drum.

 

Back in early November, Officer Pifer conducted a boat accident investigation involving a large vessel that struck another vessel multiple times near the Fort Pierce North Bridge. It was determined that the operator of the larger vessel got in a verbal altercation with another vessel operator and decided to end the argument by ramming his boat. After numerous interviews and witness statements were obtained, the investigation was closed and presented to the State Attorney for a review of charges. Arrest warrants were issued for the subject. He was charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.    

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

Officers Martin and Yanez stopped a vessel for violation of posted manatee zone. During the vessel safety inspection, the Officers believed the operator of vessel to be under the influence. Officer Martin conduced field testing and the subject was arrested for BUI based upon the test results. The subject was transported to Miami Beach Police Department for a breath test, which he refused. Additionally, he refused to sign his citations. He was charged with BUI and failure to sign citations. He was cited for violation of a manatee zone and refusal to submit to a breath test.

 

Investigator Haney and Officer Gerdeman were conducting land patrol and observed two individuals fishing from the dock of a closed business.  The Officers conducted a resource inspection and the subjects stated that they had no fish.  The Officers located a snook hidden nearby and one of the subjects admitted to keeping it.  The subject was charged with possession of undersized and out-of-season snook.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Officers Miller and Reith participated in biology day at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples.  Over 800 attendees took part in the event as well as representatives from numerous local and state agencies.  The Officers were able to explain to the children and their parents the importance of conservation and the role our agency has in preserving Florida’s natural resources.