FWC
Division of Law Enforcement
Weekly Report
May 16 - May 22, 2014
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
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson and Investigator Hughes were checking a fisherman at Carpenter's Park when Officer Hutchinson observed a bag containing cannabis under the console. Upon further inspection, more cannabis was located, in addition to several prescription pills including what appeared to be oxycodone and amphetamine. Officer Hutchinson issued the man a notice to appear for possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis. The pills will be sent to FDLE for identification.
Officer Hutchinson and Investigator Hughes were checking fishermen at the Simpson River Fishing Pier when they observed a subject quickly hide something upon seeing the officers. After speaking to him, they discovered that he had hidden a cannabis joint. He was also in possession of alcoholic beverages and was not yet 21. The subject's companion admitted to giving him the beer. The officers issued the one subject a notice to appear for possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis and possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under the age of 21 and the other subject a notice to appear for giving alcoholic beverages to a person under 21.
Officer Barnard and Lieutenant Hahr were just leaving the boat ramp at Smith's Fish Camp when a boat returned to the ramp. The officers conducted a boating safety inspection and observed indicators of impairment from the operator. The man performed very poorly on field sobriety tasks and was arrested for BUI. The man's girlfriend was present and her car was parked at the boat ramp. The officers noticed a glass drug pipe lying in the center console of the vehicle. The woman admitted that she had smoked cannabis from the pipe earlier. The woman was issued a notice to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia. The man submitted to a breath test, but due to the damage at the Escambia County Jail, he had to be taken to Gulf Breeze Police Department for the test. Approximately 2.5 hours after the stop, the man provided a breath sample of .100 BAC. Additionally, a bag of crushed pills were located in the boat. They appeared to be Xanax, but positive identification was not possible. The pills will be sent to FDLE for analysis.
Officer Clark received information that an individual had been keeping over the bag limit of red drum near Galvez Landing. Officer Clark observed an individual that fit the description given returning to Galvez Landing. The subject was in possession of two legal red drum. Upon questioning the individual, he admitted having some additional fish in a cooler in the back of truck. There were four additional red drum in the cooler, one of which was undersized. Officer Clark issued the subject a notice to appear for the violations.
Officers Manning and Hoomes received information about a picture of speared goliath grouper being posted on Facebook. Officers Hoomes and Manning were able to track down two individuals involved in spearing the fish. After interviewing the subjects the fish was retrieved from a nearby dumpster. A warrant was obtained for the violation.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY COP (Community Oriented Policing)
Officers Manning and Livesay spoke to the members of the Santa Rosa Yacht Club and the Pensacola Speckled Trout Club this week. With both groups, they covered boating safety and fisheries regulations. Approximately 50 people were in attendance.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officers Bartlett, Maltais and White were on vessel patrol in Ft. Walton Beach after sunset when a vessel without navigational lights crossed their path within close proximity. The officers stopped the vessel to address the violation and detected signs of impairments coming from the operator during a safety inspection. The subject was run through field sobriety tasks and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of operating a vessel while being impaired and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.
BAY COUNTY
Officers Basford and Palmer were on water patrol when they checked two juvenile fishers in a boat. During their vessel inspection, the officers located a bag of cannabis (26.5 grams), a grinder, electronic scales, rolling papers, seven new empty baggies, and $222 in cash. One subject was identified as the owner of the items and he was arrested and booked into the juvenile detention center for possession of over 20 grams of cannabis (felony), possession of cannabis with intent to sell (felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with improper safety equipment and no fishing license. A parent was notified and all contraband seized. The next day the State Attorney’s Office advised they would be charging the subject as an adult due to his criminal history. The other subject was cited for no fishing license and released.
Officers Chambers and Basford were on water patrol in the Choctawhatchee River when they came across a submerged jon boat. A check of the registration numbers found the vessel to be reported stolen through the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). The boat was refloated and towed to a nearby ramp where it was turned over to WCSO for further investigation.
Officers Price and Brady were conducting offshore patrols when they conducted an inspection on a charter boat. The captain advised they only had vermillion snapper onboard. Officer Brady boarded the vessel and found vermillion snapper and six greater amberjack, five of which were undersized. A citation was issued.
Officer Basford received a call concerning a subject cleaning and filleting an undersized cobia on the Bay County fishing pier. When Officer Basford arrived he found the fisherman talking with Panama City Beach Police Officers. Apparently, in landing the undersized cobia, the fisherman knocked over several other fishers and they had called the police to file a complaint. Officer Basford found a bag of filets on the individual and he confessed to filleting the fish on the pier. A citation was issued for failure to land cobia in whole condition. The police banned the subject from the pier.
BAY COUNTY COP (Community Oriented Policing)
Officer Chambers set up a static boating display at a Deerpoint Lake Boat Ramp to kick off National Safe Boating Week. Officer Chambers gave out information and talked with the boating public about importance in wearing life jackets.
LIBERTY COUNTY
On Saturday night, Lieutenant Parker observed two vehicles parked in the northern section of the Apalachicola Forest. The occupants were using lights as they walked in several locations in the wooded area. A closer check revealed the subjects were trying to catch their dogs. The individuals, one being from Liberty County and the other one from Calhoun County, were cited for running deer with dogs during closed season.
On Thursday night, Officers Mims and Henderson taught a boating safety class to students and their parents at the Tolar School near Bristol, Florida. There were approximately 80 students and parents in attendance.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
DUVAL COUNTY
Lieutenant Arkin was on patrol of Lighthouse Marina Boat Ramp when he observed a vessel being launched and recovered due to engine problems. The individuals with the vessel were test-driving it before purchasing it. The vessel had a Florida number that was painted on by using a stencil and green paint. After closer observation, Lieutenant Arkin discovered that a ghost Florida number was on the vessel and the manufacturer’s name had been scratched off. Lieutenant Arkin ran a check through Florida Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center (FCIC/NCIC) on the ghost Florida number and it came back stolen out of Jacksonville in 2012. Investigator Izsak and Officer Shearer responded to the scene to assist and determined that the Hull Identification Number (HIN) had been altered. The current owner had a title to a 1987 18’ Sun Runner with the altered HIN that was on this vessel. This altered vessel was a 1993 18’ Four Winns. The vessel was impounded by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office so that notification can be made to the owner.
HAMILTON COUNTY
The beginning of the 62nd Annual Folk Festival kicked off this week at Stephen Foster Folk/Cultural Center State Park in White Springs. Numerous FWC officers are participating in the event as the primary law enforcement presence within the park. The festival runs for five consecutive days and attracts thousands of visitors and participants each year.
COP (Community Oriented Policing)
Officers Langford and Stanley gave several presentations to students at Eastside Elementary in Lake City, Columbia County. The officers spoke about their job and brought a FWC patrol boat along for a question and answer session. Approximately 200 children took turns seeing the static display.
On Saturday, Officers Yates and Bean attended a summer safety expo held at Taylor County Elementary School in Perry, Florida. The officers spoke about their job, the importance of boating safety and resource protection. Officers also participated in “Ready, Set, Wear it” by wearing their personal floating devices (PFDs) and giving some away to the children to wear throughout the event. FWC’s vehicle and airboat were provided for a static display which was attended by 150 children and their families.
NORTHEAST REGION
BREVARD COUNTY
While conducting resource inspections at a local family park, Officer Lightsey observed a male urinating in view of the public. After speaking with the man and warning him not to urinate in public anymore the officer received consent to search the man’s vehicle. The search revealed 13 grams of cannabis and multiple types of drug paraphernalia. A notice to appear was issued for the offenses.
COP (Community Oriented Policing)
Lieutenant Urban and Officers Horst, Land and Loeffler attended the Police Memorial Day event at the Melbourne Square Mall. The event was to honor fallen officers and to help the public have a better understanding on what law enforcement does. The event had about 150 individual contacts for the officers who attended with about 80 of them being youth contacts. The youths at the event were very impressed with the patrol vessel and enjoyed getting a closer look. Several potential recruits inquired about the hiring process and stated that they would be applying to the agency.
SOUTHWEST REGION
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Officer Patterson was conducting resource inspections in the area of Picnic Island Park. During one inspection he discovered an individual who was in possession of a snook that was harvested out of season. The snook was seized and a citation was issued for the violation.
LEE COUNTY
Officers Morrow and Suttles were dispatched to a rural section of Fort Myers to investigate the report of a man who shot and killed an alligator on his property. When the officers arrived at the scene, they located a dead alligator that measured approximately 6-feet-6-inches long directly behind the caller’s residence. The caller had drug the alligator from a pond at the back of his mother’s property to the garage. The alligator was identified by the officers as an American alligator and it was found with two small bullet holes in its head. The officers continued their investigation and learned that the subject had lost his dog possibly to the same alligator approximately one week ago. He reported to the officers that this evening, at around dusk, while taking photos of poisonous plants at the edge of his mother’s property, he saw the alligator again. In a sworn written statement, he reported that the alligator was close to him and he drew his firearm and began to slowly back away. The alligator suddenly moved very quickly and in self defense he fired a single shot directly into its head with a .380 caliber hand gun. He advised the officers that it was suffering and he decided to put a second round in its head to, “put it out of its misery.” The officers questioned the subject why he was in the area where he knew there was an alligator and he told them that he is a nature lover. The subject was charged with taking an American alligator without a permit, a misdemeanor offense. He was served with a notice to appear and given a date to appear in court.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Investigator Rosas responded to a complaint regarding individuals keeping illegal redfish at the Skyway Rest Area. After making contact with the individuals, Investigator Rosas conducted a regulatory inspection and found the subjects in possession of one oversized redfish. The fish was seized and a citation was issued for the violation.
SOUTH REGION A
GLADES COUNTY
On Sunday, Officer Taylor was dispatched to a vessel fire on the Caloosahatchee River. Officer Taylor arrived to find a 58-foot yacht that was completely on fire and burning intensely. The three subjects on board were able to jump from the vessel and swim to shore unharmed before the fire got out of hand. The captain of the vessel advised Officer Taylor that he had approximately 800 gallons of diesel on board at the time of the incident. Despite the best efforts of the fire department, the vessel was a total loss and burned all the way to the top of the water. The owner of the vessel estimates it was worth approximately $950,000. Officer Taylor is currently investigating the accident.
HENDRY COUNTY
Lieutenant Steelman received a complaint about a calf being killed by a panther and it being covered up in a cypress head. A panther biologist was called to the scene and talked with the landowner.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Officer Nasworth was on foot patrol at the Canal Point Locks. Officer Nasworth observed several subjects fishing underneath the Highway 441 Bridge. Officer Nasworth made contact with the subjects to conduct a fisheries inspection and discovered a subject to be over his daily bag limit of black crappie by 14 fish. Officer Nasworth issued the subject a notice to appear for the violation and the fish were seized.
Officer Alford observed two subjects taking black crappie using a cast net at Canal Point. Officer Alford managed to catch one subject while the second fled on foot. The subject was arrested and charged with possession of undersized black crappie on Lake Okeechobee, illegal method of take for game fish, and cited for no resident freshwater fishing license.
Officers Alford, McClendon, and Harris were working a detail to deter the illegal taking of black crappie at Canal Point. Officer Harris observed a subject taking large quantities of black crappie using a cast net. The subject walked away leaving over 122 black crappie on the ground. The subject told Officer Harris he intended to leave the fish on the ground. Officer Harris arrested and charged the subject with taking over the daily bag limit of black crappie, undersized black crappie on Lake Okeechobee, illegal method of take for game fish, willful wanton waste, and he was cited for no resident freshwater fishing license.
Officer Nasworth was conducting surveillance on Canal Point Locks, where there have been a high number of complaints of illegal fishing activity due to the water flowing. He observed a subject at the locks violently jerking his fishing pole in a manner constant with illegal snatch hook fishing. Officer Nasworth observed the subject reel in a black crappie hooked on the tail. Officer Nasworth eventually made contact with the subject who was issued a citation for illegal method of taking freshwater fish and failure to allow inspection.
Officers Davis, Nasworth and Lieutenant Brown were working the Canal Point area when they received a call of a person in a red shirt cast netting under the bridge. Officer Davis and Lieutenant Brown entered the area and saw an individual in a red shirt walking away from the bridge. When contacted, the subject admitted to throwing a cast net and catching specks. Officer Nasworth located a Styrofoam cooler with freshly caught game fish and a cast net behind a wall at the location where the suspect was standing. The cooler contained 15 black crappie, six of which were short of the 10 inch minimum, and two bluegill. The subject was issued a notice to appear for possession of undersized black crappie and taking freshwater game fish by illegal method.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Officer Pifer was on land patrol in Fort Pierce conducting resource inspections when he came upon several individuals actively fishing. One individual was observed walking around the rocks and appeared to be harvesting crabs. The subjects fishing were in possession of a five-gallon bucket. An inspection revealed 11 whole stone crabs. One of the crabs was an egg bearing female. The other subject had two whole stone crabs. The subjects advised they were using them for bait. The subjects were cited for possession of stone crabs during the closed season.
Officer Payne was conducting license and resource inspections at the Fort Pierce North Bridge, when he came upon a subject fishing. The subject advised Officer Payne that he had no luck catching any fish. However, an inspection of his five-gallon bait bucket, which contained a cast net, revealed two redfish. The subject then stated that someone had given the fish to him. Both fish were measured and found to be undersized. One of the fish still had its gills moving and was released alive. The subject was cited for possession of undersized redfish.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
Lieutenant Shea attended the Naples High School Army JROTC Annual Military Ball. At the ball, Lieutenant Shea was recognized for starting the JROTC’s Annual Survival Hike in theBig Cypress National Preserve and supporting the Naples High School Army JROTC Program. Over 150 Cadets, parents and school officials were in attendance.
Lieutenant Barrett and Investigator Haney were on water patrol in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and stopped a vessel to conduct a boating safety inspection. They detected signs of impairment from the operator, conducted seated field sobriety tasks and determined the operator to be impaired beyond the legal limit. Following the arrest, the subject was found to be in possession of marijuana and a glass pipe. He was transported to jail and charged with BUI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers Futch and Thurkettle shared a joint detail with the National Park Service within the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area regarding the hunting season. During the detail the officers made several contacts and wrote a total of 11 citations and 18 warnings.
Lieutenant Caraker and Officers Futch, Polly and Thurkettle participated in a detail in the Picayune Strand State Forest. The officers provided high visibility patrols focusing on public safety within this state forest and educated the public about all applicable traffic laws, state forest fees, equestrian rules, target shooting and use of the designated trail system. The officers wrote 18 citations and 52 warnings.
Officers Barringer, Miller, Reith, and Tidwell conducted enhanced patrols in the Goodland Bay area with a focus of educating boaters on boating safety and manatee zone awareness. They emphasized on the difference between slow speed and idle speed. Local marinas in the area were pleased to see extra patrols in their area and some problems with conflicting signs were identified and steps will be taken to correct these issues.
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