January 1 thru January 8, 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.
Patrol, Protect, Preserve
NORTHWEST REGION
BAY COUNTY
Officer Gore conducted surveillance on a fisherman at the West Bay Bridge and after two hours, conducted a resource inspection as they prepared to leave. The fisherman and his company were found to have 20 sheepshead, eleven of which were undersized, and one undersized redfish. The subject was cited for the undersized sheepshead and warned for the redfish violation. The fish were seized and returned to the waters of the state.
Officer Palmer received a call from an informant concerning shots being fired by subjects in a truck displaying a light. The caller confronted the shooters who said they were shooting at a coyote. Officer Palmer responded and met with the informant who gave him the truck’s tag number. A search of the area found only deer tracks and no blood. The next day, Officer Palmer, along with Officer Price, identified the shooter and interviewed him. The suspect advised he had shot at a doe deer. Statements were taken, the firearm seized, and charges for attempting to take deer at night will be filed with the State Attorney’s Office.
In December, an investigator in a covert capacity observed a known individual actively fishing using a PVC pipe, a method used to harvest ghost shrimp, in the Gulf of Mexico. The PVC pipe is rigged to act as a suction device. The investigator observed the individual insert the PVC pipe into the water’s bottom several times, return to the shore, and place the ghost shrimp into a five-gallon bucket. The investigator established communication with the individual and asked how the PVC pipe is used and then observed the ghost shrimp in the five-gallon bucket. The investigator cleared the area and later conducted a saltwater license record check on the individual. The investigator confirmed that the individual’s license was suspended/revoked for failure to pay child support. On January 5, the investigator completed an arrest warrant which was signed by the duty judge (1st degree misdemeanor).
HOLMES COUNTY
Officer Jackson responded to a night-hunting complaint north of Caryville. The landowner advised he had a confrontation with three individuals shining lights into his fields from the roadway. He thought they had possibly shot a deer. Officer Jackson and the landowner were unable to locate a deer; however, Officer Jackson continued to work the area a few miles away in Washington County. Approximately two hours later, she heard a shot just down from her position and observed a vehicle shining a spotlight. A stop revealed three individuals in possession of a shotgun loaded with slugs. They were identified as the same individuals from the previous complaint. One of the individuals was on probation for a previous charge of taking deer during closed season. They were cited for attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light and the firearm and spotlight were seized. The landowner from the previous complaint called the next morning and notified Officer Jackson that he had located a dead doe deer in the field. Officers Jackson and Kinney responded. It appeared that the deer had been shot by a slug. They went to interview the three subjects at their residence and before arriving, observed the three driving down the road in the suspect vehicle. A stop and interviews resulted in full confessions for killing the first deer at night. A second charge of taking deer at night was filed with the Holmes County State Attorney's Office.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer J. Rockwell investigated some shots that were heard at night in a field behind a residence. Officer Rockwell observed a light being displayed from a vehicle in the field and made contact with a subject at a nearby residence. When Officer Rockwell asked about the shots, the subject told him he shot at some deer but had missed. When he was asked to show Officer Rockwell where he had shot at the deer, he admitted to killing one that was in his truck. An inspection of the truck revealed an antlerless yearling deer. The subject was charged with possession of an antlerless deer.
Officer Arnette checked a group of hunters and found them in possession of a doe deer that had been taken off of Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA). One subject admitted to taking the deer and showed Officer Arnette where it had been shot. The subject was charged with taking an antlerless deer.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling the Blackwater State Forest when he observed a truck with two occupants wearing hunter orange vests traveling towards him. As he approached the vehicle to conduct a resource inspection, he observed the driver reach down and place something in the floorboard. After making contact with both occupants, they admitted to trying to conceal two open containers of alcoholic beverages. During the inspection, the passenger of the vehicle admitted that he was hunting deer and that he did not have a valid hunting license or the required permits. Officer Hutchinson observed the passenger of the vehicle to be in possession of a high powered rifle. After further investigation, Officer Hutchinson discovered that the passenger was a convicted felon and was not supposed to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Officer Hutchinson seized the firearm and the appropriate arrests were made.
Officer Ramos was on patrol in Blackwater WMA responding to a complaint of hunting dogs in a still-hunt area when he came across three men and a dog on a forest road. Upon seeing the patrol truck, all three suspects suddenly fled into the woods after given lawful commands to stop. Officer Ramos pursued the suspects on foot into the woods but terminated the foot chase after he caught the suspect’s hunting dog. Using information on the dog’s collar, Officer Ramos drove towards the dog owner’s private property just south of his location and conducted a traffic stop on one of the suspects who was now trying to leave the area in a vehicle. The suspect was placed under arrest for interference with an FWC officer. Officers Hutchinson and Molnar and Investigators Hughes and Goley arrived to assist. The officers went to the suspects hunting camp and began an investigation to determine the whereabouts of the other two suspects. Both suspects were still hiding in the woods. The officers were able to convince the father of one the suspects to have them come into the camp. When they walked into the camp, one immediately became defensive and non-compliant. After admitting he ran because he did not possess a hunting license, he was placed under arrest for interference. The third suspect was somewhat cooperative. The officers determined that all three suspects had been hunting unlawfully, after piecing together information from the suspects and the physical evidence at the scene. Investigator Goley and Officer Molnar located two shotguns and illegal narcotics that the suspects had ditched while running. And later, Officer Hutchinson located a third shotgun hidden in the woods that the oldest suspect, a convicted felon, possessed when he fled from the officer. The appropriate citations were issued and two of the suspects were booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Officer Johnson and Reserve Officer Wise assisted the Milton Police Department and other agencies with a search and rescue of a male subject at Pond Creek in Milton. Once on scene, the officers learned from a witness that the subject had entered the water and tried to walk across the Pond Creek but was swept away by the current. A short time later, the Santa Rosa Search and Rescue sent a dive team and recovered the victim’s body in close proximity to where he was last seen before being swept away. Officers Johnson and Wise assisted with the recovery of the victim and securing the scene.
WALTON COUNTY
Lieutenant Hollinhead observed a subject cleaning a deer hanging from a porch after receiving a call about a deer being shot from a roadway nearby. A landowner reported seeing a suspicious truck in the area, then finding blood and drag marks in the roadway where someone had loaded a deer. A vehicle at the residence matched the description the landowner had provided. Lieutenant Hollinhead determined the deer was a doe and was told by the subject that someone had borrowed his truck, killed the deer, and brought him the deer. Lieutenant Hollinhead and Officer Tison later documented foot impressions very similar to the boots belonging to the subject, which revealed he acted alone and no one else was involved. Further inspection revealed the subject had shot the deer through a high barbed wire fence and crossed it to retrieve the deer. The subject was arrested on the appropriate charges.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Officer Kinney worked with a Washington County Deputy on a trespass complaint in the Owens Pond community. The complainant advised he arrived at his tree stand to discover a pool of blood under his feeder and his game camera missing. The officers developed a suspect and received a confession for trespassing, theft of the camera, and attempting to take a doe deer during closed season. The camera was recovered and appropriate charges were filed through the State Attorney's Office.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
BAKER COUNTY
Information was received from a concerned citizen of a deer taken illegally on Cummers Track Hunt Club. The information included the suspect’s name, truck description to include tag number and location where the deer was taken. Lieutenant Lee responded to the complaint, as he pulled into the residence, he observed two men finishing the butchering of a nub buck deer. One of the suspects, a Duval County resident, admitted to shooting the half-inch nub buck with his 30.06 rifle. He claimed that the deer was being pursued by dogs and he thought it was a legal buck that was being chased by the dogs. The butchered meat was seized along with the rifle. The suspect was issued a citation for taking an illegal deer (to wit less than five inches) and will appear in Baker County Court.
BRADFORD COUNTY
Officer Justus was on foot patrol in the vicinity of Cypress Run Boat Ramp in Bradford County when he heard a vehicle pull into a secluded area of the parking lot. As Officer Justus approached the vehicle he observed the two subjects passing what appeared to be a marijuana joint back and forth. When Officer Justus made contact with the two individuals, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officer Justus asked the subjects about the marijuana odor and asked if there was any in the vehicle. The driver handed Officer Justus the joint and a plastic bag containing the marijuana which he took from his pocket. The passenger also handed Officer Justus a plastic bag containing marijuana out of his pocket. A records check revealed an active warrant out of Bradford County for the passenger of the vehicle. Both subjects were issued citations for possession of cannabis less than 20 grams and the passenger was arrested and booked into the Bradford County Jail.
CLAY COUNTY
Officer Larosa and Lieutenant Glover were called in reference to two subjects trespassing on a hunt club in Middleburg. The subjects fled the area when they were confronted by some of the hunt club members. The president of the hunt club was able to write down a tag number and follow them to a nearby grocery parking lot. Officer Larosa and Lieutenant Glover arrived on scene and questioned the subjects about the incident. Both subjects admitted to casting their dogs on the hunt club property and also admitted to taking a hog with the use of their dogs and left it on the property after they were confronted by the club members. Charges are pending and will be direct filed through the Clay County State Attorney’s Office.
DUVAL COUNTY
Lieutenant Arkin was on land-based water patrol in the area of Shad Creek and Heckscher Drive where he conducted fisheries inspections and checked fishing licenses in the area. One of the individuals had a confirmed warrant issued by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in 2007 for violation of probation in reference to driving while license suspended or revoked. The subject was taken into custody without incident in compliance with the warrant and transported to the Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Center.
NORTHEAST REGION
LAKE COUNTY
While working a special detail in a local WMA, Officer Sapp observed two subjects fishing from the shoreline in a small creek. Upon conducting a resource inspection, Officer Sapp discovered two undersized live black bass in a plastic container. One subject was issued a misdemeanor citation and the other subject was issued a written warning in reference to this violation. The two black bass were successfully returned to the wild alive.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
After receiving a complaint in reference to unlawful take of antlerless deer, Officer Sapp, North and Edson responded to the area. After a short period of time, the suspected vehicle was located and a stop was conducted. The suspect confessed to having a butchered doe deer hidden in the tool box of the vehicle. The suspect was issued a notice to appear for the violation and the meat was seized.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Officers Douglas and Sapp stopped a vessel to conduct a vessel safety inspection on the St. Johns River. During the inspection, the officers noticed the operator was showing signs of impairment. Officer Sapp had the operator do a field sobriety test and based on his observations during initial contact and field sobriety test he placed the subject under arrest for BUI. The subject refused to provide a breath sample when asked.
SOUTHWEST REGION
PASCO COUNTY
Officers Jones, Wise, Investigator Dellarosa, and Lieutenant Parisoe responded to a fatal boating accident that had occurred on Lake Saxon in the early morning hours. This accident involved a canoe with two individuals on board. The investigation is ongoing and being investigated by Investigator Matt Dallarosa.
SOUTH REGION A
GLADES COUNTY
On New Year’s Day, Officer McLendon responded to a complaint at Ortona Locks involving the illegal harvest of snook. Officer McLendon witnessed several individuals fishing alongside the Caloosahatchee River. After some time, a subject began leaving the area and Officer McLendon decided to conduct a fisheries inspection. Upon discovering a wet plastic bag in the trunk of the vehicle, the subject admitted to catching a snook and placing it in the bag. The subject stated that the snook was within the slot limit, but was unable to produce the measuring device used. Officer McLendon issued the subject a notice to appear for possession of undersized snook and snook out of season.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
While on night time water patrol in the southeast end of Lake Okeechobee, Officer Toby responded to a call for assistance from a disabled vessel near Taylor Creek on the north end of the lake in Okeechobee County. The vessel was stranded over a mile from the nearest boat ramp. Officer Toby crossed the lake and located the three individuals on board the stranded vessel. The individuals decided to leave their disabled vessel until the following morning when it would be daylight. Officer Toby loaded the three individuals into his patrol vessel and took them to the nearest boat ramp where family members were waiting for them.
Officers Davis, Teal and Toby responded to a search and rescue at the Henry Creek Locks. One of the occupants was said to be on oxygen and having trouble breathing. When Officers Davis and Teal arrived, they picked up paramedics and went to the location of the vessel which was stuck in thick vegetation and willow trees. There was no clear path to the vessel so Officer Davis pushed through the willows and was able to get to the vessel. All occupants were checked out and transferred to the Officer’s vessel. The male occupant was low on oxygen so the paramedics gave him a new bottle. The Officers were unable to get the vessel turned around in the thick vegetation, so Officers Davis and Teal got in the water and turned their vessel back around by hand. Once back to land, the occupants were checked out again by the medics and released.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
Officers Harris, Reith and White were on water patrol out of Gordon Pass conducting vessel safety and resource inspections. While inspecting the catch of a vessel returning from fishing, the Officers located one undersized (18 ½ inch) red grouper and one out-of-season gag grouper. The captain of the vessel was issued a citation for both violations.
Officers Harris, Reith and White responded to a call in the Big Cypress National Preserve concerning four hikers that were stranded in the back country. Working in conjunction with the National Park Service and the Sheriff’s Office, the Officers helped search for the hikers. After three hours of searching, the hikers were located in good condition and were transported back to the park entrance.
MONROE COUNTY
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
On New Year’s Day morning, Officers LaRosa and McKay assisted with the annual “Blessing of the Fleet” which took place in Whale Harbor Channel. After leading the procession of 100 private and commercial vessels and receiving a “blessing over all our brothers and sisters patrolling the waters,” our officers assisted with traffic control at the bridge where boats were turning around in a swift moving current with strong winds. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the US Coast Guard also participated in patrolling the congested waters.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report