February 12, 2016 through February 18, 2016
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past two weeks;
however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
NORTHWEST REGION
CALHOUN COUNTY
Officers Guy and Baber responded to a complaint in which a citizen heard three gunshots at night. A nearby deputy stopped a suspect vehicle. When Officers Guy and Baber arrived on scene, they found a 12-gauge shotgun, two spent shells and a spotlight inside the vehicle. Along the roadway, the officers also located fresh blood. The suspect admitted that he shot at a group of deer. The suspect was charged with night hunting and road hunting. The shotgun and spotlight were seized as evidence.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
While working offshore and south of Little St. George Island in the Patrol Vessel Guardian, the crew consisting of Lieutenant Marlow, Officers Hughes, Miller, Nelson, Raker and Robb observed several shrimping vessels. They noticed that one of the vessels appeared to be in nearshore waters and approximately two nautical miles from shore. The Guardian pulled up to the stern of the vessel and observed rigging for three nets deployed into the water and trawling for shrimp. They also observed that the vessel was not displaying the proper navigational lights for trawling at night. A vessel stop was conducted and the officers found other boating safety violations and observed that the nets appeared to be oversized. The vessel captain stated that he knew he was too close to shore for his gear and method. The nets were measured and were approximately twice the legal size. The appropriate charges and warnings were issued to the vessel captain and the nets were seized as evidence.
Officers Matechik and Stephens were driving across the St. George Island Bridge when they observed a vessel coming from the Eastpoint channel headed westward. They noticed the vessel was operating without navigational lights and appeared to be an oyster vessel. Officers Matechik and Stephens concealed their location and waited to see if the vessel would return to the area. Officer Robb arrived a short time later to assist. After a short time, Officers Matechik, Stephens and Robb observed a vessel coming from the west back towards the Eastpoint channel operating without navigational lights. The officers then observed a vehicle back down the Eastpoint boat ramp and a vessel being loaded onto a trailer. The vehicle then pulled out of the ramp. Officer Robb went to the boat ramp where he observed a water trail which he followed to a residence in Eastpoint. Officer Robb pulled into the residence and saw a wet oyster boat with tongs onboard backed under a carport. He made contact with the two individuals at the residence who admitted to harvesting oysters earlier that evening from Catpoint oyster bar, which was closed to the harvest of shellfish. Officers Matechik and Stephens arrived at the residence to assist with a resource inspection. The individuals were in possession of eight large untagged and unculled bags of oysters, and a half bag of untagged and unculled oysters. The individuals were charged with harvesting oysters after sunset and before sunrise, harvesting in a closed area, possession of unculled oysters, over the bag limit and untagged bags of oysters. The oysters were returned to the water alive.
JACKSON COUNTY
Officer Forehand investigated a trespass complaint from a landowner in which a suspect was seen hunting on the landowner’s property. During the investigation, Officer Forehand identified the suspect. A records check showed the suspect was a convicted felon currently on felony probation. After reviewing the case with the local State Attorney, the suspect was charged with felony trespass, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of probation.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
DIXIE COUNTY
Officer Cline was conducting foot patrol along a coastal creek in DixieCounty when he observed a subject fishing from the bank. When Officer Cline made contact, the subject quickly admitted his guilt, advising Officer Cline that he had several illegal fish in a nearby cooler. An inspection of the cooler revealed seven undersized red drum and one undersized black drum. Officer Cline issued the subject a notice to appear for possession of undersized red drum and exceeding the daily bag limit of red drum.
Officer Shultz passed on information to Officer Allen regarding an illegal net being placed in a creek off of the DixieCounty coast. Officer Allen and Investigator Ayers responded to the area. After approximately six hours, they apprehended the suspect working a monofilament stop net in a creek. Charges of illegal stop netting will be filed with the Dixie County State Attorney.
Officer Cline was conducting foot patrol along a coastal creek in DixieCounty when he observed four subjects fishing from the bank. When the subjects noticed Officer Cline, they quickly loaded their gear into two vehicles and attempted to leave. Officer Cline was able to stop both vehicles and conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, Officer Cline found the subjects in possession of 19 undersized red drum, 13 undersized black drum and one undersized spotted sea trout. The subjects were issued resource citations for the undersized red drum, undersized black drum, undersized sea trout and over-the-bag limit of red drum.
Officers Cline and Butler received a complaint in reference to a local hunting club allowing their hunting dogs to pursue wildlife on adjacent private property. Officer Cline conducted interviews and located the dogs’ owner. At the request of the complainant, charges were filed on the dogs’ owner for allowing hunting dogs to pursue wildlife on private property.
LEVY COUNTY
Officer Schulz was on water patrol on the WaccasassaBay when he saw three commercial oyster vessels harvesting and culling oysters from a prohibited zone. Officer Schulz contacted the three boats and got identification from each of the eight individuals on board. Officer Schulz addressed the violations of harvesting in a prohibited zone and possession of improperly tagged bags of oysters (they were tagged as being harvested from another zone which was open). The illegal products were returned to the water. The vessels were escorted back to the Waccasassa Boat Ramp where Officer Canfield, Investigator James and Lieutenant Umhoefer assisted Officer Schulz with completing the vessel inspections and issuing of citations for the multiple violations. Citations were issued for harvesting oysters from a prohibited area, improperly tagged oysters and other warnings were also issued.
Officer Schulz was on land patrol in the area of Cedar Key and while driving over one of the local bridges, he saw a man harvesting oysters in the creek near the bridge. Officer Schulz drove past the area, exited his patrol truck, went back on foot and observed the man from a concealed location. Officer Schulz saw the man fill a five-gallon bucket, walk around a bend in the creek and come back a few minutes later with an empty bucket. Officer Schulz watched this take place several times and then went to the man to ask about the oysters. The man said he was just getting a few oysters for personal use and that he knew the area was prohibited but it was ok since he wasn’t doing it commercially. The man was a commercial oyster harvester with a commercial license. Officer Schulz followed the man’s footprints in the mud and searched the nearby mangroves. He found six bags of oysters, all untagged. The man then admitted to illegal harvesting in a prohibited area. Citations were issued for harvesting of oysters in a prohibited area and possession of untagged oysters. A mandatory court date was set to address the violations.
Officer Starling was on land patrol on US Highway 19 with Officer Johnston when he saw a truck with a boat in tow pull over on the shoulder of the highway. He stopped to possibly assist a stranded motorist and noted numerous bags of oysters in the bed of the truck. When he asked the driver about the oysters, he responded that they had just finished harvesting them and were going to the market to sell. Officer Starling performed a resource inspection on the oysters and found three of the bags untagged. The owner of the truck said he had forgotten to tag the extra bags (a total of 23 bags harvested, three over the legal daily limit). He also said he knew he was over the limit. Officer Starling seized the untagged product and issued a citation for the tagging violation and a warning for over the daily bag limit. Officer Starling met with Lieutenant Umhoefer at the ramp in the area where the oysters were harvested and they returned the oysters to the water in the harvested area.
Officer Hilliard was on land patrol in Cedar Key where he conducted several fisheries inspections at the local fishing pier and, during his inspections, he noted multiple violations of saltwater fisheries regulations concerning several individuals. He issued citations to six separate individuals for possession of undersized spotted sea trout and undersized red drum (redfish) over a two-hour period.
Investigator Terrones located four car bumpers and miscellaneous trash discarded on the side of the road in DuvalCounty. A subsequent investigation revealed that a Jacksonville used car dealer had paid someone to dispose of the litter. Pursuant to a confession, the suspect cleaned and properly disposed of the litter and was thereafter issued a resource citation.
NORTHEAST REGION
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Officer Edson was checking fishermen at a local boat ramp when he encountered two men who were both in possession of several undersized sheepshead. Officer Edson issued citations to both men. One of the men had falsely identified himself as his twin brother to Officer Edson. When he signed his citation, he signed his real name then scratched through it and signed his twin brother’s name. When questioned, the man admitted his true identity and produced identification. He was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail for providing a false name to a law enforcement officer while being lawfully detained.
Officer North worked some weekend night shifts in TigerBayStateForest in response to complaints from the Division of Forestry dealing with vehicles tearing up the roads. His efforts resulted in one criminal citation for destruction of state lands with a motor vehicle and one citation for entering the state forest after sunset.
St. JOHNS COUNTY
Officer McDonough and the crew of the Offshore Patrol Vessel Osprey were on patrol approximately 35 miles southeast of St. Augustine in federal waters when they boarded a commercial diving vessel. The boarding team, consisting of Officers Yetter and Wingard, inspected the vessel and found them to be in possession of over their daily limit of cobia, undersized cobia and failure to comply with species-specific limitations. The owner/captain was issued three federal citations and three warnings for boating safety violations. Federal charges have been filed.
SOUTHWEST REGION
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Officer Zampella coordinated a targeted enforcement detail at the Webb Wildlife Management Area (WMA) focusing on day-use permit violations. An officer in a concealed location observed the pay station and radioed to officers who were inside the WMA. Over the course of two days, 345 people were inspected resulting in 45 warnings and 19 infractions being issued. Officers educated many who were new to the area and WMAs in general; however, some people purposely cheated the honor system by displaying the day-use permit and not paying the entry fee. Overall, the enforcement effort was very successful because officers were able to interact with and educate a large number of people while promoting WMAs for their many attractions such as wildlife viewing, camping, hunting and fishing.
DESOTO COUNTY
Officers Scinta and Travis took part in a wholesale and retail inspection detail over a three-day span. The officers inspected several businesses where freshwater and saltwater products are sold to the consumers. It is unlawful to sell frogs or freshwater fish without a license, and it is required to have a retail saltwater product dealer license. During inspection, the officers found several violations, resulting in four warnings and six arrests.
PASCO COUNTY
Officer Jones, K-9 Officer Wolff and K-9 Chaos responded to Green Swamp West WMA in regards to a lost hunter. After a brief search, K-9 Chaos and the officers located the missing hunter. The officers assisted the uninjured hunter out of the woods and back to his vehicle.
PINELLAS COUNTY
While on land patrol at the 4th Street Boat Ramp, Officer Bibeau observed an individual that was actively fishing with a cast net. Officer Bibeau conducted a fisheries inspection on the individual and, at the conclusion, located a 16-inch redfish and a 9-inch sheepshead. The individual admitted to catching the undersized fish and was given a misdemeanor citation for possession of an undersized redfish and a warning for the sheepshead.
Officer Burks was working commercial Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) landings. He was utilizing databases and noticed a discrepancy in the numbers. He immediately proceeded to the location where the commercial reef fish vessel was already docked. Upon observing the offload of several hundred pounds of fish, Officer Burks identified that the vessel did not have enough IFQ. Officer Burks interviewed the vessel captain who gave conflicting statements. This investigation is being turned over to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries per the NOAA and FWC Cooperative Enforcement Agreement for insufficient IFQ.
Officer Smith received information that a commercial reef fish vessel was landing at an unapproved landing location. Officer Smith concealed his patrol vehicle and observed the vessel tied to a dock at an unapproved location. Officer Smith interviewed the vessel captain who provided conflicting statements. Officer Smith then observed the offload of reef fish from the vessel after the vessel was moved to an approved landing location. The vessel was several hundred pounds short of Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ). This investigation is being turned over to NOAA Fisheries per the NOAA and FWC Cooperative Enforcement Agreement for landing at an unapproved location and insufficient IFQ.
Officer Smith received a complaint about three separate blue crab traps at an individual’s residence. These particular commercial blue crab traps were from three different commercial blue crabbers. The three commercial crabbers provided the officer written statements that no one had permission to pull and possess their traps. Officer Smith then interviewed the person in possession of the traps. The person in possession of the three crabbers’ traps thought that they were just garbage. Officer Smith was able to retrieve the commercial crabbers’ traps and return them to the respective owners. Felony crab-trap robbing cases will be turned over to the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office for direct filling.
POLK COUNTY
Officers Bontrager and Tyer responded to the Green Swamp WMA after receiving information from dispatch in reference to a lost hunter. It was cold and had been raining for hours and the officers worried the subject may be suffering from hypothermia. The officers were unable to contact the lost hunter by phone, but had a general idea of his location. The officers located the subject’s vehicle and paired up with Polk County Sheriff’s deputies to begin the search. Officers were able to make contact with the hunter by listening to gun shots the hunter discharged periodically. The lost hunter was eventually located and was in good spirits despite being cold and wet. The subject refused medical treatment and was very grateful for the law enforcement response.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Officers Hinds, Berg and Lieutenant Burton were working a detail in SarasotaBay targeting illegal commercial netting activity. A vessel was observed operating without navigation lights and believed to be commercially net fishing. A vessel stop was initiated in upper SarasotaBay. The stop revealed that the commercial vessel was fishing with four nets that were connected, totaling over 500 square feet. Two subjects were subsequently charged for the net violations. The nets and illegally harvested fish were seized as evidence.
SOUTH REGION A
BROWARD COUNTY
Officers Brock and Gamage responded to the area of Commercial Boulevard and the Atlantic Ocean in response to a call of a possible injured/sick manatee in the surf. The officers arrived on scene to find a very large manatee in the surf line which, unfortunately, was dead. The officers assisted FWC biologists in recovering the manatee (10 feet long and 1,000 pounds) from the large surf. The biologists will be able to find out the manatee’s cause of death after a necropsy.
Officers Brock and Gamage were on water patrol in the Hillsboro Inlet area. They observed a pelican in obvious distress. It had monofilament line with a hook on the end imbedded in it and wrapped around its wings. The pelican’s bill also had a tear in it. The officers maneuvered their vessel into a position to try to capture the pelican. They were successful and took possession of the bird. The pelican hotline was contacted and a pelican rehabilitator responded to the scene, took possession of the pelican and will nurse the bird back to good health with the outlook of releasing it back to the wild.
MARTIN COUNTY
Officers Moss and Trawinski responded to a sick/injured dolphin call in a Stuart Intracoastal neighborhood. The officers encountered a beached dolphin in distress. With a coordinated effort from the FWC, Harbor Branch biologists and the property owner, the dolphin was examined thoroughly. Due to its advanced age and other medical complications, the dolphin was euthanized.
Officer Moss was at the Jupiter office finishing up maintenance on his patrol vessel when he received a call from dispatch. Dispatch advised that there was a man in JonathanDickinsonState Park threatening people with nunchucks. Officer Moss proceeded quickly to the park. The subject was irate over the fact that he could not skip to the front of a line for horseback rides. He had gone to his campsite, grabbed a pair of nunchucks and waived the complainant over to him. The complainant also advised that the subject stated he had an AR 15 rifle. Officer Norbrothen arrived to provide assistance. The park manager advised that he wanted the person removed from the park. During conversation with the irate individual, he advised that the nunchucks helped him spiritually and that he was not trying to cause any problems. Officer Moss advised the subject that he was not allowed to stay in the park any longer, issued him a trespass warning and had him exit the park.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Officer Newman responded to a boating accident that occurred between the Southern Boulevard Bridge and Lake WorthBridge on the ICW. The collision involved a 37.6 foot long sailboat and a commercial barge. The captain of the sailboat was traveling south while the barge was traveling north. The captain of the sailboat admitted to being away from the helm and in the cabin for approximately 3-4 minutes. Damages to the sailboat are extensive and the barge only had a transfer mark from impact. No injuries were reported at the time of collision and medical treatment was denied. The operator of the sailboat was cited for improper lookout causing a boating accident.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
While on patrol at a local marina, Lieutenant Shea noticed fishermen hanging what appeared to be several undersized Greater Amberjack on the nails above a filet table. He went over and inspected the fish and found six undersized Greater Amberjack. The captain of the boat that landed the fish was issued a citation for three Greater Amberjack under 30 inches and a warning for three undersized Greater Amberjack less than the new 34-inch fork length.
MIAMI–DADE COUNTY
During a BUI detail, Major Escanio and Officer Washington were on water patrol when they noticed a 36-foot, center-console vessel, white in color, on full plane passing a marked manatee zone. They observed one male navigating the vessel, with one female passenger on board. When stopping the vessel and speaking to the operator, the officers noticed his speech was slurred and a strong odor of alcohol emitted from his breath. The operator of the vessel was asked to perform field sobriety tasks and could not complete them. He was later asked to perform breath alcohol test. The operator declined and, due to the refusal, was arrested. He was charged with boating under the influence.
MONROE COUNTY
Officers Johnson, Foell and Richards were on a JEA patrol aboard the FWC Offshore Patrol Vessel Interceptor west of the Western Dry Rock off the Lower Keys. Officers were working a charter boat license detail when they encountered a trap boat actively pulling traps. Officer Johnson put Officers Foell and Richards aboard the commercial trap boat “Sugar Daddy.” During the inspection, the officers found a stash of 44 wrung lobster tails hidden behind some hydraulic equipment in the vessel. The vessel ”Sugar Daddy” was escorted to shore on Stock Island where Spanish speaking Officer Lopez interviewed the Spanish speaking captain and the vessel’s two mates. The captain was arrested and cited for possession of 44 wrung lobster tails on the water and possession of 24 undersized lobster. The subject was booked into the Stock Island Jail.
Officer McKay investigated an illegal campsite inside of DagnyJohnsonState Park in north Key Largo as reported to him by a Florida Park Service employee. A subject was recorded on a game camera carrying camping gear into a remote section of the park and then seen coming and going at odd hours for the past several weeks. Officer McKay found the site, but no one was there. The following day, Officer McKay returned at night with Officer Pestka where both officers found the campsite occupied by the tent owner and his visiting friend. Both were from out of town and working locally for the season. The owner of the tent was issued three park rule infractions and three written warnings for the various violations. Both subjects were trespassed from the park for a year, but were first given three days to remove their belongings and to clean up the site before any items left behind would be considered abandoned and removed by the park service.
Officer Plussa and Investigator Cox were participating in an inter-agency operation in Key Largo when a call came out that there was a boating accident near Indian Key Fill. The 911 call indicated that a male and his two sons had been ejected from a local fishing guide boat when it ran into a mangrove island. The sons had only minor injuries. The ejected adult male was impaled in the abdomen by the mangroves. All injured parties were taken to land by witnesses who were close to the scene when the accident occurred. Officer Plussa, Investigator Cox and Lieutenant Haney arrived by land and assisted EMS with the patients. The adult male was airlifted by Monroe County Fire Rescue Trauma Star helicopter to a hospital in DadeCounty. The juveniles were taken by EMS to a local hospital for treatment and to await another guardian while in the care of EMS. Lieutenant Haney proceeded to interview witnesses on land while Officer Plussa and Investigator Cox proceeded to a nearby FWC patrol boat to respond to the accident scene. US coast guard personnel and national park rangers were already on-scene with the vessel and operator when Officers Plussa and Cox arrived. Due to the accident occurring within the EvergladesNational Park boundary, park rangers on-scene assumed jurisdiction and control of the investigation at the ranger’s request.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officers Miller and Veloz participated in the Everglades City High School Career day. Participants in attendance were educated on the responsibilities of an FWC officer and what the agency has to offer.
Officers Ludtke, Perez, Rodriguez, Veloz and Brian Rehwinkel from the FWC Office of Boating and Waterways Section, attended the 75th Annual Miami Boat Show held on Key Biscayne. The officers and Brian Rehwinkel spoke to more than 1,200 attendees during the five-day event about aspects of boating safety, fishing regulations, FWC recruitment, and the FWC mission.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report