February 27th – March 5th, 2015
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
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Johnson responded to a night hunting complaint north of Milton. The caller advised that he heard two shots from a field near his home. He observed a truck leave the area and return a short time later. Officer Johnson arrived as the suspects were leaving the area. When he stopped the truck, he was greeted by five juveniles in possession of four loaded rifles. Two of the juveniles admitted to shooting at deer in the field, but apparently, they did not hit any of them. Officer Miller arrived on scene to assist. The officers obtained written statements from each of the juveniles detailing their involvement in the incident. After discussing the incident with the State Attorney’s Office, two warrant affidavits were filed charging each of the two shooters with attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
Officer Hoomes concluded a trespass investigation which led to the arrest of a suspect. The suspect was charged with one count of armed trespass and one count of trespass on property. A landowner contacted him regarding a subject captured on a game camera as he trespassed on his private property. The man had apparently cut part of a link out of a chain on a gate and drove a golf cart onto the property. He placed a tree stand on the property and had been doing so for some time based on the number of trees that had been climbed on the property. Officer Hoomes was able to identify the suspect and determined that he lived a short distance from the property. He went to interview the suspect and observed the golf cart used during the incident in his yard. The man denied trespassing, but his distinct features captured in the photo clearly told otherwise. The subject was arrested after Officer Hoomes obtained a warrant.
BAY COUNTY
Officer N. Basford was leaving St. Andrews State Park and observed a scooter traveling towards the park. The park was closed at the time except for pass holders and registered campers. Officer Basford turned around to see if the operator of the scooter was going to go around the gate or use the gate code to enter the park. The scooter had stopped on the road shoulder before entering the park and Officer Basford stopped behind the scooter to see if the operator needed assistance. When she approached the operator, she could see he was bleeding from his head and could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. She also observed what appeared to be fresh damage to his scooter. When asked, he stated that he had injured his head falling at a bar and would provide no information on how the scooter received the damage. Officer Basford requested EMS to respond to the scene to treat the operator’s injury, however, he refused treatment. The operator consented to perform field sobriety tasks, and at the end of the tasks, the operator was arrested for driving under the influence. He consented to a breath test and the results were .138 and .156. Officer Basford transported the operator to the Bay County Jail.
Officers Wicker and T. Basford were working in Warren Bayou on the first morning after the four month winter closure to harvesting of fish. While there, they watched a local fishing guide on two occasions take a brown pelican that a customer had hooked, move to the back of the vessel, wrap fishing line around the pelican’s beak, and knot the line before releasing the bird. The guide was cited for animal cruelty and for taking a protected species. Both pelicans were caught and the line removed from their beaks. While doing this, a dead pelican was noted on a nearby bank and an inspection of the carcass found its beak also had been tied with fishing line.
Officer Goodwin was working a night hunting detail where complaints have been received recently. He observed a truck that was shining a spotlight on a private hunting lease. After stopping the vehicle, further investigation revealed that one of the subjects had an outstanding warrant for failure to pay fines. The subject was arrested for the warrant and transported to the Bay County Jail.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Investigator Wilkenson received a referral from the Sheriff’s Office regarding a wetland complaint. The complainant stated that a property owner was dredging and filling in wetlands. Upon receipt of this environmental complaint, Investigator Wilkenson coordinated the investigation with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A DEP specialist completed a wetland impact assessment on the property. Investigator Wilkenson followed up by conducting a site inspection on the property and observed fill dirt placed on wetlands. Further, Investigator Wilkenson interviewed the contractor hired by the property owner. The contractor stated he was hired to place fill dirt on the property to create a driveway access. It was determined the activity required an authorization from DEP. The property owner was issued a citation for dredging and filling wetlands without a valid permit from DEP, which is a first degree misdemeanor. This same property owner was cited in October 2013 and adjudicated guilty for the same violation on the same property by Investigator Wilkenson.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Cushing spoke to members of the Gulf Coast Mentoring Club at Gulf Breeze High School about FWC and related boating safety and resource topics. The club exists to create a culture among young men from this area regarding how to be good stewards of our coastal community. There were approximately 48 youths in attendance.
NORTHEAST REGION
BREVARD COUNTY
Officer Krynicki received a night hunting complaint where he found 24 unused 16-gauge shotgun shells near the road way, a dead 8 point deer and a shotgun just inside the wood line. The complainant stated that he had heard gunshots and saw what he thought was a white SUV, two males, and two females. The subjects left the area and he discovered the shotgun shells near the road, the deer, and the shotgun in the woods.
Officer Krynicki immediately recognized the shotgun as the one he had encountered while checking three individuals a few days earlier. While checking the shotgun, he found what appeared to be the initials "W" and "M" engraved on the shotgun near the trigger guard. The stock and fore grip of the shotgun was wrapped in the same Gator blue and orange tape observed from the previous stop. With the assistance of a FWC Investigator, Officer Krynicki went to the residence to interview the subjects. One suspect admitted to driving the vehicle that evening and two of the suspects admitted to killing the deer. One suspect stated they shot the deer from the front passenger seat of the vehicle with a .22 caliber rifle from inside the car. Once the deer was wounded the second suspected shooter in the back seat, got out of the vehicle and shot the deer with the Gator taped shotgun. Resource citations for principal in the first degree for taking game out of season and principal in the first degree for use of gun and light at night was issued to the driver. Shooting from the roadway, use of rim-fire ammunition to take deer, and use of a gun and light to take deer where issued to the first shooter. The second shooter was also issued citations for use of gun and light to take deer and taking a deer out of season.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Officer Ransom responded to a complaint of a video posted on social media showing an unidentified person shooting a white ibis. As a result of his investigation he was able to identify the shooter and obtain a full confession. The bird had been discarded and predators destroyed much of it, but Officer Ransom was able to recover enough of the remains to positively identify the bird as a white ibis. Charges have been direct filed through the state attorney’s office for taking a state listed species of special concern.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
ALACHUA COUNTY
Officers from Alachua, Union and Gilchrist Counties worked Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area during the first Small Game Hog Hunt. The officers made several hundred contacts and issued several citations and warnings to include management area violations, one drug violation and a few alcohol violations.
CITRUS COUNTY
A Citrus County Officer was traveling northbound on Route I-75 after completing an off-duty shift when the officer passed a marked seafood truck. The seafood truck drivers’ sudden change in his driving pattern lead the officer to suspect that perhaps there was an issue with the product(s) being transported. A vehicle stop and subsequent paperwork inspection revealed that the operator was in possession of 10 bushels of oysters and 17 bags of hard clams without the required bills of lading. The shellfish were passed the terminal sale date while 50% of the oysters were undersized. The operator was issued a citation and warnings for the violations. The oysters and clams were seized and destroyed.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Officers Johnston and McDonald concluded a month long investigation involving the theft of hunting equipment and the taking of antlerless deer during a closed season. The officers successfully recovered approximately $200.00 worth of stolen hunting equipment including a tree stand and trail camera. Four suspects were involved resulting in 15 misdemeanor charges for the following violations: multiple counts of petit theft, trespassing, conspiracy to commit theft and taking of an antlerless deer during a closed season. One subject admitted to harvesting an antlerless deer during the last week of hunting season and provided a photo of himself posing with the doe deer and rifle. Additional charges are pending.
Officer McDonald was at the Watertown Lake Fish Management Area conducting surveillance in his unmarked resource protection service vehicle when he observed a car pull up to an individual in the parking lot. Money was exchanged between the subjects. Suspecting a drug deal had just occurred, Officer McDonald made contact with the man. While Officer McDonald was investigating, it was revealed that the man was driving with a revoked/suspended driver’s license and had a violation of probation warrant. No drugs were located but the man did have a history of drug possession.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officers Pekerol, Boone, Mobley, Davenport and Dishman along with K-9 Scout coordinated FWC Day at Mayo Elementary School. Officers displayed various life jackets while speaking on the importance of boating safety, demonstrated the practical use of animal decoys as it relates to resource protection. The students saw a small alligator up close while discussing how to enjoy wildlife without causing conflicts. K-9 Scout also caught the students’ attention as she showed her ability to find objects hidden in the immediate area. Approximately 650 students were in attendance.
TAYLOR COUNTY
Officers Wilcox and Deweese observed numerous vessels harvesting a limit of spotted sea trout in a local tidal creek. Later that same afternoon the officers saw one of the vessels return and began to harvest fish. The officers checked the subjects at the boat ramp later in the evening and they admitted to catching a bag limit of spotted sea trout on the “morning trip” and returning to catch another limit on the “afternoon trip.” The officers issued both subjects a notice to appear for the violation.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officers Deweese and Korade worked the Special Olympics Fishing Tournament at Keaton Beach. The officers had a patrol vehicle and airboat on display and assisted the tournament director with events throughout the day. All proceeds from the tournament will go towards local athletes.
Officers throughout the North Central Region assisted with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Florida State Tournament in Alachua County. The tournament was held in Newberry with over 350 youth archers (fourth grade through twelfth grade) competing. In addition to the students competing in person at the Easton Sports Complex, there were virtual tournaments held throughout the State for those that could not travel to Newberry. The FWC officers assisted by serving as lane judges, answering questions, helping with the transition between flights and providing an opportunity for kids to interact with FWC Law Enforcement Officers. Steve Robbins, an Education Specialist with the FWC’s Division of Hunting and Game Management (HGM) organizes the event each year.
Lieutenant Kiss and Officer Langford participated in the annual “Real Men’s Christian Outdoor Event” located at the Skeeter Ranch in Hamilton County. The officers had their patrol vehicles in addition to bringing a patrol boat. Boating, fishing and hunting brochures were handed out during the event. Approximately 500 persons attended the event.
SOUTH REGION A
BROWARD COUNTY
Officer Brock was on water patrol in Pompano Beach when he conducted a vessel stop near the Atlantic Avenue Bridge. While conducting a boating safety inspection, the operator was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. With information gathered, Officer Brock placed the operator of the vessel under arrest and delivered the individual to the County Jail without incident.
During the early morning hours, Officer Warne was en-route to go on vessel patrol near Lauderhill. He proceeded through a green traffic light and almost had a collision with a vehicle that had run the red light. Officer Warne conducted a stop on the vehicle. With information gathered the operator was placed under arrest for knowingly driving on a suspended driver license, traffic citations and an active warrant out of Broward County. The individual was delivered to the County Jail without incident.
Officer Wright conducted a vessel stop in Ft. Lauderdale. Officer Bock arrived on scene for back up. With information gathered the operator of the vessel was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence. While completing paperwork, the Officers became aware of information from Ft. Lauderdale Police Marine Unit that the vessel had also been involved in a boating accident earlier in the evening and were looking for this vessel. Officer Mirabal is conducting an ongoing boating accident investigation in this situation.
Officer Vacin responded to a bridge on the New River in response to a request from Ft. Lauderdale Police Marine Unit. Officer Vacin maintained vessel traffic control while the Ft. Lauderdale dive team investigated a fatal vehicle incident at the bridge.
While on patrol in John Lloyd State Park, Investigator Coffin observed a vehicle run through a stop sign. Investigator Coffin stopped the vehicle and observed the driver passing a beer to the passenger. While conducting the stop, the operator was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. With the information gathered, Investigator Coffin placed the driver under arrest and transported him to the Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) facility where he blew a .142 BAC. The individual was then taken to the county jail without incident.
GLADES COUNTY
Lieutenant Brown received a call at 4:30 p.m. from a concerned tournament director that one of the participating bass boats had not returned for weigh-in. The weigh-in time was at 1:00 p.m. At the same time, FWC dispatch had received a call from the 911 operator that the vessel was stuck in thick vegetation and shallow water. The 911 operator pinged the subject’s phone because the subject had no GPS on the vessel. With the use of an airboat, Lieutenant Brown found the subjects vessel right at sunset, with three people on board. Lieutenant Brown was able to get the vessel to deeper water and get the prop cleared of all obstructions. Lieutenant. Brown gave the subjects directions on how to get in and paralleled them because of the rough water from the open lake. The subjects made it into the Monkey Box area before running out of fuel. Lieutenant Brown had a spare 5 gallons of gas on his airboat and put it into the subject’s vessel for them. Lieutenant Brown followed the subjects the rest of the way back to the ramp and helped them load their vessel.
K-9 Officer Lilley overheard Officer Taylor advising Dispatch that he had received a call of two subjects keeping undersized and over the daily bag limit of snook at the Ortona Locks. K-9 Officer Lilley was not far from there so he advised Dispatch that he would be en-route to attempt to locate the suspects. Before Officer Lilley arrived, Officer Taylor advised that the caller had called back and that the subjects were starting to leave their fishing spot. Officer Lilley was able to get close where he observed the subjects fitting the caller’s description getting into an SUV and backing out of the fishing pier parking spots in an attempt to exit the park. Once the subjects reached Officer Lilley’s position he was able to confirm that the subjects fit the caller description of the suspects. The suspects were not wearing their seatbelts, so Officer Lilley conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. K-9 Officer Lilley deployed K-9 Roscoe to conduct an open air vehicle sniff of the exterior of the vehicle where Roscoe gave a positive final response for the presence of game/ fish in the rear of the SUV. K-9 Officer Lilley opened the rear of the SUV where he located two snook, one of which was undersized and the driver advised that he had caught both fish which coincided with the caller’s information. Officer Taylor arrived on scene and issued the driver a citation for being in possession of over the daily bag limit of snook and possessing an undersized snook.
HENDRY COUNTY
Officer Alford responded to a complaint of trespass on US Sugar properties at Sugarton. Officer Alford discovered the subject fishing on the canal on the east side of the property. The subject was issued a notice to appear for trespass/other than structure or conveyance.
Officers Alford, Hoffheinz, J. Barber, Nasorth, Greene and Mullins participated in a private lands patrol detail on US Sugar properties. The detail was to focus on trespass and resource violations. The detail covered three counties.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
FWC received a call from Okeechobee Sheriffs Office requesting assistance in reference to four lost subjects in Chandler Slough. The subjects had apparently gone hog hunting that afternoon around 4:30 p.m. and they became lost when it had gotten dark. The subjects had only a phone and no flashlights so they decided to call 911 around midnight. The responding officers were Lieutenants Strenth and Brown, Investigator Douglas, Officer Davis and Bergwerff. With the use of an airboat, ATVs, a UTV, a helicopter and trucks, the subjects were finally rescued around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. They had gotten stuck in the middle of a very nasty slough. One of the subjects even stated "that he never thought he would be so glad to see a Game Warden."
The Park Manger from Kissimmee Prairie State Park called requesting assistance in locating a lone hiker that had departed from the main campground just prior to a severe thunder storm that caused a flash flood. Lieutenants Strenth, Brown and Investigator Douglas left out from the main campground by airboat and buggy checking the area which had become flooded. The subject was located approximately five miles north of the campground in good condition. He was warned about the high water and how to take a different route to avoid swimming through the marsh to be able to continue his hike on the Florida Trail.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Late in the morning Officer Warne took information from a Palm Beach County Deputy in reference to a missing individual on an airboat. An individual was able to make a 911 call to the Sheriff’s Office at 9:00 pm the previous night. He relayed he was stuck by himself and somewhere in Area 2 of the Everglades. His phone then went dead and no further communication was possible with him. Officer Warne started to mobilize units to respond to the area and begin a search. Officer Warne, Lieutenant Laubenberger, Officer Albert and Brock responded to search the area. Officer Vacin responded to the house of the family of the missing individual. A Sheriff’s helicopter had searched the area with negative results. Through further investigation, Officer’s Warne, Albert and Brock headed to an area that consisted of thousands of acres in the Everglades. Officers Warne and Albert through use of search patterns finally found the individual. He was physically fine and happy to head to a camp in the area. He had been in the elements for around 18 hours.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Investigators Garzaniti and Corteguera visited a venomous reptile / conditional species facility with an expired license. The visit came after a couple weeks of not being able to make contact with the license holder. Upon arrival, they learned the license holder was incarcerated. He left behind a 13' Albino Burmese Python and a 4' Nile Monitor that his friend was caring for. Being that the friend was not properly licensed, the animals needed to be seized. After arranging placement, they returned on 2/24/15 and seized the animals. They micro-chipped the Burmese Python so it would be in compliance with our agency's regulations. The animals were placed at a properly licensed facility.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
FWC Officers worked with the Collier County Sherriff’s Office and Everglades National Park during a search and rescue mission of two subjects on a vessel. The vessel left Glades Haven Boat Ramp and traveled to Plover Key to spend the day. The vessel was beached at that location for several hours during a falling tide. The subjects stayed the night on the island and mentioned seeing a spotlight searching within “30 yards” of their location. They attempted to signal with a handheld flare, but did not remove the black cap covering the striker. The vessel did not have a VHF radio and cell phone reception was not available. They waited until daylight the following day and began their voyage back to Indian Key where they were spotted by the Med Flight helicopter and escorted back to the Everglades National Park ranger station.
Investigator Tommy Van Trees observed a man and a women in a heated argument on the side of the road as he was driving. Investigator Van Trees stopped to investigate as it appeared the confrontation could become physical. Investigator Van Trees observed signs of impairment from the male subject, who was placed under arrest for Disorderly Intoxication and booked into the Naples Jail.
While Investigator Tommy Van Trees was patrolling Crew Wildlife and Environmental Area, he observed a vehicle operating at night without headlights. Investigator Van Trees conducted a vehicle stop and the driver indicated that he was illegally camping and didn’t want anyone to see him. During the stop, Investigator Van Trees detected signs of impairment and field sobriety tasks confirmed the subject to be under the influence. The subject was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of a schedule II narcotic and booked into the Lee County Jail. Investigator Sushil was able to assist Investigator Van Trees in identifying pills found at the scene.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Officers patrolling the waters of Miami Dade County received a request from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for assistance in reference to a vessel boarding at the mouth of the Miami River. USCG officers suspected that the operator of the 38’ Fountain with more than 10 passengers on board was impaired and asked for assistance. FWC officers were dispatched and responded to Bayside Marina where they met USCG. Once the FWC officers assessed the situation and spoke to the operator of the vessel they concluded that there were signs of impairment. Several field sobriety tests were administered to the operator which he failed. The operator was arrested and charged with boating under the influence.
Investigator Landa and Officer Pestka participated in a special detail targeting manatee zone violations on the Intercostal Waterways. As a result of the high visibility patrol Investigator Landa and Officer Paige issued 4 boating citations and 5 warnings for manatee violations such as being on plane in a manatee zone.
Several Miami-Dade officers participated in an investigation targeting the illegal sale and purchase of captive wildlife. As a result of the investigation several individuals were contacted and a few were cited for the illegal sale of wildlife.
An investigator recently completed a criminal investigation of a boating accident that occurred on May 25, 2014. The accident took the life of one adult female and caused serious injuries to two adult males. Based upon the facts gathered during the investigation which included the use of alcohol by one of the vessel operators involved, the investigator obtained an arrest warrant for that operator. He was arrested for vessel homicide, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.
MONROE COUNTY
Officer Bulger was dispatched to the Bahia Honda Bridge after the FWC dispatch center received information that a subject was in possession of a goliath grouper and a tarpon. When Officer Bulger arrived on scene he saw several fish fillets on a wooden table as well as what appeared to be tarpon fish scales on the ground. Officer Bulger began to interview several subjects that were in the area in order to determine who caught the fish. It was not long after that one of the subjects admitted to catching the goliath grouper and another subject confessed to spearing the tarpon. The two subjects received a multitude of citations for pilfering the resources.
Officer Hein was patrolling the area of the upper Keys when he saw an individual fishing under a bridge. Officer Hein proceeded to conduct a fisheries inspection and discovered that the man had an expired fishing license and was in possession of undersized mutton snapper. The subject was cited accordingly. In an unrelated incident Officer Hein saw a vessel tied up to some trees and 2 individuals standing near the vessel. A resource inspection revealed the two men to be in possession of 24 mangrove snapper. The subjects were cited.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officer Dube set up a static display at Plantation Key School for the annual “Family Fun Science Night” sponsored by Florida International University. Officer Dube handed out FWC coloring books, posters and talked about stewardship of the Florida Keys. The event was well attended by family and students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report