FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 01/17 - 01/23/2014

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

January 17-January 23, 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

 

Santa Rosa County

 

Officers Miller and Lewis responded to a complaint of a vessel that had been dumped in a neighborhood. They located the previous owner and obtained a confession after interviewing him. The man was charged with misdemeanor littering.

 

Bay County

 

Officer Wicker was working Point Washington State Forest when he found a hunter in a stand overlooking a pile of corn.  A citation was issued for the violation.  Later that night, he observed what he believed to be a doe deer under a tree stand on the back of a truck.  When the truck was stopped, the doe turned out to be a short-horned buck (two-inch antlers).  Officers Leonard and N. Basford stopped to assist and less than 20 grams of cannabis was located in the cab of the truck.  The hunter was cited for the illegal deer and the cannabis. The rifle and deer were seized.

 

Officers Price, T. Basford, Palmer and FSU Intern Hudson worked a duck detail and watched as hunters from a blind continuously rallied ducks to shoot.  When the blind was checked, one hunter was found to have hidden numerous ducks in a decoy bag under the blind.  Citations for rallying, over the bag limit, and interfering were issued.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

ALACHUA COUNTY

 

Officer Lasher was patrolling a hunting club in Alachua County when he heard two shots from inside the club. He located a subject who was leaving the area and after inspection of the subject’s vehicle, he was found to be in possession of fresh deer meat. The subject stated that he had killed a doe deer and cleaned it in the woods. After Officer Lasher found the carcass, the subject produced an antlerless deer tag but did not use it to tag the deer. He was issued a citation for failure to tag antlerless deer.

 

Officer Acevedo was working a state park patrol in Paynes Prairie where he had found, earlier in the year, a hunting chair about two feet off the property line on an adjacent property to the Paynes Prairie. While patrolling, he noticed a vehicle parked on the property where he had located the chair. He quickly concealed his vehicle and shortly before legal hours to shoot ended, he heard a shot from the area of the chair. Officer Acevedo went to the area and observed an individual jumping the fence and was able to locate a freshly killed hog on state park property. Officer Acevedo issued multiple citations to include hunting on state park lands, evasion of fees and illegal entry.

 

BRADFORD COUNTY

 

Officers LaRosa and Justus were on water patrol at the railroad trestle near Sampson Lake Boat Ramp. While in a concealed position, the officers observed two subjects arrive at the boat ramp and begin fishing from a small dock. After catching several fish that were placed in a cooler, one of the subjects caught a fish that he placed in a plastic bag and hid under the dock. Officer LaRosa overheard the subject commenting to his partner that he did not know how long the fish was but it would have to be measured. After resuming fishing, the same subject lit what appeared to be a cigarette and passed it to the other individual who was fishing with him. Officers LaRosa and Justus quietly approached within several feet of the two fishermen and discovered the subjects were actually smoking marijuana. Officer Justus seized the marijuana joint and a fisheries inspection was conducted. The cooler was found to contain several brim fish. Officer LaRosa inquired about the fish that was placed in a plastic bag and thrown under the dock. The subject stated he was unaware of the size requirement for black bass and was waiting for a friend to arrive with a ruler. Officer LaRosa assisted by measuring the black bass and found it to be undersized. Officer LaRosa charged the subject with possession of undersized black bass and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. The black bass was released back into the water alive.

 

COLUMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer Nichols received a complaint from FWC Dispatch with reference to hunters running dogs in the still-hunt area of Sandlin Bay, Osceola Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Upon Officer Nichols’ arrival, he noticed fresh tire marks on several unnumbered or closed roads and made contact with a group of deer dog hunters actively hunting with dogs. Officer Nichols issued four misdemeanor citations to the hunters for running dogs in the still hunt area, issued warnings for hunting with center fire rifles during small game season, operating on unnumbered or closed roads and hunting deer with dogs during a closed season.

 

Officer McDonald was patrolling the Osceola National Forest when he came in contact with a couple of hunters actively hunting with dogs. The hunters wore hunter orange and had firearms with them. Officer McDonald concluded that the two were actively hunting. Charges were filed with the state attorney’s office against one of the subjects who was hunting while his hunting privileges were suspended.

 

DUVAL COUNTY

 

Officers Hayes and Shearer worked in the Talbot Island State Park and surrounding areas over the weekend and made several cases involving marine fisheries violations. Citations were issued for fisheries and license violations. One subject had several legal trout in a bucket while sitting on a cooler. Inside the cooler, under beverages and food, were five undersized trout and one undersized red drum. Additionally, the officers responded to a vehicle collision inside the park boundary involving a tour bus which collided with a bridge.

 

Officer Shearer stopped to assist a disabled vehicle. While changing the tire for the driver of the vehicle, Officer Shearer noted that the vehicle registration was expired and was checking the status of the vehicle through FWC dispatch when the driver started to speed off, cutting into traffic. Officer Shearer activated his siren and began pursuing the vehicle which traveled approximately one mile before the driver’s side tires blew out.  The driver continued several hundred yards on the rims before stopping. The driver exited the vehicle and was ignoring instructions as he approached the patrol vehicle. Officer Shearer subdued and cuffed the driver as an off-duty Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped to assist. A female occupant then became combative and was also subdued. The driver was found in possession of narcotics and was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, fleeing and possession of narcotics. The female occupant was arrested for battery and resisting arrest.

 

HAMILTON COUNTY

 

Officer Nichols worked a complaint with reference to possible deer hunting activity. Officer Nichols’ investigation revealed a Hamilton County man took two antlerless deer (1 over the daily bag limit) during antlerless deer season. Officer Nichols filed charges with the Hamilton County State Attorney’s Office.

 

Officers Nichols and Hoyle recently investigated illegal hunting within Suwannee River State Park. The Officers were on patrol in the vicinity of the Suwannee River State Park and observed a boat pulled up on the bank of the state park. The Officers walked into the state park and observed a couple of hunting stands and a hunter actively hunting in the park. The Officers made contact with the subject and issued a citation for hunting in a state park. The Officers also noticed a short-horned buck that was cleaned and laying on the edge of the riverbank. Further investigations led to additional charges against another subject, being direct-filed with the state attorney’s office for hunting in a state park and taking/possession of antlerless deer during the closed season.

 

TAYLOR

 

Officer Bailey received a call for assistance regarding a special-needs person who was lost on 900 acres of private land behind a residence. Officer Albritton and Lieutenant Lee also responded. The Officers met with the mother of the lost person who provided additional information about the circumstance. The Officers were able to locate the lost person quickly and safely.

 

UNION COUNTY

 

Officer Gill responded to a call for assistance from Union County deputies at approximately 1:00 a.m. Upon Officer Gill’s arrival, he interviewed both subjects who had been stopped by the deputies and both gave statements that they were buck hunting the pastures along the road. The two Bradford County men were in possession of a rifle and a shotgun. Information was direct filed with the state attorney’s office charging the two subjects with attempting to take deer at night with gun and light.

 

Officer Johnston was maintaining concealed surveillance of deer feeding alongside Highway 100 west of Lake Butler, at night. At approximately 12:20 a.m., a truck was observed making a u-turn and pulling onto the shoulder by the feeding deer. Five shotgun blasts were fired from the truck. Officers Johnston and J. Burnsed conducted a stop and seized a 12-gauge shotgun and five spent shells. Both Baker County men admitted to trying to shoot a deer. The shooter commented he was a bad shot and missed the deer. Both subjects were charged with attempting to take deer with gun and light and discharging a firearm from a public road.

 

Officers Johnston and Burnsed were conducting concealed surveillance of deer feeding alongside the highway. At approximately 1:00 a.m., a truck was observed making several u-turns in the vicinity of the deer. A shotgun blast was fired from the truck. The Officers stopped the truck and found the spent shell in the front right door pocket. The four Columbia County men were charged with attempting to take deer with gun and light and discharging a firearm on public road.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

LAKE COUNTY

 

Officer Shaw responded to assist two Lake County deputies who observed a subject operating his vessel and get thrown from it on Lake Harris. The deputies were able to remove the subject from the frigid waters and get him and his vessel to shore. Officer Shaw arrived and confirmed the operator had been consuming alcoholic beverages. After field sobriety tasks were performed, the operator was booked into the Lake County Jail for boating under the influence.

 

Officer Weber and Investigator Adam responded to a boat accident where two subjects were ejected from a vessel on Lake Dora. The operator and passenger were preparing for exhibition boat races planned for the next day when they were thrown from the vessel at a high rate of speed. Both occupants were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Investigator Adam is continuing the investigation.

 

Officer Weber observed a vehicle driving slowly and erratically in the Mt. Dora area of Lake County. Officer Weber stopped the vehicle and it was revealed that both the operator and the passenger were obviously intoxicated. The operator performed field sobriety tasks and gave a sample of his breath of .192 and .193 blood alcohol content and was booked into the Lake County Jail for driving under the influence.  

 

BREVARD COUNTY

 

While on night patrol at a local boat ramp, Officer Lightsey observed a suspicious car parked in a “boat and trailer only” parking spot. A check through FWC Dispatch revealed that the driver was wanted out of Brevard County on a felony warrant. The man was placed under arrest and transported to the Brevard County Jail.

 

Officer Lightsey was on patrol when the vehicle in front of him ran out of gas and came to a stop in the middle of the road. Officer Lightsey helped to safely remove the vehicle from the roadway. When asked for his driver’s license, the man informed the officer that he did not have a valid license. A check through FWC Dispatch revealed that the man had multiple suspensions for failure to appear. The man’s license had been revoked since 2008. The man was placed under arrest for driving while license revoked with knowledge.

 

While on patrol at a local boat ramp, Officer Lightsey observed a male fishing. A resource inspection revealed that the male did not have a fishing license. FWC Dispatch informed Officer Lightsey that the male was wanted as a fugitive from justice out of California. California advised that they would extradite the male on the felony warrant. Officer Lightsey placed the suspect under arrest and delivered him to the Brevard County Jail without incident. A warning was also issued for no fishing license.

 

While on foot patrol of Sebastian Inlet State Park’s north jetty, Officer Lightsey conducted a resource inspection on a male that was fishing. Officer Lightsey’s inspection revealed that the male was in possession of ten black drum. The male further stated that not all of the fish were his. After finding the male’s friend, they were allowed to separate the fish and show the Officer who had caught which fish.  Once separated, the male was found to be in possession of six black drum, one over the legal bag limit. FWC Dispatch then advised that the male had received two resource warnings earlier in the month for undersized fish. The male was issued a citation for possession of over the bag limit of black drum.

 

Investigator Morgan completed an investigation involving the theft of two fishing rod and reel combinations from a 15-year-old boy at Sebastian Inlet State Park. The rods were valued at approximately $850.  The victim was able to identify the person who stole his rods, the rods were recovered and charges were filed with the state attorney’s office for grand theft.

 

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

 

While on foot patrol at the Stick Marsh Boat Ramp, Officer Horst noticed multiple individuals fishing from shore on the south side of the ramp. After a resource inspection and license check, it was determined that one of the subjects had two active warrants out of Brevard County. The subject was placed under arrest for the warrants and transported to the Indian River Jail. The subject was also issued a warning for fishing without a freshwater fishing license.

 

 COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

 Lieutenant Rowe spoke to a Lego Robotics Team at Imperial Estates Elementary School where he discussed emergency response to natural disasters and the FWC’s partnership with other state and federal agencies. There were 12 children and two adults present during the speaking engagement.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

 

LEE COUNTY

 

FWC Officers, Lee County Sheriff’s Office marine deputies, Lee County Natural Resources and personnel from Lovers Key State Park assisted biologists from Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with stranded pilot whales in Estero Bay. They were beached in the shallow area with no obvious cause of death found upon examination. The Officers salvaged the carcasses so biologists could perform necropsies. Currently, there have been a total of eight dead pilot whales; four were euthanized (two on January 20 and two on January 21). Lovers Key State Park has been approved by the Park Service as the location for the necropsies to be conducted and disposal of the whales. A total of six whales were unaccounted for and an aerial survey was conducted to look for additional whales in Lovers Key State Park and surrounding vicinities. There were no whales, stranded or otherwise, located in the area.

  

Lieutenant Ruggiero and Officer Raczek were on water patrol on the Caloosahatchee River near the Florida Power and Light plant when they were waived down by a commercial fisherman. The fisherman advised the Officers about a manatee that appeared to be sick farther up the river. The Officers responded to the area and located the manatee floating on the surface and unable to dive. The Officers notified the FWRI manatee lab and waited with the manatee until biologists were able to bring a recovery boat from St. Petersburg. The FWC biologists responded to the area and were able to capture the manatee. The Officers assisted the biologists with loading the manatee into a rescue truck and the manatee was taken to Lowry Park Zoo to be treated for cold stress symptoms.

 

PINELLAS COUNTY

 

While on water patrol, Officers Stephens and Beeler conducted a fisheries inspection on a subject within Long Bayou.  The subject was in possession of 18 whole and undersized stone crabs and had an active warrant issued in Pinellas County.  The subject was cited for the crab and taken into custody for the warrant.

 

Officers Hart and Burks, while on water patrol, conducted a stop of a commercial stone crab boat returning from the Gulf of Mexico near John's Pass.  During a fisheries inspection, it was revealed the captain was in possession of 106 undersized claws.  He was cited accordingly.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

BROWARD COUNTY

 Officer Warne was working in Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 3/4 checking waterfowl hunters. During a resource field inspection, Officer Warne observed a subject exit the marsh with his shotgun and ducks he harvested.  Upon Officer Warne’s inspection of the subject’s shotgun, he discovered that the shotgun had a capacity of holding five shot shells. The shotgun must be plugged to be only capable of holding a total of three shot shells in the magazine and chamber combined.  Officer Warne issued the subject a misdemeanor citation for the violation.

 HENDRY COUNTY

 

Officer Taylor received a search and rescue call in southern Hendry County on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation. Seminole Police Department was having trouble finding a subject lost in the woods with his vehicle stuck in the mud. Officers Taylor and Sullivan arrived on scene in a very general area of where the subject was supposed to be located. The FWC Dispatch had contact with the subject and had him begin honking his horn at the Officers’ request. The Officers could very faintly hear him and after a few hours of traversing through the dense woods, Officer Taylor found the subject in good condition. Officer Taylor gave the man food and water and eventually got the subject’s vehicle out of the mud. Despite being lost and without food or water since early that morning, the subject was in high spirits and was extremely appreciative of the Officer’s efforts and was sent safely on his way back home.

 

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

 

Investigator Patterson and Lieutenant Rogerson responded to a residence in Fort Pierce at the request of Animal Control Officers. The Sheriff’s Office had also responded to the residence regarding a call and a report of child endangerment. A consensual search of the residence revealed multiple snake enclosures and multiple aquariums with lizards and spiders. No captive wildlife violations were observed.

 

Officer Justin Pifer was on land patrol in western Fort Pierce when he came upon a subject fishing along a canal embankment. An inspection revealed the subject did not have a valid freshwater fishing license. A resource inspection revealed two undersized black bass. The subject received a warning for the license violation and a misdemeanor citation for possession of undersized bass.

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

COLLIER COUNTY

 

Investigator Haney and Officer Gerdeman were on offshore water patrol from Naples when they conducted a boating safety vessel inspection on a recreational fisherman harvesting from his stone crab traps.  The Officers found that he was keeping undersized stone crab claws and that he did not have a fishing license.  The fisherman received citations for the violations.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

Officers from Miami-Dade County participated in a detail where commercial shrimp operators were targeted. As a result of the detail, 45 infractions were issued, 18 misdemeanor arrests were made and 2 felony arrests were executed.

 

Officers Diaz, Yanez and Investigator Taboas received information that several fishermen were “snatching” snook in the Moody Canal in southern Miami-Dade County. Armed with this information, the Officers mounted an investigation that involved the Officers going undercover and monitoring the fishing habits of individuals in the area for several hours. As a result of the detail, the Officers ended up arresting 2 subjects for illegally harvesting snook.

 

Officer Martin conducted a boating safety and fisheries inspection in Biscayne Channel in central Miami-Dade County. A review of the vessel’s documentation revealed the owner had failed to transfer ownership of the vessel, which was purchased three months prior. A subsequent fisheries inspection revealed the owner to be in possession of three undersized gag grouper. Also, the subject did not have a saltwater fishing license. He was cited for fishing without a license, possession of undersized, over the bag limit, and out of season gag grouper as well as failure to transfer the vessel title.

 

Officer Rodriguez was patrolling the C-102 canal in rural southern Miami-Dade County when he saw two males attempting to take an American alligator from the canal. One of the subjects was pulling the alligator in with a fishing rod, baited with what was later identified as chicken, as the other subject attempted to snatch the gator with a grappling hook. The subjects were ultimately arrested for molesting an American alligator and possession of an untagged gator. The alligator was returned to its natural habitat unharmed.

 

MONROE COUNTY

 

During the first offshore patrol of the year, the Peter Gladding crew was very busy. While patrolling the North Ecological Reserve of the Dry Tortugas, the crew came across a commercial fishing vessel that was actively fishing for yellow tail. During the fisheries inspection, the Officers determined that the captain did not possess a valid restricted species endorsement; however, he did possess all the other necessary licenses to commercially fish in this area. After a lengthy investigation, the Officers issued the captain a citation for commercially harvesting yellowtail snapper without a valid restricted species endorsement and allowed the captain to keep his harvest.

 

The Peter Gladding crew discovered another violation on the return trip back to shore at the “K” Buoy aboard a commercial shrimping vessel. A marine fisheries inspection resulted in the discovery of a large bag containing several undersized pompano and a red grouper that was hidden below deck.  Officer Messier was able to determine, through interviews, that one of the mates was culling the pompano and grouper from the catch of the shrimp nets and keeping them for his own. The mate was issued misdemeanor citations for possession of undersized pompano, over the bag limit of pompano, and possession of grouper during the closed season.

 

The crew of the Peter Gladding, consisting of Lieutenant Peters and Officers Messier, Pena-Lopez and Way were recently awarded with the FWC's "Team of the Year" award for 2013.  This is the first time that the Peter Gladding crew has received this award and it is great honor and recognition for the crew.  The team was nominated for their countless resource cases made in federal waters and in the Ecological Preserves of the National Marine Sanctuary in the Lower Keys.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Lieutenant Shea took eighteen Naples High School Army JROTC Cadets to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens to learn how to identify Florida’s snakes in preparation for their annual fourteen-mile survival hike that he takes them on in the Big Cypress National Preserve.  The cadets were introduced to Florida’s venomous, non-venomous, and invasive species of snakes. 

 

Officers Ingellis, Dinu and Padilla participated in the 11^th Annual Career Day at the Aventura School of Excellence. Over 200 students participated in the event with the Officer’s covering a variety of topics including boating safety, endangered animals and what it’s like to be an FWC Officer. A baby alligator was also brought in for show and tell.