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
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
K-9 Officer Pineda and Officer Clark were in Yellow River Management Area looking for baited areas. They came upon an area where a vehicle had been parked recently and deployed the K-9. The K-9 located two stands that were baited with corn, one had a climber stand and the other a ground blind. The officers checked the area several times and two days later observed a vehicle parked in the area. They split up and found two subjects hunting over the bait. The subjects stated that they had baited the area to attract deer. Both subjects were charged accordingly.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
While returning from offshore on the Gulf Sentry and entering the mouth of the CarrabelleRiver, Officer Robb observed a small skiff headed up river. The skiff had nets on the stern deck of the vessel. Officers Hughes, Raker, and Robb launched the small tender vessel and proceeded to the skiff to conduct a fisheries and boating safety inspection. One of the occupants observed the small patrol vessel approaching the skiff and quickly moved to the stern of the vessel and started manipulating the nets. Lieutenant Marlow advised the individual to stop with the loud hailer of the Gulf Sentry while Officer Robb quickly maneuvered to the vessel and Officer Raker gave the individual verbal direction to stop and move away from the nets. The individual stopped twice, made eye contact with the officers, then moved to other locations of the nets and continued to manipulate them. Officer Raker boarded the vessel and placed the individual in custody for interference of an FWC officer’s duties. The vessel was taken to the city boat ramp and the inspections were completed. The vessel was found to have no hull identification number (HIN) and insufficient safety gear. An inspection of the nets revealed that there were four seine nets (three of them being partially connected, resulting in one large net and one smaller one) and two cast nets. An interview of the occupants resulted in a confession that all four seine nets were tied together and were being utilized to catch fish and that they were attempting to untie the nets after they saw the patrol vessel approaching. The stop resulted in charges for safety gear violations, interference of an FWC officer, failure to place HIN on vessel, and use of seine nets tied together/over 500 square feet. Multiple warnings were issued for other boating violations.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
The FWC Tallahassee Regional Communication Center received a request for assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Emerald Coast Wildlife regarding a dolphin entangled in netting gear. A recreational boater reported seeing in the ChoctawhatcheeBay a juvenile dolphin entangled in netting causing the mammal to surface more frequently than normal. Lieutenant Clark launched a patrol vessel and, along with Emerald Coast Wildlife personnel, began a search in the area of CrabIsland and ChoctawhatcheeBay. Several dolphin pods were located but the juvenile dolphin was not found.
Lieutenant Clark responded to a complaint regarding a black bear in the Mary Esther area off Highway 98. The neighborhood borders the property of Eglin Reservation. Issues with black bears have been historically documented in the area of the complaint. Lieutenant Clark observed a white household trash bag removed from a garbage can, dragged and torn open. This household trash became a food source for the black bear. Lieutenant Clark contacted the homeowner and provided an educational brochure, “A Guide to Living in Bear Country.” The contact was documented with a non-compliance letter.
Officers Maltais and Molnar responded to a complaint regarding a black bear in the Willow Bend area of Fort Walton Beach, which is adjacent to Eglin Reservation property. The complainant stated a black bear was in their yard and would not leave. Issues with black bears have been historically documented in the Willow Bend area. This particular black bear has been documented as aggressive and has lost his natural fear of humans. Officer Maltais safely discharged his bear hazing shotgun with two bore thunder shots. The bear retreated back into the Eglin Reservation property. The FWC Bear Management Section has placed traps to capture the bear safely.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson received information about a male subject who had trespassed onto a hunting lease. While the subject was walking thru a food plot, a trail camera took several pictures of him. The subject returned to the food plot approximately 20 minutes later and began removing the camera from the tree. He was unaware that his actions was still being captured on camera. The subject then took the camera to his residence and placed it inside of his shed. The owner of the camera contacted Officer Hutchinson and showed him the pictures of the male subject. Officer Hutchinson identified the subject and located his residence. After several unsuccessful attempts to contact the subject, Officer Hutchinson waited in a concealed location until he observed the subject arriving home. Officer Hutchinson made contact with the subject and began interviewing him. The subject first denied any wrongdoing, but after further questioning, the subject admitted to trespassing on the property and taking the camera. The subject offered to return the camera to the owner but was unable to locate it. Charges for trespassing on private property and theft are being filed through the State Attorney’s Office.
NORTHEAST REGION
BREVARD COUNTY
Officer Hallsten was on land patrol on State Road 528 at the BananaRiver when he conducted a fisheries inspection on two individuals cast netting from the sea wall. While Officer Hallsten was pulling his marked patrol vehicle up to the subjects, one of the subjects walked over to a bucket full of fish and dumped it into the water. Officer Hallsten conducted the fisheries inspection and found two undersized mangrove snapper. A citation was written to the subject that dumped the bucket for interference with an FWC officer. A citation was written to the second subject for possession of undersized mangrove snapper and a warning for illegal method of take for cast netting the snapper.
Officer Hallsten conducted a fisheries inspection at Sea Ray Drive and Sykes Creek on two individuals who were preparing their boat to be trailered. The inspection revealed three oversized black drum. One of the subjects was issued a citation for possession of over the bag limit on oversized black drum.
Officer Humphrey checked a group of 6 fishermen at the HauloverCanal. After a check of the men’s stringers, coolers and pickup truck a total of 12 black drum measuring over 24” were located. After field interviews of the fishermen it was determined that two of the men had caught and kept four oversized black drum a piece, while the others only kept their allotted one fish over 24”. The two men admitted to keeping four fish a piece. Both men were cited for the violations.
Officer Hallsten, while on foot patrol at the south end of HauloverCanal, conducted a fisheries inspection on two individuals actively fishing. Officer Hallsten discovered that one of the individuals was in possession of two oversized black drum. A citation was written to the individual for over the bag limit of black drum.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officer Humphrey manned a booth at the Forest Festival at the Enchanted Forest in Brevard County. She answered numerous questions received from the public. There were approximately 750 people in attendance.
Officer Rutherford participated in an outreach at KaleidoscopeAcademy in Melbourne, a school for children with autism and other similar disabilities. There were approximately 25 children and 10 teachers. Officer Rutherford had circle time with the children where they learned about police officers in their studies. The children asked him multiple different questions about the job and gear on his gun belt. The children also got to sit in the patrol truck and turn the siren on and off which they loved.
ORANGE COUNTY
FWC Officer received a call in reference to two kayaks stolen from LakeLouisaState Park, in Lake County, Florida. A suspect was located in Winter Garden, Florida advertising a kayak for sale on Craigslist. The kayak was the same make, model and color as one of the stolen vessels. FWC Investigator Rutherford was contacted to assist as a potential buyer. Contact was made and during the conversations with the suspect it was discovered that the suspect had a second kayak for sale. The investigator verified the two vessels were the stolen vessels and signaled the cover team to come in and arrest the suspect. He not only confessed to stealing the vessels, but also provided a written statement on how he stole the vessels. The subject was arrested for dealing in stolen property.
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Officer Arendas was on ATV Patrol in Herky Huffman / Bull Creek Wildlife Manage Area (WMA) and observed a man illegally enter Bull Creek WMA through a hole in the fence on an ATV. Officer Arendas issued three citations to the man, one for illegal entry, one for failure to sign-in, and one for operating a vehicle off road.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report