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.
NORTHWEST REGION
CALHOUNCOUNTY
Officer Baber was on foot patrol at Blountstown Landing. He was conducting a freshwater fisheries inspection when he noticed a vessel tied off to the river wall that was sitting low in the water. The 20 foot Hydra Sport vessel was tied approximately 15 yards off shore with an elderly female occupant on board. Officer Baber called out to the female and asked if the vessel was taking on water. She replied that it was. As Officer Baber moved toward the vessel, it immediately capsized throwing the elderly lady into approximately seven feet of water. The lady panicked and yelled for help that she couldn’t swim. Officer Baber quickly removed his gun belt and entered the water. Officer Baber swam to the lady in distress and safely pulled her back to shore. Officer Baber evaluated the lady for injuries and then helped secure the capsized vessel.
OKALOOSACOUNTY
Officer H. Rockwell responded to the ShoalRiver after learning that some tubers were stranded in bad weather. After a search, Officer Rockwell located the tubers. They were all returned safely to a nearby boat ramp.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Lieutenant Hollinhead spoke to a youth group at LifePointChurch in Crestview. He discussed the roles of the agency and the role and duties of a Fish and Wildlife officer. He also answered questions on other various topics. Approximately 35 youth were in attendance.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
CLAYCOUNTY
Lieutenant Glover was on water patrol in the St. Johns River area of Shands Pier when he observed approximately one hundred fishermen throwing casts nets in participation of the yearly shrimp run in the St. Johns River. Upon inspection of one fisherman, Lieutenant Glover noticed what appeared to be freshwater game fish hidden in a bucket under the harvested shrimp. Lieutenant Glover questioned the subject about the freshwater game fish inside the bucket in which he admitted to taking them with a cast net. The subject was also in possession of an undersized black bass. Lieutenant Glover issued a citation to the subject for illegally harvesting freshwater gamefish and a warning for an undersized black bass.
COLUMBIACOUNTY
Lieutenant Huff, Officers Nichols and Davenport responded to a call for assistance with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in the search of a missing 10-year old female in the FortWhite area. The child had been missing since 3:00 a.m. and was not reported missing for an extended period of time. FWC units provided assistance in searching the IchetuckneeState Park and local campsites by ATVs and on foot. The child was safely found at approximately 5:30 a.m. the following morning.
MADISONCOUNTY
Officer Ransom received information from park staff at MadisonBlue SpringsState Park in reference to two vehicles that accessed the park through an unauthorized entrance. Officer Ransom tracked the tire marks of the vehicles to the alleged access to the park and observed where one of the vehicles spun “donuts” destroying a portion of the park’s landscape. Officer Ransom documented the unique tire tread pattern to use for follow up. Using information provided by a park ranger, Officer Ransom located a white pickup matching the description provided and noticed the truck had the same unique tire tread pattern he observed at the scene. After a quick interview, Officer Ransom received a full confession from the subject regarding his actions. Appropriate charges will be filed with the state attorney’s office.
SOUTHWEST REGION
HIGHLANDSCOUNTY
Officer Demeter was on patrol checking fishermen at the 621 Spillway. During a freshwater fisheries inspection, he came upon a subject that had a warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and transported to Highlands County Jail.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officer Smith and Mullins conducted a presentation to 4-H Camp Cloverleaf. The officers talked to 60 youth about the FWC and the mission of the Division of Law Enforcement. The officers had a static display of an Airboat, Swamp Buggy, and an alligator.
SOUTH REGION A
HENDRYCOUNTY
While on routine patrol in HendryCounty, Officer DeWeese was dispatched to a possible alligator egg collecting violation on private property in HendryCounty. Officer Greene and McClendon assisted Officer DeWeese along with FWC Investigations. When the officers arrived on the property in the southern part of HendryCounty, the officers located the suspect and spoke with the individuals who were trespassing on the private property. The officers issued the appropriate paperwork for trespass and there are charges pending for the alligator egg collection violations.
OKEECHOBEECOUNTY
Officer J. Davis received information of an individual feeding an alligator. Officer J. Davis and Officer M. Davis conducted surveillance from a concealed position at the location. An individual was observed throwing food to the alligator. Officer J. Davis made contact with the individual who admitted to feeding the alligator ice cream sandwiches on a daily basis. The individual was issued a citation for feeding alligators.
PALMBEACHCOUNTY
While on vessel patrol in Lantana, Officers Trawinski and Spainer stopped a vessel for a boating safety inspection. The officers noticed a large amount of fishing gear on board, and asked the captain if they had done any fishing that day. The captain stated they were in transit from the Bahamas. The officers asked if they had brought any fish or wildlife back from the Bahamas. The captain said they had some hogfish and showed the officers several legal hogfish. Further inspection of a cooler on the boat deck also revealed 12 lobster tails. The laws regarding bringing fish and wildlife back from the Bahamas were explained to the individuals and they were cited for possession of out of season lobster and possession of wrung lobster tails on state waters.
While on vessel patrol in Delray Beach, Officers Mann, Kirkland and Church stopped a vessel that they observed on plane in a slow speed zone. While addressing the speed violation and conducting a boating safety inspection, the officers noticed possible signs of impairment in the vessel operator. Officer Mann conducted standardized field sobriety tasks and determined the 20 year old operator to be impaired. The operator was arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Officers Payne and Shermetaro were on water patrol when they stopped a vessel with a diver in the water near the North Causeway in Fort Pierce. While conducting a resource inspection, the officers found two undersized spiny lobster. The divers stated that they had measured them in the water and again when they were in the boat. The lobsters were found to be undersized on both the defendant’s measuring device and the officer’s measuring device. Two divers on the vessel were charged with possession of undersized spiny lobster. The lobster were returned to the resource alive.
Officer Fretwell and Investigator Turner were on vessel patrol, during Lobster Mini Season, when they encountered an individual who was diving in a restricted area. The individual was found to be in possession of 20 lobster, 16 of which were undersized. The individual was cited for the undersized lobster, possession of over the bag limit, failure to possess a measuring device while in the water and diving in a restricted area.
Officers Payne and Shermetaro were on water patrol when they stopped a vessel with three people fishing near the North Causeway. When asked if they had any fish on board, the owner of the vessel stated that they had caught one mangrove snapper which was located in the port side hatch. After measuring the mangrove snapper, the officers asked the owner of the vessel to open the starboard side hatch that he was sitting beside. The owner stated, “You don’t want to look in there.” When the defendant opened the hatch, the officers found 18 mangrove snapper, three over the daily bag limit for three people, and two undersized mutton snapper. The bag limit for mangrove snapper is 5 per person. The officers issued the defendant a Notice to Appear for the violations. This was the defendant’s third fisheries violation in the past two years. On two separate occasions, he was charged with possession of undersized spotted sea trout and undersized mutton snapper. He will now be facing a first degree misdemeanor charge, which includes a $500 dollar minimum fine and a one year suspension of fishing privileges.
Officers Payne and Shermetaro were on patrol at JB Wilcox Preserve in Fort Pierce. While walking through the parking lot, the officers noticed a parked, Ford F150 with a tag that was hanging from the vehicle by two nails. While running the vehicle’s tag number, they discovered that the tag was assigned to a different vehicle. While attempting to identify the vehicle and owner, the F150 was observed exiting the park. They conducted a traffic stop and the driver could not produce a driver’s license. The defendant was checked by his name and date of birth and it was discovered that his driver’s license was suspended. This was the defendant’s third offense for driving with a suspended license. The defendant was arrested and transported to St Lucie County Jail for knowingly driving with a suspended license and for driving with a tag not assigned to the vehicle.
Investigator Turner was on water patrol when he received a call for assistance from US Coast Guard. They had stopped a vessel and conducted both a safety and resource inspection at which time several small lobsters were discovered. Investigator Turner inspected their catch and confirmed the lobsters to be undersized. One subject was issued a Notice to Appear for the violation.
Officer Payne and Shermetaro were conducting fisheries inspections at Blind Creek Mosquito Impoundment. They made contact with two subjects who were fishing near the bank. One subject stated that they caught a redfish and it was in the cooler in the back of his truck. When the officers asked if it was a legal size, the subject stated that it would be close. Once the officers started to measure the fish they asked how big the fish was going to be and the subject replied about an inch over. The redfish measured 28 inches, to legally possess a redfish it has to be within 18 to 27 inches. The subject was issued a Notice to Appear for possession of an oversized redfish.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIERCOUNTY
Officers Kleis and White were onboard a United States Coast Guard vessel conducting resource inspections near the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve Sanctuary Protection Area (SPA) in Monroe County. They observed a vessel inside the SPA boundary displaying a dive flag. The Officers proceeded with their resource inspection of the vessel and found 3 hogfish and 2 spiny lobster in the live well. The captain of the vessel was cited for prohibited activities within the SPA.
Officers Osorio-Borja and Thurkettle were conducting resource inspections near Indian Key Channel in MonroeCounty, when the Officers observed three men standing near a vehicle with dive tanks and fishing equipment. Upon inspection of their 12 spiny lobster, all three individuals were found to be in possession of undersized spiny lobster and cited accordingly.
Officer Johnson was onboard a United States Coast Guard vessel conducting resource inspections near JewFishBasin in MonroeCounty. They approached a vessel at anchor and inspected the occupants catch. During the inspection, Officer Johnson observed the occupants to be in possession of 4 undersized spiny lobster and they were cited accordingly.
Officers Barringer and Despian were assisting the United States Coast Guard on their vessel in the Gulf of Mexico in MonroeCounty. While on patrol, Officer Despian observed a white vessel with four individuals onboard. The USCG pulled alongside the vessel and performed a vessel safety check. Officer Despian boarded the vessel and asked the individuals if they had any wildlife resources onboard. They indicated that they had 14 lobsters and upon closer inspection, Officer Despian determined that 8 were undersized. One of the individuals claimed responsibility for the undersized lobster and he was issued a Resource Citation. The lobster were photographed and released back into the water alive.
Officers Barringer and Despian were on another patrol assisting the United States Coast Guard on their vessel in the Gulf of Mexico in MonroeCounty, when they observed a vessel with five individuals. The USCG performed a vessel safety inspection while Officer Despian performed a resource inspection. Officer Despian found 15 lobsters onboard and 3 were over the bag limit. One individual claimed the 3 over the bag limit and received a Resource Citation. The lobsters were photographed and released back into the water alive.
MIAMI-DADECOUNTY
Officer Almagro received a complaint from a concerned citizen reporting that a white male was illegally keeping snook in the area of Miami Beach and 30th street. Officer Almagro responded into the area and began to search the area for the subject in question. Officer Almagro soon spotted a male that was sitting on the rocks quickly get up holding a large snook. Officer Almagro began to give commands to the subject to stop and to get away from the water. The subject disobeyed Officer Almagro’s commands, ran towards the water and tossed the snook into the sea. Officer Almagro managed to secure the subject and recover the snook. As a result, the subject was cited for possession of a snook out of season.
Lieutenant Pomares and Officer Martin were patrolling the waters of southern Miami-Dade when during the lobster mini season. As a result of their efforts the officers wrote a total of 6 misdemeanors for possession of undersized lobster within the lobster sanctuary. The officers also wrote 15 infractions for a multitude of boating safety violations.
MONROECOUNTY
Officers Mattson and Plussa were on water patrol on the ocean side of the Whale Harbor Channel when they saw a woman jump off a small boat and attempt to swim towards an inflatable air mattress that was floating nearby. It quickly became evident that the woman was having trouble swimming. The officers saw the operator of the small vessel circling approximately 200 yards away from the woman however, the operator was not demonstrating any urgency to go help the struggling swimmer so the officers rushed to the woman’s aid. The officers then pulled alongside the woman’s vessel and saw a bucket full of empty beer cans on the deck. Officer Mattson then noticed the operator of the vessel reacting in a sluggish manner and had a moderate smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. The operator agreed to perform seated sobriety tasks which led Officer Mattson to detect signs of impairment. The subject was subsequently arrested and transported to jail.
Lieutenant Haney and Officer Hein were on state water patrol in the Long Key area when they conducted a boating safety inspection on a suspicious vessel. During the boating safety inspection, it was determined that the HIN had been altered and did not match the paperwork assigned. A constructive seizure was placed on the vessel and the operator was cited for failing to apply for a title within 30 days of purchase.
Lieutenant Haney and Officer Hein were on state water patrol in the Lower Matecumbe area when they identified several individuals actively diving with no dive flag. Upon contact, they determined the divers were lobstering and conducted a resource inspection. After further inspection, it was determined the 2 individuals were in possession of undersized lobster and did not have a proper measuring device in the water. The individuals were cited accordingly.
Lieutenant Haney and Officer Hein were on state water patrol in the Islamorada area when they conducted a boating safety inspection on a large offshore fishing vessel. When asked about fish on board, the captain claimed to have a “good eye” and there was no need to measure the fish. Upon inspection of the catch, the captain was found to be in possession of undersize dolphin and was cited accordingly.
Officer Hein was on land patrol in the Islamorada area when he noticed several divers getting out of the water under a bridge. Officer Hein conducted a resource inspection and found the divers to be in possession of undersized lobster and they did not have a measuring device in the water. The divers were cited accordingly.
Officer Hein was on land patrol in the Islamorada area when he identified an individual fishing from land. Officer Hein conducted a resource inspection and found the individual did not have a valid fishing license. The individual said that no fish had been caught. There were kids nearby that said otherwise. Upon gaining consent to search the cooler in the back of a vehicle, the individual was found to be in possession of undersized gray mangrove snapper and was also over the limit of gray mangrove snapper. The individual was cited accordingly.
Lieutenant Haney and Officer Hein were on state water patrol in the Matecumbe area when they conducted a vessel stop. During the boating safety and resource inspection, the operator appeared to be more nervous than normal. Several safety and licensing violations were found during the safety inspection. During the resource inspection, the individuals on board were found to be in possession of over the bag limit of lobster by one. Upon further inspection of the vessel, the officers found 27 lobsters in the bilge area of the vessel. The individuals were arrested and transported to a detention facility for possession of over the bag limit of lobster.
Lieutenant Haney and Officer Hein were on water patrol shortly after dark and stopped a vessel without an all-around white light. During the boating safety inspection they observed signs of impairment from the operator and conducted a BUI investigation. The man was determined to be impaired and was arrested for BUI.
Lieutenant Haney was en-route to water patrol and stopped to get fuel at a local gas station, where he observed a man driving erratically in the parking lot. The man exited his vehicle, approached Lieutenant Haney and appeared to be very intoxicated. The man had a plastic cup of liquor in the center console of his car and refused field sobriety tasks. He was arrested for DUI and refused to submit to a breath test. The man had 2 prior DUIs in Florida and 2 prior refusals along with numerous other alcohol related arrests.
FWC officers in the Keys mounted an operation called “Bugging Out” where officers focused on the illegal harvest of Florida spiny lobster from artificial habitat. During the two day lobster mini season officers staged themselves next to already identified sites with unmarked boats outfitted with high powered image stabilizing binoculars. The officers viewed the violators harvest the lobster from the artificial habitat sites. While the harvesters were focusing on catching lobster, the officers would creep closer and closer finally deploying a diver in plain clothes armed with a net and tickle stick to view the activity underwater if deemed necessary. As a result of the operation 26 notice to appear in court were issued to include 33 misdemeanor charges, 1 federal citation, and 6 infractions.
Officers Plussa and Mattson were patrolling the Indian Key Fill Boat Ramp at night when a male subject stopped his car and approached their trucks on foot in a suspicious and threatening manner. Officer Mattson developed a dialogue with the subject and asked for his driver’s license. A records check revealed that the suspect had a suspended license and two prior convictions for the same offense. Officer Mattson arrested him for felony driving while license suspended with knowledge – third offense. Officer Plussa approached the suspects’ car and observed the second suspect seated in the passenger seat next to multiple half-consumed beer and whiskey bottles. The second suspect did not have a valid driver’s license either. When she provided the vehicle registration, Officer Plussa observed multiple loose white pills in the center console. Upon further investigation, Officer Plussa determined the pills to be narcotics and arrested the second suspect for felony possession of a controlled substance. Both suspects were booked into the Plantation Key Jail without incident.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officers Plussa, Mattson, Hein, Wagner and Baumgartner participated in the National Night Out Campaign at four different locations simultaneously across the Florida Keys. The event is nationally sponsored and encourages families to bring their children out and meet personnel from various law enforcement and public safety agencies, ask questions, and demo equipment. The event is focused on strengthening relationships between communities and public service agencies. Our officers interacted with thousands of citizens that attended this year’s event between the four Florida Keys locations.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report