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
BAY COUNTY
Officer Moore responded to a boating accident in which a vessel on autopilot struck a day marker. No injuries resulted from the accident, but one baby osprey was rescued from the water as a result of its nest being destroyed. A citation was issued to the vessel operator for improper lookout and the baby osprey was turned over to a wildlife rehabilitator.
Officers Basford and Etheridge stopped a PWC operating after dark and found the operator with her 10–year–old son onboard with her. The operator showed signs of impairment and after one field sobriety task, she refused to do any more. The operator refused to submit to a breath test and was booked into jail for BUI and operating a PWC after hours. The civil penalty for failure to submit was filed.
Officer Brady stopped a vessel whose operator showed signs of impairment. Field sobriety tasks were given and Investigator Nelson arrived to assist. The operator was arrested for BUI and refused to submit to a breath test. Before the suspect could be taken to the jail, he began to show signs of distress and emergency medical services were notified. After a complete recovery, the suspect was booked into the Bay County Jail for BUI.
Officer Price stopped a rental pontoon operating with a bow rider. During the inspection, it was found the vessel had been rented without the proper safety equipment (three PFDs short). Officer Price followed the vessel back to the rental company and spoke with the vendor who admitted to being busy and not inspecting the outboard vessel. A citation was issued to the vendor for failure to rent a vessel with the proper safety equipment.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Investigator Goley was working at the Navy Point Boat Ramp when he observed an individual having trouble attempting to dock his vessel. After the vessel was loaded on the trailer, Investigator Goley approached the subject and performed a safety inspection on the vessel. While speaking to the subject, Investigator Goley noticed signs of impairment. The subject agreed to submit to several field sobriety tasks and performed poorly on them. Investigator Goley arrested the subject for BUI and transported him to the Escambia County Jail. He refused to submit to a breath test.
Officers Livesay and Miller assisted a multi-agency task force in apprehending a sexual predator earlier this week. The subject was living on a sailboat in Pensacola Bay. He planned via the internet and thought he was meeting a 14–year–old girl at a local marina. Officers Livesay and Miller along with a task force member shadowed the sailboat until it docked at the marina. The subject met with an undercover officer and was arrested. The subject’s computers and sailboat were seized and he was transported to the Escambia County Jail.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
During the Memorial Day weekend, officers from Franklin, Wakulla, Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty and Gulf Counties worked the annual White Trash Bash on Dog Island and Alligator Point. During the detail, officers inspected 75 vessels and made contact with 367 users. There were a total of seven citations and 20 warnings issued during the detail.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
During the Memorial Day weekend, south Okaloosa County officers responded to a total of five boating accidents, a vessel fire, and a vessel taking on water approximately 15 miles southeast of Destin Pass. In addition, there were three medical emergencies on Crab Island and two physical altercations. A total of 39 uniform boating citations were issued as well as 34 boating safety warnings. Two citations were issued for undersized greater amberjack and one BUI was made in connection with one of the boating accidents.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
The patrol vessel FinCat was on patrol in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the Memorial Day weekend. Due to high seas, the crew was limited to one patrol. During that patrol, four of the nine vessels boarded were in violation. Violations included possession of red snapper during the closed federal season, undersized cobia, and possession of gag grouper during the closed season. Five federal citations were issued.
NORTHEAST REGION
BREVARD COUNTY
Lieutenant Zamonis, Investigator Saunders and Officer Rutherford responded to a call from the Sheriff’s office in reference to a subject shooting a deer out of season. The complainant stated she saw the neighbor come out of his house and shoot a deer with a pistol in her back yard. The Sheriff’s office was first on scene and encountered a subject who was cleaning the deer in his backyard and admitted to shooting the deer. The subject said he wanted to make a Memorial Day stew out of the deer. Officer Rutherford issued the subject a citation for taking deer out of season and his pistol was seized.
Officers Cybula, Maslo, Krynicki and Lightsey made a total of four boating under the influence arrests on the Indian and Banana Rivers during the Memorial Day weekend.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Memorial Day weekend Officer Lightsey conducted a vessel safety inspection at a local boat ramp. During the inspection the man showed many signs of impairment and advised that he was not operating the vessel even though he was the only person on board at the time. After conducting Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks the man was placed under arrest for operating a vessel while normal faculties were impaired and issued a citation for refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine sample and booked into the county jail.
While on patrol, Officer Lightsey observed a man fishing from a local bridge. After observing the man fish for some time, the officer approached the man to conduct a resource inspection. When asking the man what he had caught, the man stated that he wasn’t going to lie and that he had an undersized snook. A complete inspection revealed that the man was in possession of one undersized (14 inch) snook caught by illegal method (cast net), one undersized mutton snapper, one undersized mangrove snapper and one shark not in whole condition. A citation and multiple warnings were issued for the offenses.
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Three boating under the influence arrests were made along the Kissimmee chain of lakes while working with officers from Polk County during the Memorial Day weekend.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
ALACHUA COUNTY
Officer Acevedo had just finished working water patrol and while he was at a gas station he received a complaint from a concerned citizen about a possible DUI driver. Officer Acevedo relayed to Investigator Bembry the subject’s direction of travel and location. Investigator Bembry followed the subject’s vehicle and observed it swerving off the road several times. Investigator Bembry activated his emergency lights and eventually got the driver to stop. A field sobriety test was administered by Investigator Bembry who determined that the driver was intoxicated. Over an hour later, the driver consented to a breath test at the jail and was found to have a blood alcohol content of .147 and .145.
CITRUS COUNTY
FWC officers focused their efforts on boating and public safety over the holiday weekend resulting in four boating under the influence (BUI) arrests being made on Citrus County waters. Several possession of alcohol by underage person cases were also made.
CLAY COUNTY
FWC Special Operations Group (SOG) held their annual statewide training on May 18-22 at Camp Blanding in Clay County. There were approximately 75 SOG team members who attended the training. The topics that the training covered were dignitary protection, waterborne response team tactics and land navigation. With the annual SOG team training also comes the annual SOG team competition which included a two- mile team run, a one-mile swim, tractor tire flip and drag, pushups and sit ups competition, dumbbell and fireman carry competition. The SOG team from the Northwest Region won the competition and took home the SOG competition trophy.
During the Memorial Day weekend Officers Larosa, Waltman and Lieutenant Glover were on water patrol on Black Creek in Clay County when they observed a vessel on full plane in a “No Wake Zone.” The operator was also pulling a skier on a tube inside a designated “No Skiing Zone.” Upon contact with the operator the officers noticed some signs of impairment. Officer Larosa conducted field sobriety tasks and determined the operator was operating a vessel while impaired. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was transported to the Clay County Jail.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
The Ichetucknee State Park tubing season began Memorial Day weekend. Officers patrolled both the north and south portions of the park. Approximately 11,000 people attended the park from Saturday to Monday. Officers made numerous underage alcohol and consumption of alcohol within the State Park cases. No report of any injuries to park guests was reported during the holiday weekend.
DIXIE/GILCHRIST COUNTIES
FWC officers focused their efforts on boating and public safety over the holiday weekend resulting in two boating under the influence (BUI) arrests being made on the
Suwannee River.
HAMILTON COUNTY
FWC Columbia and Hamilton County officers provided law enforcement services for the annual Folk Festival located at Stephen Foster State Park. Although there were no major incidents to report, officers responded to multiple calls for service to include, minor medical emergencies, one traffic crash and a missing person’s call. There were a reported 12,468 people who attended the annual festival
LEVY COUNTY
Officers Johnston and Starling were on water patrol on the Suwannee River and responded to a complaint about a possible boating accident near a local boat ramp. Upon arrival they saw a half sunken aluminum boat on the boat ramp. They saw an individual backing a truck down to the ramp to retrieve the boat. The man driving the truck stopped and got out the vehicle and stood near the officers who immediately smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from him. They also saw an open Bud Light on the floorboard of the truck. During questioning by the officers about the boat and events that led up to its sinking, he lost his balance and fell to the ground twice. He seemed confused while being questioned, at first saying that he lost the plug to his boat, then that it was in the boat and finally that he never had a plug (just a tree branch stuck in the hole). The man stated that he had drank 8 or 9 Bud Light Platinum beers during his boating trip. Based on his condition and impairment tasks conducted at the scene he was arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired. The officers transported him to the local jail where he was booked in with a blood alcohol level of nearly twice the legal limit.
SUWANNEE COUNTY
Officers Boone and Langford were patrolling the Santa Fe River near the confluence of the Suwannee River when they observed a vessel operating in a careless manner in a highly congested area. The officers made contact with the operator and while conducting a boating safety inspection the operator displayed signs of possible impairment. Officer Boone conducted field sobriety tasks and established probable cause that the operator was boating under the influence. The operator was then placed under arrest for boating under the influence. After arriving at the Suwannee County Jail, the vessel operator provided a breath sample which revealed a breath alcohol content of .160 or approximately two times greater than the legal presumption of impairment by that test.
Officer Pekerol responded to a report of a boating accident that involved a jumping sturgeon. The incident involved a vessel that was underway on the Santa Fe River between the Ichetucknee River confluence and Sandy Point. When the Sturgeon jumped into the air, it crashed into the boats windshield, breaking it and striking an occupant of the boat. The approximately 40-lb fish then flopped and went back into the river. Fortunately, the person struck by the fish was not seriously injured. This is the first sturgeon boat strike reported in the Santa Fe River.
Taylor County
Officers Deweese and Bean were patrolling the Steinhatchee River “Slow Speed Zone” when they observed a violation of the restricted area. The officers conducted a boating safety inspection and due to the operator’s erratic behavior suspected he may be operating under the influence of alcohol. Officer Bean conducted field sobriety tasks and determined the operator was impaired and placed him under arrest for boating under the influence. The operator consented to a breath test at the jail and was found to have a breath alcohol content of .14.
SOUTHWEST REGION
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Officer Zampella received a call about a boating accident in Charlotte Harbor where multiple people were in the water. Lieutenant Frantz and fire rescue personnel also responded and recovered the people from the water. It was later determined that the vessel took water over the stern of the boat and began filling up. The bilge pump could not compensate for the water and the boat completely capsized. Fortunately, all the occupants put on their life jackets and stayed with the vessel until help arrived. Their quick response to the life jackets was key in their safe rescue.
HERNANDO COUNTY
Officer Fagan and Investigator Tsongranis responded to an overdue vessel out of Bayport. After obtaining the necessary information the officers began their search. A short time later the vessel and occupants were discovered returning to the boat ramp. The reason for their late return was due to faulty equipment on the vessel.
LEE COUNTY
Officer Bell spent three days aboard the United States Coast Guard cutter, Marlin. During that time, Officer Bell joined the Coast Guard’s boarding crew in conducting numerous recreational and commercial fisheries inspections off the coast of Southwest Florida. The crew documented numerous violations of vessel safety and resource violations, including a recreational fisherman with multiple undersized red grouper.
Officers Bryson and Spoede received a tip that someone was poaching snook inside a residential canal near the south end of Fort Myers Beach. The officers responded by vessel up the residential canal and observed an individual fishing. The officers conducted an administrative and resource inspection. The subject was found to be in possession of 3 snook that were taken out of season as well as undersized and over the bag limit of snook. The subject was also in possession of 2 undersized mangrove snapper. The individual was issued several misdemeanor citations as well as a mandatory appearance in court.
Officers Bryson, Spoede and Investigator Sushil responded to boating accident in Bonita Springs where the operator hit a channel marker and broke the channel marker off at the waterline. The operator fled the scene and docked his boat at a local marina and departed the area. The officers were quickly able to determine who the operator was. The investigation ended with the operator being cited for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage and failing to report a boating accident that requires a mandatory appearance in court.
Officers Raczek and Morrow were on water patrol in New Pass when they observed several dog violations on the south end of Lovers Key State Park. The officers anchored their patrol boat and started walking on the state park advising several people about the rules and regulations on dogs in the state park. While they were explaining the rules, a small dog attacked Officer Morrow’s pant leg followed by two other small dogs that circled and nipped at his ankles. The first dog bit Officer Morrow’s leg but fortunately did not break the skin. Officer Morrow used the appropriate amount of force to protect himself which stopped the dogs from attacking. The owner of the dogs was issued a citation for possessing a dog on the beach and the information was turned over to Lee County Animal Services to follow up with the dog attack.
Officer Toby Fogle responded to a motorized vessel inside the Lovers Key State Park no-motor zone. The operator was cited for not registering the vessel and operating a motorized vessel inside the no-motor zone. The subject was also issued several warnings for not having the required safety gear on-board.
Officer Toby Fogle was patrolling Lovers Key State Park and noticed a 4-wheel drive SUV that was stuck in a large surface puddle within a mangrove fringe, located off CR865. This area is restricted to vehicular traffic due to the environmental sensitivity of the native plant life growing there. Upon further inspection, the officer noted that petroleum pollutants were being emitted from the vehicle into the water, as apparent from the visible sheen. The area in question is immediately adjacent to the marine estuary located within the boundaries of the state park. As a result of the driver having the vehicle removed from the hole, Officer Fogle also observed that physical damage had been done to a nearby mangrove seedling. Photos were taken of the scene and the driver was issued a citation for operating a motor vehicle in a non-designated area of the park as well as a criminal notice to appear for discharging a pollutant or hazardous substance into the waters of the state.
Officer Bryson coordinated a manatee zone enforcement detail for the Estero Bay. The detail was to target manatee zone violators and educate boaters on the specific area seasonal manatee zones inside of Estero Bay. Many of the boaters were given Lee County Waterway maps that describe in detail the manatee zones in Lee County. Approximately 42 users and 16 vessels were checked that resulted in six written warnings for manatee zone and resource violations for the detail.
PASCO COUNTY
Officer Jones responded to a complaint of a raccoon attack in New Port Richey. The victim was bit during a fight between the raccoon and a dog. Pasco County Animal Control responded and took possession of the raccoon.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Officers Smith and Will Freemon were on water patrol in an unmarked patrol vessel. They were inspecting recreational offshore fishermen that were heading back through Clearwater pass. They observed a vessel with several offshore fishing rods in the pole holders. The officers performed a vessel inspection to determine if the operator was in compliance with fishing and boating safety regulations. Upon first inspection the officers did not observe any salt water products in the vessel’s coolers or fish boxes. The officers kept searching and removed inserts that were in the gunwale of the vessel and discovered several undersize red grouper. The captain of the vessel was issued a notice to appear for possession of undersize red grouper.
Officers Smith and Freemon were on water patrol in an unmarked patrol vessel. The officers were working the Clearwater area with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. USCG stopped a vessel and requested FWC assistance due to impaired personnel on the vessel. The operator of the vessel was identified and then the FWC officers administered standardized field sobriety exercises on the operator due to suspicion that he was impaired. After administering field sobriety exercises, the officers determined that the operator of the vessel was impaired beyond his normal faculties and he was arrested for boating under the influence. The subject was transported to USCG Sand Key where FWC Investigator Schefano administered a breath test to determine the operator’s breathe alcohol content. The subject provided breath alcohol samples of 0.131 and 0.134. The subject was then transported to Pinellas County Jail.
Lieutenant Wells was working land patrol at Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater. He concealed his patrol vehicle, so it was out of sight from the boat ramp. Lieutenant Wells observed a vessel hit the dock while trying to moor the vessel. Additionally, it took this particular operator several attempts to actually get the vessel moored on the dock at the boat ramp. Lieutenant Wells then approached the vessel and performed a vessel safety inspection. The operator then became aggravated and confused about what safety gear Lieutenant Wells was asking for during the inspection. The operator could not provide the safety gear without being prompted several times by Lieutenant Wells. There were two large open beer cans at the helms station and two full bags of empty beer cans on the deck of the vessel. Lieutenant Wells then administered field sobriety tasks to the vessel operator to determine if he was safe to operate a vessel. The operator of the vessel could not perform the field sobriety tasks successfully. Subsequently, he was arrested for boating under the influence. The operator of the vessel refused to provide a breath sample and he was transported to Pinellas County Jail.
Officer’s received a call from a kayaker at the Weedon Island Preserve, who had become lost and could not find his way back to ramp. Several FWC Officer’s as well as the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department were quick to respond launching three vessels and a helicopter to search for the individual. However, due to extremely low tides and other extenuating circumstances the first Officers on scene were unable to locate the individual. It was not until Officer Stevens took it upon himself to locate a kayak and kayak into the trail in an attempt to locate the individual. After paddling and walking his kayak into the kayak trail, Officer Stevens found the individual clinging on to one of the kayak trail markers waiting for help. Officer Stevens then led the kayaker out of the trail and to safety, at which point Officer Ferguson and Officer Phillippi took him back to his vehicle by boat. If it were not for the hard work and effort of Officer Stevens the rescue would have taken much longer. The kayaker and his family were very grateful to Officer Stevens for the hard work and effort he put in, as well his fellow officers.
POLK COUNTY
Officers in Polk and Osceola Counties conducted a detail on the Kissimmee River Chain of Lakes. Each year, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is a busy destination for various types of vessels to celebrate the Holiday weekend. Participating officers were out in force utilizing airboats and Jon boats to proactively patrol to ensure boater safety and to provide a quick response to any emergency incidents. The detail resulted in three BUI arrests, along with numerous boating citations and warnings. Also, there were no reports of boating accidents during the three day event.
SOUTH REGION A
BROWARD COUNTY
While patrolling the John U. Lloyd State Park during the busy holiday weekend, Officers Teems and Moore cited three different individuals for driving on suspended driver’s licenses. Two of the vehicles were subsequently towed and a tag was seized. Officers additionally responded to several reports of missing children in the park. All of the children were located and reunited with their families.
Investigator Bingham investigated a report of suspicious persons leaving the Park Managers property. When confronted by officers, the suspects ran, jumped into the water and disappeared into the woods on Dania Beach Boulevard. The Coast Guard relayed information that a group of illegal immigrants may have jumped off of a freighter in the port. A perimeter was set up but the suspects were not located.
Officer Brock observed a vessel run hard aground on the north side of the Hillsboro Inlet. None of the occupants were injured and they were able to walk off of the vessel onto the jetty. Seatow pulled the vessel off of the rocks.
During the Memorial Day weekend Officer Mirabal and Lieutenant McDonald stopped a vessel to conduct a boating safety inspection. The operator was having difficulty locating his safety equipment. After field sobriety exercises the subject was arrested for boating under the influence.
Reserve Lieutenant McDonald responded to an alligator complaint at Holiday Park. The 11 foot alligator was located and found to be in poor health with no fear of humans. Several children were playing in the area and curious onlookers were getting too close for safety. Permission was given for a trapper to remove the alligator.
GLADES COUNTY
Officers Alford and Nasworth responded to a sinking vessel on Lake Okeechobee, east of Moore Haven. The officers located the subject and his 40’ vessel beached on the Herbert Hoover Dike approximately one mile west of Liberty Point. The lone and uninjured occupant of the vessel was taken aboard the officers’ patrol vessel and transported back to shore in Clewiston for lodging and to make arrangements to have the vessel removed and repaired.
HENDRY COUNTY
Officer Teal was on land patrol in Hendry County working night hunters when he observed a vehicle driving in a careless manner. He performed a traffic stop and smelled an overwhelming smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Upon contact with the driver, Officer Teal observed several signs of impairment from him. After a search of the vehicle, a large bag of marijuana was found in a hidden compartment in the center console to which neither of the occupants claimed. The marijuana tested positive for THC and weighed 28.3 grams. Officer Teal placed both occupants under arrest and booked them into the Hendry County Jail on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance. The driver was charged with DUI and being in physical control of a vehicle while in possession of a felony amount of a controlled substance.
LEE COUNTY
Officers Taylor and McLendon were on vessel patrol in the Caloosahatchee River near Alva. The Officers conducted a boating safety inspection on a vessel and observed dozens of empty beer cans all over the vessel. The officers noticed the operator was showing signs of impairment so they administered seated field sobriety tasks on the subject. After completion of the tasks, Officer Taylor arrested the subject for boating under the influence. The suspect later provided a breath sample of 0.115 blood alcohol content (BAC), well over the limit of .08.
MARTIN COUNTY
Lieutenant Rogerson and Officer Payne responded by vehicle to a boat crash occurring at the railroad crossing, Saint Lucie River in Stuart. As Officer Payne responded to the bridge and RR crossing to speak to the bridge tender about the extent of damage caused, Lieutenant Rogerson attempted to track and locate the tug and barge heading westbound in the Okeechobee waterway. A quick check at the Saint Lucie Locks determined that the barge had not locked through westbound and therefore should be able to be located somewhere between the locks and the accident site. Once the barge was located a boarding was conducted. Officer Payne is investigating as well as the USCG and the FEC Railroad Police. Charges are pending.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Officers Hofheinz, Bergwerff, and Mullins were conducting buggy patrol along the Kissimmee River on the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park when they encountered two hunting dogs and two white males. After the officer’s made contact with the subjects and during a conversation the officers were advised the subjects had been in the Park hunting with dogs and had entered from the river. The subjects freely admitted they had seen the large sign stating they were in a State Park and no hunting was allowed but they stated they weren’t sure where the park was and they had hunted there before. Both subjects were issued citations for trespassing, hunting in a State Park, having hunting dogs loose on property without landowner or lessee’s permission
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Officers Stone and Spanier received a call about a loggerhead sea turtle in the ICW near Curry Park in Palm Beach County. They responded to the scene and found the turtle was tangled in several yards of monofilament fishing line and had a fishing hook in its mouth. The Officers were able to capture the turtle and cut most of the line away. Unfortunately, the monofilament line was wrapped around the turtles front flippers and had embedded into the flesh. Due to the extent of the wounds on the flippers and the hook in the mouth, the Officers determined the turtle would need veterinary care and rehabilation. The turtle was turned over to FWC biologists.
Officers Alford and Nasworth were on foot patrol in the area of Lake Harbor structure when they observed two subjects trespassing on the other side of the structure and one subject to be actively fishing. Officer Alford started walking around the structure to make contact with the subjects and Officer Nasworth gave the subjects loud verbal commands to stay, which the subjects ignored. One subject picked up a cooler and the other subject gathered the fishing poles. They walked away from Officer Nasworth who had given them loud verbal commands to stay. Officers Alford and Nasworth ran to the other side of the structure where they made contact with the subjects. The cooler had been emptied prior to the officers inspecting it. The subjects advised they knew they were trespassing but wanted to be on the right side when the officers caught them. The Officers cited the two subjects for failure to allow inspection, trespassing on South Florida Water Management District property and no resident freshwater fishing license.
Captain Ardelean and Officer Nasworth were dispatched to an alligator bite that occurred in Pahokee. Captain Ardelean and Officer Nasworth arrived at the Pahokee fire department where they met with a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy who advised that his partner had been bit by an alligator while trying to tape its mouth shut and remove it from a crowded street with children running around. The deputy advised the Officers that as he was taping the alligators mouth shut he realized part of his partners thumb was in the gator’s mouth. They were able to get his thumb out at which time he advised his partner that he needed to get the bite looked at. The deputy drove himself to the Wellington Green Hospital. A trapper was contacted and responded to take possession of the alligator.
Officer Alford observed a subject cast netting at John Stretch Park in Palm Beach County. There were two subjects standing as lookouts for law enforcement. Officer Alford was on the other side of the canal in a position of concealment. He was not in a position to make an inspection. Officer Toby responded and stopped the subjects while Officer Alford made his way to the stop location. Officer Nasworth arrived to assist. The subject observed cast netting had his fishing license revoked in May for one year as a result of violations in Hendry County. The subject was issued a criminal citation for fishing while license suspended or revoked, which also violated his probation.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Officer Payne was on water patrol when he observed a vessel on the flats with several subjects fishing in Ft. Pierce. As the officer started to approach the vessel they began to motor away from him. Officer Payne got to the vessel and asked if they had any fish on board which they stated, “yes, snapper.” When Officer Payne inspected the snapper he found three undersized mutton snapper. The subjects on board the vessel stated that they thought the snapper needed to be 12 inches. Officer Payne measured the mutton snapper and found two to be under 11 inches and one to be just under 12 inches. One of the subjects on board admitted to catching the fish and was issued a notice to appear for the violations.
Officers Payne, Fretwell and Turner stopped a vessel containing several subjects fishing to conduct a resource inspection in the Ft. Pierce area. The inspection of the fish revealed one undersized mutton snapper, one undersized sheepshead and five pufferfish; which are illegal to possess and harvest in St. Lucie County. The captain of the vessel was issued a notice to appear for the criminal violations and a passenger on the vessel was issued a citation for fishing with no saltwater license.
While on water patrol Officers Fretwell, Payne and Investigator Turner observed an individual catch what appeared to be an undersized mutton snapper and place it in his bucket. The individual was on land. Officer Fretwell had Officer Payne drop him off on the bank so that he could go inspect the rest of the individual’s fish. The subject told Officer Fretwell that he had just gotten there and had not caught any fish. There was an undersized mutton snapper floating in the water in front of the man. He said that he was not the one who had caught it. He later however admitted to catching the fish. The individual received a citation for failure to allow inspection and possession of an undersized mutton snapper.
Officers Fretwell and Payne were on water patrol conducting navigational light checks when they observed a vessel operating at night that did not have its lights displayed. Upon making contact with the operator, Officer Fretwell smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator’s mouth. Officer Fretwell took the individual back to a boat dock where field sobriety tasks could be performed safely. Based on the subject’s performance, the individual was arrested for Boating Under the Influence. At the jail the subject provided a sample of his breath that registered .149, well over the limit of .08.
Investigator Turner and Officers Irwin, Fretwell and Shermetaro were on federal fisheries patrol, returning to Fort Pierce. While transiting through the Fort Pierce Inlet, a subject on a vessel informed them of a boat that was sinking near the Fort Pierce City Marina. The officers arrived at the City Marina and found a Good Samaritan vessel had already rescued the person floating in the water. He was then transferred to the FWC patrol boat and proceeded to help the officers locate his boat. The officers found the 8’ boat completely submerged underwater in the ICW. After some quick line handling and teamwork, the officers were able to retrieve the anchor line and bow line from the dinghy and pulled it out of the water enough to safely hip tow the vessel out of the ICW. The officers then helped the owner pull his boat to shore.
While on water patrol, Investigator Turner observed an approximately 13 foot vessel with seven people on board at the Fort Pierce Inlet. The vessel appeared to be overloaded, as it sat very low in the water and at times could not see any freeboard. Pulling up alongside, he observed empty beer cans all over the deck. The safety inspection was conducted away from the inlet and in calmer waters, concluding at a local dock where field sobriety tasks were administered to the operator. The operator was subsequently arrested for Boating Under the Influence and booked in at the county jail where he refused to submit a sample of his breath.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
Officers Johnson and White performed a Federal Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Inspection. During the inspection, they determined that the captain and mate of the boat had committed numerous violations. Those violations consisted of landing before the declared time, not having sufficient allotment for red grouper, no vessel, crew, or individual Saltwater Products License for the mate, no commercial safety equipment, offloading after 6 pm, and a county wholesale dealer operating out of their home county without notifying FWC. Appropriate citations were issued.
While on land patrol, Investigator O’Horo was parked when he observed a subject drive up in front of him and dump bags of cement on the side of the road. Investigator O’Horo detained the subject and notified Officers Johnson and White. Lieutenant Walsh also arrived to help. After it was determined that the dumping was not commercial in nature an appropriate citation was issued.
Officer Kleis conducted freshwater and marine fisheries enforcement from land in the southeastern part of Collier County. In total, Officer Kleis issued 8 resource citations (1 misdemeanor) and 3 resource warnings.
Officer Kleis watched from a concealed location as two subjects fished with cane poles in a rock pit on the Jet Port property in the Big Cypress National Preserve. During that time Officer Kleis observed both subjects discard litter that neither of the subjects retrieved before exiting the property. After watching the subjects for approximately ninety minutes, Officer Kleis made contact with the subjects. One of the subjects denied catching any fish while the other subject was in possession of cichlids, two black bass and four butterfly peacock bass (2 more than the daily bag limit). Citations were issued for littering, failure to possess fishing licenses and over the daily bag limit of butterfly peacock bass.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Officers Delgado and Almagro were tasked with patrolling the waters of Bear Cut after the FWC’s dispatch center received several complaints of boaters violating the manatee zones in the area. As a result of their diligence and hard work the officers managed to issue 20 citations and issued numerous warnings.
Officers from Miami Dade County participated in a joint operation targeting boating under the influence and other violations on the waters of Miami-Dade County. During the operation the officer issued a total of 160 citations checked 509 vessels and arrested 6 individuals for operating a vessel while impaired.
MONROE COUNTY
Officers Wagner and Garrison were patrolling the waters of Marathon at night when they noticed a vessel operating without navigational lights turned on. The officers stopped the vessel and immediately noticed the operator was demonstrating signs of impairment. The operator consented to perform field sobriety task which he failed. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Marathon Jail for processing.
Lieutenant Haney and Hein were tasked with patrolling the waters of the upper Keys during the Memorial Day Weekend. The officers managed to arrest 9 individuals. The charges included boating under the influence, possession of illegal drugs, resisting arrests without violence and possession of undersized snapper.
Lieutenant Peters was on water patrol near Big Coppitt Key when he saw a group of fishermen unloading fishing equipment and coolers on to the sea wall of a local home. The officer requested and got permission to inspect the days catch only to find 13 undersized hogfish. The subjects all admitted to taking the undersized fish and were charged accordingly.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officers Dube and Steinmetz participated in a career day at Key Largo Elementary where they discussed the agencies role in protecting Florida’s natural resources. Over 200 students participated in the event which by all accounts went exceptionally well.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Law Enforcement weekly report