NORTHWEST REGION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Just after midnight, Lieutenant Brian Lambert checked two individuals at the Quintet Boat Ramp on the Escambia River. The subjects had just returned to the ramp and their vessel was still in the water. They were in possession of a rifle, shotgun, and a spotlight. One of the individuals was acting nervous, stepped behind the vehicle, and attempted to dump something out of his pocket. The subject was found to be in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, and was issued a notice to appear citation for the violations. Both subjects said they were camping and returned to their vehicle to get more food and alcohol.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY COPS
Officers Royce Johnson, Joe Murphy, Steve Hoomes, David Jernigan, Reserve Officer Lila Wise, Lieutenant Eric Hall, Captains Mary Sumner and Rocky Clement, together with FWC Wildlife and Fisheries staff worked the second weekend of the annual Mobility Impaired Hunt at the Blackwater WMA – Hutton Unit. The officers teamed with staff from other FWC Divisions to provide the hunters with a meal each day, assist with tracking down deer, retrieve and clean deer, and assist the hunters in enjoying a safe quality hunting experience. During the second weekend of the Mobility Impaired Hunt, 50 hunters and their hunt assistants participated in the annual event harvesting a total of 12 deer (one antlered, 11 antlerless).
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Mark Hollinhead and Officer Phillip Griffith responded to a complaint of dogs pursuing deer in the still hunt area of Blackwater WMA. Lieutenant Hollinhead and Officer Griffith were given a detailed description of the two vehicles involved. The vehicles and subjects were located exiting the management area. When the officers tried to identify a passenger in one of the vehicles, he was evasive, very nervous, and stated he did not have any identification. When the subject pulled out his trouser pockets, in an attempt to show the officers he did not have his identification, drug paraphernalia dropped to the ground. Realizing his error, he quickly fled on foot into a wooded area. As the subject dove head first over a barbed wire fence, his wallet dropped to the ground. The wallet contained an identification card. Once he was identified, the officers discovered he was a habitual felony offender and had active warrants for felony drug possession and driving while license suspended. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department responded with a K-9 Officer and searched for the subject until the officers determined he got a ride from a nearby residence and left the area. The subject’s vehicle was located and discovered to have an altered tag attached which was not registered to the vehicle. The Sheriff Department’s K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and a subsequent search confirmed the vehicle contained illegal drugs. Contents of a methamphetamine lab were removed from the vehicle and residue on items tested positive for methamphetamine. Charges will be direct-filed with the State Attorney's Office for manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, hunting violations, possible possession of a firearm by convicted felon, and resisting arrest without violence.
OKALOOSA COUNTY COPS
FWC Officers assigned to Okaloosa and Walton Counties participated in the 19th Annual Eglin WMA Mobility Impaired Hunt. Officers assisted disabled hunter participants with locating their assigned shooting locations and helped retrieve downed game. Participating in the hunt were 48 hunters, including 10 from the Wounded Warrior project from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. In all, 32 deer and four hogs were harvested during the hunt.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Law Enforcement action Feb. 1-7, 2013