FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Reports: Aug. 16-22

August 16, 2024 through August 22, 2024

This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks; 
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

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CASES

Brevard County

• Officer Specialist Marroquin observed a vessel attempting to take alligator while conducting airboat patrol in the Upper St. Johns River Marsh Wildlife Management Area. During a resource inspection, Officer Marroquin found the subject was hunting outside of his assigned area. A notice to appear was issued.
• Officer Specialist Marroquin was conducting airboat patrol in the Upper St. Johns River Marsh Wildlife Management Area when he observed a light being worked at the far end of a canal where taking alligator is prohibited. Officer Marroquin investigated and found two subjects attempting to take alligator. Both subjects were hunting under individual permits outside of their assigned areas and were issued notices to appear.
• Officer St. Martin observed three subjects fishing from the bank, catching and keeping snapper. Officer St. Martin witnessed one subject bring a bucket of fish to a cooler in his vehicle, then return to fishing. A resource inspection of the three anglers was conducted, which revealed possession of gray (mangrove) snapper. Officer St. Martin asked the subjects if they had any more fish and they replied, “No.” Officer St. Martin knew there were more fish in the cooler inside the truck and asked the subjects about it. The subjects reluctantly admitted there were more fish in the cooler and a resource inspection revealed more mangrove snapper. While officer St. Martin was counting the fish, one of the subjects tried throwing some of the fish into a wooded area. Officer St. Martin saw this and cited his actions accordingly. The three subjects were also over their bag limit of mangrove snapper and were cited accordingly.

Indian River County

• Officer St. Martin was on foot patrol when he noticed a subject fishing from the bank. Officer St. Martin observed the subject catching and keeping multiple undersized mutton snapper. A resource inspection of the subject’s bucket yielded two undersized mutton snapper. The violation was cited accordingly. 
• While on airboat patrol at night, Lieutenant Lightsey observed a group hunting alligator. The officer conducted a resource inspection and found the group was in an alligator management unit they were not permitted to hunt in. Additionally, the operator of the vessel was missing safety gear. The violations were addressed accordingly.

Marion County

• Officer L. Dickson and Lieutenant Seiler observed a subject hunting alligators on a local river and conducted a resource inspection when the subject returned to the boat ramp. The subject was in possession of a recently killed alligator with no CITES tag affixed. Appropriate citations were issued.

St. Johns County

• Officer Self was on water patrol around Matanzas Inlet and located two individuals in possession of over-the-bag limit of red drum. Officer Self issued both subjects citations for the violation.

Volusia County

• Officer Velez was on patrol around the North Causeway bridge in New Smyrna Beach when he observed two subjects fishing under the bridge. Officer Velez contacted the two subjects to conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, it was revealed the subjects were in possession of two undersized black drum and one undersized gray (mangrove) snapper. Officer Velez determined which subject was responsible for catching the undersized fish and addressed the violations accordingly. 

CASES

Manatee County

• Senior Officer Hinds observed an individual wade fishing and dragging a stringer of fish near Palma Sola. The officer conducted a resource inspection, which revealed the subject had caught and kept an undersized/out-of-season snook. The subject will have to appear in court for their violations 

Sarasota County

• Senior Officer Sierra conducted a resource inspection on an individual fishing under a bridge around Blackburn Pointe. The officer found the individual had caught and kept two undersized seatrout hidden in a separate container from the legal catch. The individual will have to appear in Sarasota County Court for the violation 
• Officer Specialist Morrow conducted a resource inspection on a subject around the Ringling Bridge. The inspection revealed the individual had caught and kept one undersized, out-of-season grouper, three undersized gray snapper, and one undersized sheepshead. Officer Specialist Morrow issued a notice to appear in Sarasota County Court for the violations

CASES

Broward County

• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on a group hunting alligator at STA 3/4. His inspection revealed the alligator the subjects had taken was still alive in the bed of a truck. Alligators captured by snatch hooks, catch poles or similar devices must be released or killed immediately. Officer Willis issued the permit holder a notice to appear citation for the violation.

• Officer Willis conducted a resource inspection on a group hunting alligator at the STA 3/4. The officer’s inspection revealed the permit holder was hunting alligator outside of the assigned area specified in the alligator harvest permit. Willis issued the permit holder a notice to appear citation for the violation.  

• Officers Comartin, Bovee and Olivera were traveling southbound on I-95 when a vehicle passed them at a high rate of speed. The officers observed the vehicle drive recklessly by weaving in and out of traffic and using the emergency lane to pass slower moving traffic. The officers initiated a traffic stop to investigate the violations. Their investigation revealed the driver never had a driver license. The officers arrested the driver for criminal reckless driving and criminal driving without a license, never had one. The individual was transported to the Broward County Jail.  

Glades County

• Lieutenant Hayes conducted inspections on individuals participating in the statewide alligator harvest. During an inspection, the officer overheard the subjects talking about where they had been looking for alligators, which was an area closed to the take of alligators. Upon interviewing the subjects, they admitted to being in Fisheating Creek and harvesting the alligator.  The subject was cited for harvesting an alligator in a closed area and for a permit violation. 

Hendry County

• Officer Specialist Curbelo was patrolling the Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area at night and observed a vehicle enter and then quickly exit the WMA. The vehicle was initially driving with no lights on and several other traffic violations were observed. A traffic stop was conducted and a spotlight and firearm were located inside the vehicle near the occupants. The driver was found to be a convicted felon, and the rifle was found within arm’s reach of the driver. The driver was arrested for felony in possession of a firearm and transported to the Hendry County jail. 

Martin County

• Lieutenant Hayes responded to a call in reference to three subjects possibly hunting in Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area. The officer discovered the three subjects all possessed rifles and admitted to hunting in the area. Currently the WMA is closed to hunting and the subjects admitted to not looking up the regulations prior to hunting. All three subjects were issued citations for hunting in a closed area as well as warnings for not having proper license/permits. 
• Officer Lardakis and Officer Spirito observed a subject under the east side of the Stuart Causeway catching fish. Upon inspection, two undersized gray (mangrove) snapper were located. The subject admitted to illegally harvesting the fish. 
• Officer Lardakis and Officer Spirito observed a subject under the east side of the Stuart Causeway catching fish. Upon inspection, nine undersized lane snapper and two illegally harvested porkfish were located. The subject admitted to illegally harvesting the fish. 
• Officer Landers received a call from Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) about two kids fishing on the East Side of the Stuart Causeway who reported that four adults stole their bait and were keeping undersized fish. Officer Lander responded to the causeway and found the subjects meeting the description. Officer Landers and MCSO Deputy Sheriff Ferris approached the subjects. Upon inspection they found two undersized mutton snapper. One of the subjects received a citation for undersized mutton snapper and three received citations for no shoreline fishing license.
• Officer Landers was conducting fisheries/license inspections at the Jensen Beach Causeway and saw a subject grab a fish out of his bucket and throw it in the water as the officer approached. Officer Landers saw the fish was a very small gray (mangrove) snapper. Officer Landers recognized the subject as someone he had stopped before and wrote a warning to for undersized snapper. This time the individual was cited for interfering with a FWC resource inspection.

Palm Beach County

• Officers Norbrothen and Brevik were conducting surveillance on individuals believed to be picking saw palmetto berries in J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. The officers established a pattern for when the subjects were entering the area in the early morning and conducted surveillance with other local officers. The officers saw the subjects load 18 bags of berries into a truck and attempt to leave the WMA. The officers conducted a stop and arrested six subjects. The violations consisted of harvesting saw palmetto berries without a permit and removing berries from a WMA. The driver was also issued citations for never having a driver’s license and driving without headlights. In total 2,559 pounds of berries were confiscated on this stop. 
• Officer Wences was on patrol around STA 1 when he found two subjects trespassing while fishing. Upon inspection the officer realized he had previously warned these subjects for the same violation.  Due to the subjects having already been warned and knowledge of the violations, they were issued citations. 

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

Broward County

• Officer Willis participated in the Bass Pro Shop Youth Day outreach event. During the event, Willis shared valuable insights about the FWC with children of all ages, emphasizing the importance of hunting and boating safety. Willis also engaged the youth by teaching and discussing various duck and turkey calls, which they enjoyed. The event was a wonderful and educational experience for the youth.

MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE

Broward County

• Officers Comartin, Bovee and Olivera responded to a call for service in Plantation involving an alligator caught in fishing line. The officers arrived on scene and were able to safely remove and relocate the alligator.

CASES

Collier County

• Officer Goff responded to a call about a group of people spearfishing at the L-28 boat ramp. Upon arrival, the officer observed an individual with a commercially made slingshot attached to a glove on one hand and a reel with a spear attached to a glove on the other hand. After locating a speared peacock bass, the individual admitted to spearing the fish. The appropriate citation was issued. 

Miami-Dade County

• Officer Romero stopped a vehicle that was stuck on the levee of Pensucco Property. The subject said she went through the gate and attempted to turn around and got stuck. The subject was cited for operation of a motor vehicle on South Florida Water Management District lands. 

Monroe County

• Investigators Chris Mattson and Oscar Saavedra observed four recreational stone crab traps inside a no motor zone area by Tavernier Key. The investigators pulled the traps and released the stone crabs and juvenile lobster. Investigator Mattson returned the traps to the owner and issued a citation for leaving the traps in the water past the end of season. 
• Investigators Chris Mattson and Oscar Saavedra began working a tip about a commercial vessel fishing with buoys that were unmarked on lobster traps. The investigators went out to the oceanside of Tavernier and located the subjects traps. The investigators found 33 of 37 traps did not have the commercial C number as required by law. The Investigators met with the trap owner who admitted he had been fishing with unmarked buoys. The subject was arrested and booked into Plantation Key Jail on 33 counts of fishing with unmarked traps.