FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 03/21 - 03/27/2014

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

March 21, 2014 - March 27, 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

 

Jackson County

 

Officer Forehand located several areas baited for turkeys during the first weekend of spring turkey season. He worked one site later in the week in which he was dropped off at the baited area well before daylight. Approximately one hour after daylight, he heard an approaching subject blow an owl call in an attempt to locate a gobbler. He then observed a subject dressed in camouflage clothing enter a food plot and place a hen decoy directly in the baited area. The subject then entered a blind and began using a turkey call to attract any nearby gobblers. Officer Forehand observed this activity for approximately 45 minutes before making contact with the hunter. After discussing the related laws regarding turkey hunting, the hunter was cited for attempting to take turkeys over a baited area.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY

 

Officer Lewis was working in the Blackwater River State Forest when he observed a man and woman attempting to launch a small vessel.  When he checked the subjects, he observed what appeared to be drugs and paraphernalia in their vehicle.  While checking the vehicle, he observed the woman sit on a fallen tree nearby.  He later located a bag containing methamphetamine and more drug paraphernalia.  The man admitted to attaching a tag to the vehicle that was not assigned.  The woman was transported to the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was charged with attaching a tag not assigned.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officers Lewis and Clark were working in the Blackwater River State Forest when they encountered several subjects camping in one of the primitive areas.  There was a metal tin on the ground in between several of the subjects.  The officers asked for permission to look inside and the subjects consented to a search.  A bag of cannabis and several smoking pipes were located with other paraphernalia.  One of the subjects admitted that all of the contraband was hers.  She was charged with possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

DUVAL COUNTY

 

A witness observed a subject emptying a brown liquid from a 55-gallon drum onto the ground behind a business. The witness recognized the man as someone who frequented the business and provided his name. While Investigator Terrones was conducting his investigation at the scene, the witness advised Investigator Terrones that the suspect was driving by. A traffic stop was conducted and the suspect eventually admitted to dumping 50 gallons of a kerosene/water mixture onto the ground because he was in a hurry to get back to work. The mixture ran onto a nearby animal hospital's property. The affected area (soil, grass, drainage ditch) had to be excavated and properly disposed of by a licensed contractor. The suspect was arrested for causing pollution so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, aquatic life or property and for driving with a suspended/revoked driver's license since 1987.

 

Hamilton County

 

Last week, two New York campers lost their lives in the Suwannee River. The two New York residents, a husband and his wife, were camping at the Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs. The woman was discovered floating in the Suwannee River on Friday morning just down river from the SR 51 Bridge. Just up river from where she was found, FWC officers discovered a cooler floating in the river that had the husband’s wallet inside. FWC officers were also able to locate their truck parked at Gibson Park. On Sunday, her husband’s body was located floating in the river 1.6 miles north of Dowling Park. According to Investigator McMillan, the couple had launched a small vessel from Gibson Park, and somewhere on the Suwannee River between Gibson Park and the SR 51 Bridge an unknown incident occurred causing the couple to enter the water. Assisting with this incident were Lieutenant Kiss, Investigator McMillan, Officers Langford, Mobley, Boone, Carey, Nichols and Davenport.

 

Madison County

 

Officers Huff and Wilcox were working two baited sites that Officer Wilcox had located earlier in the season. Officer Wilcox observed three subjects with two crossbows walk towards the baited area. Within a short time, Officer Wilcox heard the subjects using a turkey call. All three subjects were in an elevated box blind overlooking one of the baited areas. After listening to the subjects use the turkey call several times, Officers Wilcox and Huff made contact with the subjects. The subjects stated that they had been hunting turkeys all week, and that they were going to take turns shooting the crossbows. All three subjects were issued a notice to appear for attempting to take turkey within 100 yards of a baited area.

 

Suwannee County

 

Officer Mobley was working illegal turkey hunting on private property where he set up on a hunting blind that was baited with cracked corn, which he had located earlier in the season. Officer Mobley observed two subjects enter the hunting blind and begin using a turkey call. After listening for several minutes, Officer Mobley approached the blind and made contact with the subjects. An adult male subject and a 9-year old juvenile subject exited the blind. They were in possession of a box turkey call and a .410 caliber shotgun. The subjects admitted to trying to kill a turkey. Officer Mobley issued the adult subject a notice to appear for attempting to take turkey within 100 yards of a feeding station.

 

TAYLOR COUNTY

 

Officer Bean was on water patrol on the Aucilla River when he conducted a fisheries inspection on a vessel at Mandalay Boat Ramp and located five undersized spotted sea trout. Officer Bean issued a citation to the vessel’s operator for possession of undersized spotted sea trout.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

VOLUSIA COUNTY

 

Investigator Crews discovered a shellfish tagging violation during an inspection of a seafood dealer. The dealer was harvesting his own oysters and selling them without having them inspected and tagged by a permitted processor. The owner of the establishment was issued a misdemeanor citation for the violation.

 

Officer O’Regan was on water patrol near Highbanks Marina within the St. John’s River.  A subject pulled up in a vessel with two occupants to ask the officer a question.  Officer O’Regan noticed the subject’s speech was thick tongued and slurred, and his question didn’t make any sense.  During a boating safety inspection, Officer O’Regan observed numerous indicators suggesting the subject was impaired.  After seated sobriety tasks were conducted, the subject was placed under arrest for boating under the influence (BUI).  The subject briefly objected stating he was on probation.  The subject was also found to be under the age of 21. 

 

LAKE COUNTY

 

Officer Straub found numerous turkey bait sites prior to the opening of hunting season. On opening morning, Officer Straub observed two hunters approach their turkey hunting spot. They set up and began turkey hunting within 15 yards of the bait. Both of the subjects, the guide and the nonresident hunter were cited accordingly for hunting turkeys over bait.

 

Officer Beard found numerous turkey bait sites prior to hunting season. On opening morning, Officer Beard observed two hunters enter the area. The hunters began turkey hunting next to a large pile of corn. The turkey hunters were cited accordingly for hunting turkeys over bait.  

 

Lieutenant Smith was patrolling Lake Apopka during the night when he observed a vessel with no lights. Upon stopping the vessel, Lieutenant Smith discovered the operator was a person with an extensive history for resource violations. The subject was in the process of setting trot lines and had 87 soft shell turtles on his vessel. Smith arrested the subject and charged him for illegal take of soft shell turtles.

 

SUMTER COUNTY

 

Officer Sweet found numerous turkey bait sites prior to the opening of hunting season. The evening prior to opening morning, Officer Sweet found where a hunter had his hunting blind set up within 12 yards of the area baited with cracked corn.  On opening morning, Officer Sweet observed the hunter turkey hunting in the blind. The hunter was cited accordingly for hunting turkeys over bait.

 

Officer Straub received information of a turkey being shot from a county road on a private ranch. Officer Straub made contact with the subjects and seized the gobbler as evidence. Officer Straub will direct file charges with the State Attorney’s Office for shooting from a county road and possible trespass.

 

Officer Sweet found a vehicle parked in a concealed location next to some private property. Officer Sweet hid his patrol vehicle and tracked the subjects on foot into the property. The subjects had jumped the fence and were observed digging for artifacts. After consulting with the landowner, it was revealed that the subjects did not have permission to be on the property. They were appropriately charged with trespass and criminal mischief and given a notice to appear.

 

MARION COUNTY

 

Officer Hargabus was working an illegal bait site that he had found on private property. Officer Hargabus observed an individual show up and begin hunting turkey within 50 yards of the bait. The individual was issued a notice to appear for the violation.

 

Officer Wear has been working an illegal bait site for two years. Officer Wear decided to work the property once again. As he was sitting on the property waiting, he observed an individual drive in and begin turkey hunting. The individual was hunting within 50 yards and within sight of cracked corn. Officer Wear also discovered an empty bag of corn in the suspect’s truck. The individual was issued a notice to appear for the violation.

 

BREVARD COUNTY

 

Officer Humphrey was on water patrol in the east end of Haulover Canal. A boating safety inspection led to the discovery of three oversized black drum, one undersized red drum and one undersized gag grouper from a subsequent resource inspection of the vessel. The operator initially presented only one oversized black drum as his catch. The additional illegal fish were discovered through Officer Humphrey’s keen investigative efforts. The man was issued a criminal citation for possession of oversized black drum and a criminal citation for possession of an undersized red drum. He also received a written warning of possession of an undersized gag grouper

 

Officer Horst was dispatched to a complaint of someone killing a gopher tortoise. Based on the complaint, a tortoise shell was located in the front yard of the residence and wrapped in a trash bag. Upon further investigation, it was determined that a male at the residence had killed the gopher tortoise. The suspect admitted to killing the tortoise so he could eat it. The turtle meat was recovered from inside the residence. The male was issued a resource citation for killing a gopher tortoise without a permit.

 

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

 

While on patrol near the Wabasso Causeway, Officer Lightsey observed a truck following very close to the vehicles in front of it. The truck’s tag was damaged and barely legible. A traffic stop was conducted and revealed the driver to be an unlicensed illegal alien.  The driver was placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle with no driver’s license (2^nd offense) and issued a citation for no proof of insurance. A warning was also issued for following too closely. An immigration officer from the U.S. Border Patrol responded to the Indian River County Jail where the subject was booked.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Officer Rasey represented FWC at West Melbourne Police Department’s Annual Spring Festival in Brevard County.  Officer Rasey spoke about boating safety and fishing as well as the duties of a FWC law enforcement officer.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

 

HERNANDO COUNTY

 

On the second morning of turkey season, Officer Williams and Officer Henry encountered a subject hunting from a ground blind on some property they had been watching. The subject had two turkey decoys, turkey calls, and a 20 gauge shotgun.   A quick scan of the area revealed large amounts of corn still just a few feet from the blind. The subject admitted to hunting turkey and to having knowledge of the corn. The subject was cited for attempting to take turkey over bait.

 

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

 

Officer Zimmerman received a complaint concerning a subject shooting a wild turkey on private property at Arbuckle Creek. A witness advised an adult male and a juvenile were hunting from a boat in the creek when the turkey was killed. Officer Zimmerman detained the subjects, and the adult admitted to compelling the juvenile to shoot the turkey on private property. The man was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

 

MANATEE COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Wells and Officers Smith, Thompson, and Freemon were working offshore commercial fishermen.  The officers were patrolling an area that is a common fishing ground for purse seine vessels.  Several vessel inspections were conducted with multiple resource as well as boating safety warnings issued. One purse seine vessel targeting and in possession of bait fish contained multiple king mackerel as well as a Spanish mackerel which is in violation of state law. A citation was issued to the captain of the vessel.

 

PINELLAS COUNTY

 

Officers Enos and Patterson were on water patrol in the area of Gandy Beach Channel when they observed a vessel violating the ‘slow speed’ zone.   A vessel stop was initiated and during the course of the inspection, it was learned they were engaged in fishing. A resource inspection revealed the two occupants were each in possession of oversized red drum. The fish were seized and the appropriate citations were issued.

 

Officer Gaudion and Lieutenant Parisoe were on water patrol in the area of Smack’s Bayou conducting boating safety and resource inspections when they observed a vessel with two individuals fishing around some lighted docks. An inspection revealed one individual had harvested an oversized snook. The fish was seized and a citation was issued.

 

Officer Patterson was on water patrol in the area of Gandy Beach Channel when he observed a vessel violating the ‘slow speed’ zone. A vessel stop was initiated and during the course of the inspection, Officer Patterson noticed the operator was showing signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks were conducted, and the operator was arrested for BUI.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Officer Pulaski participated in an outreach event for approximately 20 volunteers of the Royal Highlands Crime Watch Unit.  During the event, they discussed nuisance animals, ATV operation on roadways, and the annual saw palmetto berry pickers. Additionally, he fielded questions regarding hunting and fishing regulations.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

BROWARD COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Harp, Officer Alford and an intern were dispatched to a vessel eight miles offshore of Port Everglades that found a bale of marijuana. Lieutenant Harp found the vessel and the floating bale. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) took the marijuana to put it into evidence. As Lieutenant Harp left the original scene, he spotted another floating bale of marijuana that he retrieved and turned over to BCSO.

 

Officer Warne stopped a vessel at the John U. Lloyd State Park Boat Ramp with two people on board.  Upon conducting a saltwater fisheries inspection, Officer Warne discovered 13 undersized gray triggerfish and two undersized dead parrotfish on board the vessel.  The vessel did not have the required circulating/aerated live well on the vessel which is required to keep tropical ornamental fish like parrotfish alive until they are landed.  The two subjects were cited for the undersized fish, live landing requirement, and no live well on board the vessel.  One of the subjects was also cited for not having a saltwater fishing license.

 

Officer Coffin was on patrol in John U. Lloyd State Park when he observed a vehicle make an illegal U-turn right before a bridge causing vehicles coming over the bridge to stop abruptly to avoid an accident.  Officer Coffin stopped the vehicle which displayed a transporter tag.  During a driver license check, Officer Coffin discovered that the driver was also a habitual traffic offender and had his license revoked.  The subject was arrested and transported to county jail and the vehicle was towed from the scene.   

 

Officers Brock and Vacin were on patrol at night in the vicinity of the Commercial Pier. They noticed a vehicle in the road in front of them weaving and drifting into the oncoming traffic lane. They conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. After field sobriety tasks were performed, the driver was arrested for DUI and delivered to the county jail.

 

Officers Vacin and Albert were on vessel patrol at night in the vicinity of the Port Everglades Inlet. They conducted a boating safety and marine fisheries inspection on a vessel with occupants fishing. With information gathered, one individual was found to have two active warrants issued out of Broward County. With this information, the officers took the individual into custody and delivered him to a deputy at John Lloyd State Park.

 

MARTIN COUNTY

 

Officer Doricchi worked a detail in conjunction with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office targeting underage drinking, BUI, and fighting at the Stuart Sandbar. The officers used a different approach during this detail; instead of having a heavy uniform presence, they utilized an unmarked boat and plain clothes. There was one arrest made.

 

PALM BEACH COUNTY

 

After receiving information about some illegal turkey blinds in the Dupuis Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA), Officer Haynes verified their presence. Officers Gouveia and Haynes monitored the blinds and caught two hunters hunting turkey over a baited field. Another hunter was also charged after admitting to placing bait.

 

COPS (Community Oriented Policing)

 

Lieutenant McDonald and Officer Wright participated in a detail at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.  The detail was for the Department of Children and Families. The First Lady of Florida, Mrs. Scott, attended the event and read a story book to the children.  The children learned about local plants and wildlife and were given coloring and activity books about wildlife.

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

Officers Martin and Caldwell stopped a vessel at the Haulover Marina that was returning from Bimini in order to conduct a boating safety and fisheries inspection. A check of their resource catch revealed the owner to be in possession of eight pounds of queen conch and 23 wrung lobster tails, five of which were undersized and six had clipped pleopods with evidence of eggs. The subject was cited accordingly.    

 

MONROE COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Robison, along with Officers Adams and Munkelt, conducted a one-day detail focusing on all the bridges in the Upper Keys. As a result of the operation, multiple misdemeanor citations were issued for lobster violations. The officers also issued nine infractions and 18 warnings.