FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report 10/24 - 10/30/2014

FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

October 24 – October 30, 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

 

BAY COUNTY

 

Just after dark, Officer Palmer noticed a truck parked adjacent to the Econfina Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and watched as two camouflaged subjects exited the woods.  Neither subject was carrying a weapon and when asked what they were doing, they said “walking in the woods.” After the subjects left the area, Officer Palmer backtracked and found a stand surrounded by corn.  The following morning, Officer Palmer staked out the stand and just before lunch, the subjects returned to retrieve the stand.  They were greeted by Officer Palmer who issued citations for placing bait in the WMA.

 

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

 

Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the area of Escambia River and Williams Lake Boat Ramp.  Upon arrival at the boat ramp, Officer Hutchinson observed two male subjects loading a boat onto the trailer.  He made contact with both subjects and asked if they had caught anything.  The owner of the boat said, “Yes, we caught a few small ones.”   After the subjects pulled the boat out of the water and loaded it, the owner asked Officer Hutchinson if he wanted to look in the boat.  While Officer Hutchinson was attempting to inspect the fish in the live well, the passenger of the boat pulled an undersized black bass out of the live well and turned toward the water with it.  Officer Hutchinson told him to hold on and let him see it.  At that time, the subject threw the bass into the water and the fish swam away.  Officer Hutchinson asked the subject how long the bass was and he said, “It was 11 inches.”  Officer Hutchinson asked him why he threw the bass into the water after being told to wait. He said, “I knew the bass was not legal to keep because it wasn’t 12 inches long.” The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for interference or obstruction of an FWC officer.

 

On the opening day of archery season, Officer Manning located a hunter sitting in a ladder stand.  When Officer Manning identified himself as an FWC officer, the hunter jumped out of the stand and took off running.  After backup arrived, the officers looked around the stand and located a loaded .22 caliber rifle and some clothing.  The officers, with help from local K-9 units, tracked the individual to a blacktop road.  The track was lost at the road.  The officers located the hunter’s cell phone during the track.  The officers also located the hunter’s vehicle and were able to identify him from all the items they had found.  The officers towed the vehicle.  Warrants were issued for the suspect for numerous criminal charges.

 

LEON COUNTY

 

Investigator Dupree began an investigation of a dumping complaint.  The contents dumped were vehicle tires, paint buckets, parts of a personal watercraft and other yard and household debris. Investigator Field located a vessel registration among the trash pile.  Through that information, Investigator Dupree’s investigation led her to a company that was hired to clear and clean the property of debris and trash.  Investigator Dupree interviewed the company’s owner.  Her investigation determined the owner of the company cleaned and removed the debris and trash from the property and dumped the solid waste material on the shoulder of the road.  Investigator Dupree completed an arrest warrant affidavit for felony dumping for commercial gain.  The arrest warrant affidavit was signed by the judge.

 

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

 

Officers Hoomes and Manning were working the opening of archery season in Blackwater WMA.  They observed a vehicle parked near a location where the officers earlier found an area baited with corn.  The officers went to this baited area and located a hunter wearing camouflage.  The hunter was sitting in a tree stand overlooking the baited area.  He was also in possession of archery equipment.  The subject admitted to placing the corn in the area and also admitted he knew it was illegal to hunt over bait in the WMA.  The subject was issued a citation for hunting over bait in a WMA.

 

 

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

 

BAKER COUNTY

 

FWC officers responded to an amber alert in Baker County after an eight-year-old boy was reported missing from a residence in a rural area consisting of thick pine woods and hunting leases. The autistic child had wandered away from his grandmother’s home. Eight FWC Officers participated in the multi-agency search using FWC K-9 Officers and dogs, ATVs and a helicopter. The child was very fortunate to be found alive on Monday, but dehydrated, bug-bitten and scared after being spotted by the FWC helicopter and a flight observer. The child was reunited with his family and transported to a local children’s hospital for recovery from his exposure to the elements.

 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

 

Officer Waltman attended the Operation Outdoor Freedom Wounded-Warrior Program which was held this weekend at the Belmore State Forest Satsuma Tract in Clay County. There were six wounded-warrior hunters who attended the hunt that took six deer and three hogs.

 

Officer Waltman also attended the youth hunt at Camp Blanding. Officer Waltman answered several questions from the hunters about game rules and the job of a FWC officer. Sixteen hunters attended and lunch was provided by FWC personnel.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

BREVARD COUNTY

 

While traveling on I-95, Officer Horst noticed a tractor trailer drifting in and out of its lane.  In an attempt to make sure the driver was not impaired or exhausted, a traffic stop was conducted. A records check of the driver indicated his commercial driver’s license was disqualified. A criminal citation for operating a commercial vehicle with no valid CDL was issued. The driver was not found to be impaired and he was also issued a citation for careless driving.

 

Officer Boyer and Field Training Officer Horst were on land patrol in Grant when they conducted a vessel safety inspection on a boat returning to a local ramp from fishing. The operator and passenger had been fishing in Sebastian Inlet and admitted to keeping several fish including a grouper. Upon further inspection of the catch, the grouper was identified as a juvenile Goliath grouper, a protected species. Possession of Goliath grouper is illegal. The fisherman who caught it was cited appropriately. The fish was returned to the resources.

 

Investigator Trusley arrested a subject for operating an airboat while normal faculties were impaired (boating under the influence - BUI). When the defendant went to court the judge ordered the following: Probation for six months, $966.00 in fines and court costs, 50 hours of community service, enroll in DUI school, vessel impounded for 10 days, random drug testing and time served.

 

OSCEOLA COUNTY

 

While on patrol, Investigator Trusley received a call for assistance from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a man dressed in full camo walking down the turnpike with a bow and arrow. Officer Lejarzar arrived a short while later to assist as well. After conducting an investigation, they were able to determine that the subject was illegally entering and exiting Three Lakes WMA. Charges were direct-filed with the Osceola County State’s Attorney’s Office.  

 

PUTNAM COUNTY

 

Officer Guirate was contacted by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department when they were serving a search warrant and arrest warrant at a residence and noticed numerous gopher tortoise shells behind the residence. The suspect stated to detectives that he often traded gopher tortoises for drugs. Officer Guirate continued the investigation into the taking of the gopher tortoises and subsequently charged the suspect with taking endangered species through the State Attorney’s Office.

 

For the past two years, FWC officers have been monitoring tree stands within Etoniah WMA, approximately 100 yards behind a residence. Officer Guirate located a hunter in one of the stands. He noticed numerous trees and limbs the hunter had cut in the area. The hunter was cited for cutting trees within a WMA and no quota permit

 

SEMINOLE COUNTY

 

Patrolling public lands during quota hunt for Seminole Ranch WMA, Officer Bresie and Baine investigated a report of corn mash distributed near a tree stand. While Officer Baine waited near the check station, Officer Bresie hiked to the area and found corn mash in several locations on the ground within 30 feet of the tree stand.  He hid until the owner of the tree stand showed up and waited until sunrise to approach him. At sunrise, the hunter fired a shot from his muzzle-loaded gun. Officer Bresie contacted the hunter and questioned him about the corn mash, but the hunter denied he knew anything about it. However, when Officer Baine arrived on scene, he informed Officer Bresie he had found containers in the hunter’s truck bed that had corn mash residue still present. The hunter was charged with hunting over bait in a WMA.

 

FLAGLER COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Allen and Investigator Dack responded to a minor boating accident on the Intracostal Waterway at a local restaurant. During their investigation, the operator showed signs of being impaired. After administering field sobriety tasks, the operator was arrested for BUI and transported to the Flagler County Jail. Breath test results showed a Blood Alcohol Content of .21.

 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

 

Investigator Zamonis and Officer Kearney attended the Bluewater Open Kids Fishing Day in Brevard County. The event was sponsored by the Sebastian Exchange Club and offered 45 children the opportunity to experience fishing, some for the very first time. Trophies were given out for biggest fish and most fish caught, each child was also given their own rod and reel.

 

Officers Meade and Ramsey participated in Ravine State Park’s annual Halloween Festival in Putnam County where they interacted with approximately 350 citizens.

 

 

SOUTHWEST REGION

                                               

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

 

The annual Halloween event was held at Highlands Hammock State Park resulting in approximately 1,700 people attending the two-day event. Lieutenant Allen and Officers Adams, Alvis, Demeter, Hanger, Ervin, Smith and Sweat participated in foot patrol and traffic control activities that kept the event safe and enjoyable.

                       

PINELLAS COUNTY

 

Officer Martinez and Ferguson performed a fisheries inspection on a man fishing in a “Closed Area” on Sand Key Beach. Upon completion of the inspection, the officers found that the man was in possession of undersized flounder, grey snapper and red drum.  The subject was also over the bag limit of red drum.  The subject was criminally cited for possession of undersized red drum and over the bag limit of red drum.  He was given written warnings for the other violations.

 

Officer Bibeau was on water patrol in the area of the Tierra Verde Bridge in Pinellas County.  While on patrol, he performed a fisheries and boating safety inspection on vessel fishing around the bridge.  Upon completion of his inspection, he found that one of the subjects on the vessel had caught and kept a 22” cobia and a 9’’ flounder.  The subject was criminally cited for possession of undersized cobia and given a written warning on the flounder.  

 

Officer Bibeau was on water patrol in the area of Treasure Island when he performed a boating safety and fisheries inspection on a vessel returning home.  During the inspection, a bucket was found on the vessel containing whole and undersized stone crabs.  The subject was given a criminal citation for possession of whole stone crabs and given a warning on undersized stone crab claws.

 

 

SOUTH REGION A

 

BROWARD COUNTY

 

Lieutenant Laubenberger participated as Commander of the Broward Police Multi-Agency Honor Guard for the Broward Domestic Violence Coalition luncheon. The members presented colors at the start of the ceremony attended by approximately 100 individuals. The ceremony took place in Davie.

 

PALM BEACH COUNTY

 

Officer Haynes had two search and rescues in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. The first one was some individuals who had gotten stuck on Saturday night and later broke down. Officer Haynes responded on a private buggy that happened by and they towed the stranded subjects to Camp N. One misdemeanor citation was issued for the off-trail violation. The second was two subjects in a jeep that called in reporting they were lost in the vicinity of Trail 7. Officer Haynes requested assistance from the helicopter to search for the subjects. Officer Haynes towed their jeep back to north grade as it was overheating, then gave the two subjects a ride back to where their truck was parked at the South Check Station where they had a trailer for the jeep. One misdemeanor citation was issued for the off-trail violation.   While on way back to the South Check Station with the two subjects, a vehicle came around a curve going too fast and ran off the road. Officer Haynes pulled him out of the bushes and issued the operator one infraction for careless driving.

 

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

 

Officer Willems was on patrol at one of the local boat ramps when he stopped a vessel for a boating safety and resource inspection. Upon inspecting the boat, four undersized mutton snapper and one undersized mangrove snapper were discovered. The operator admitted to catching all the fish and stated that he thought only one was too short. The operator was educated on how to identify fish and what their size and bag limits are. He was then given a regulation magazine. A notice to appear was issued to the operator for the undersized fish. He was also issued a warning for not having a fishing license.

 

Officer Willems participated in a joint training exercise with the Sheriff’s Office. The Underwater Search and Recovery Team were training each team member on how to use the equipment and various other electronic devices they are equipped with. They were able to operate and maneuver the equipment in an area with side sonar around the turning basin and other local areas known to have different water bottoms, contours, ledges and submerged structures. The equipment is so sensitive it can be used to locate small articles such as a gun, which could have been disposed of in the water after a crime. Once the article is located, a member will enter the water to retrieve it.     

 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

 

Officers Irwin, Fretwell and K-9 Officer Payne attended an outreach event at the Samuel Gains School in Fort Pierce. Officer Irwin transported a vessel to the location for a static display. Officer Payne conducted a K-9 demonstration with his partner Morgan. Officer Fretwell coordinated the event at the school and presented information to approximately 128 students. Topics ranged from an overview of the agency to what an FWC officer does and what his responsibilities are.  

 

 

SOUTH REGION B

 

COLLIER COUNTY

 

Officers Futch and Tolbert observed a vehicle suspected of dumping commercial waste, which is a 3^rd degree felony.  As the officers approached the vehicle, the two occupants attempted to evade them. The Officers were able to overtake the vehicle and apprehend the vehicle’s driver, who was intoxicated.  The subject was a habitual traffic offender who was arrested for driving under the influence and received multiple felony violations.

 

While patrolling the Picayune Strand State Forest, Officers Futch and Tolbert observed a vehicle in an area clearly posted as “closed to the public.”  The occupant was wearing an orange-colored camouflage vest and was in possession of a rifle.  He admitted that he was hunting and that he knew he was in a closed area of the forest.  The subject was issued a Notice to Appear for his violations.

 

Officer Futch was on patrol in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park when he observed several subjects fishing at a freshwater lake.  As Officer Futch was conducting a resource inspection, he detected a strong smell of marijuana emanating from the fisherman’s vehicle.  Officer Futch advised the subjects that he could smell marijuana and one of the subjects admitted to smoking a joint.  Officer Futch discovered a plastic bag containing marijuana that was in the subject’s possession.  The subject was issued a Notice to Appear for possession of less than 20 grams marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

Officer Delgado and Almagro were on water patrol in central Miami-Dade County near Fisherman’s Channel, when they stopped a commercial fishing vessel that was heading back to dock. The officers conducted a thorough fisheries inspection that revealed 20, egg-bearing spiny lobster. The Captain was cited accordingly and the lobsters were returned alive back to their natural habitat.

 

Officers Washington and Pestka were on water patrol when they were dispatched to a vessel taking on water near Matheson Hammock Marina in Biscayne Bay. The officers arrived only moments after a local tow boat found the vessel with a flooded engine compartment and two panicked occupants. The vessel was unable to get on plane and needed assistance from the towing company to get back to the boat ramp. Both officers escorted the vessel to Matheson Hammock to ensure a safe arrival.

 

MONROE COUNTY

 

Officer Bogue was on land patrol in the upper Keys when he heard a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) for a suspicious vehicle possibly transporting undersized fish that was traveling on US 1. Officer Bogue spotted the vehicle in question and immediately began to follow it. The vehicle did not have an illuminated tag light so Officer Bogue initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, the driver of the vehicle gave consent for Officer Bogue to search the coolers located in the bed of the truck. Shortly after, Officer Bogue discovered 2 undersized black grouper, 1 undersized gag grouper and 5 undersized mutton snapper. The driver was cited with the resource violations as well as the traffic infraction.

 

Officer Mattson was on water patrol in the upper Keys when he saw an overturned kayak and someone in the water next to the kayak treading water. The subject was having trouble getting into his kayak and was showing signs of exhaustion. Officer Mattson assisted the subject by up-righting the kayak and pulling the man on board his patrol vessel. Officer Mattson then transported both the exhausted man and his kayak to shore.

 

Officers McKay and Maldonado were dispatched to Dagny Johnson State Park in North Key Largo where three subjects were reported to be skate boarding on top of the abandoned building in the park.  Two juvenile males and one adult male, all in their teens, were found on top of the posted “restricted area – do not enter” building that also had crime scene tape around the building.  One juvenile was found to be in possession of 9.5 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia.  He was issued a notice to appear for the criminal violations and a citation for trespassing in a restricted area. He was subsequently released to his parents.  The other 2 males were cited for trespassing in a restricted area and failure to pay the park entrance fees.