FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report October 14, 2016 through October 20, 2016

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FWC

Division of Law Enforcement

 

Weekly Report

October 14, 2016 through October 20, 2016

This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past two weeks; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.

Patrol, Protect, Preserve

NORTHWEST REGION

CASES

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

While working offshore patrol in federal waters aboard the FinCat, Officers Allgood, Cushing, Land and Manning stopped several vessels and found violations for possession of red snapper, gray triggerfish and greater amberjack during the closed season. A total of ten federal citations were written to address the violations.

While conducting resource inspections in state waters, Officer Allgood stopped and conducted an inspection of a charter vessel. During the stop, it was determined the captain did not have a valid charter license. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued.

While conducting resource and license inspections near Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola Bay, Officer Allgood stopped a recreational vessel. During the inspection, seven undersized red snapper were discovered in a cooler. The season for red snapper is closed and all of the fish measured less than 13 inches. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

While working aboard the offshore patrol vessel Guardian, Lieutenant Marlow and Officers Nelson and Robb boarded a large offshore commercial shrimping vessel in nearshore and inshore waters. The vessel was trawling with four large otter trawl nets. Further inspection of the vessel revealed an active and in-use brine tank. Once the nets were brought aboard, an inspection was conducted. The net mouth circumference was nearly twice the lawful limit of 66 feet and the overall square footage of the nets were in excess of four times the legal limit with a size exceeding 2,200 square feet. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued for the violations and the nets were seized as evidence.

While conducting oyster enforcement efforts in the East Point area, Officers Boyd and Nelson stopped several commercial oyster vessels. One stop resulted in the occupants of the oyster vessel found to be in possession of 30% undersized oysters. The oysters were returned to the water alive and the violations were addressed with the appropriate citations and warnings.

While working aboard the offshore patrol vessel Guardian, Lieutenant Marlow, Officers Nelson, Robb and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Officers Harwell and Widener conducted a detail regarding shrimping nets and turtle excluder devices (TEDs). The officers boarded several vessels and noted some minor violations. While on patrol, they observed two large offshore commercial shrimping vessels operating in nearshore and inshore waters. They stopped both vessels and conducted resource and gear inspections. The first vessel was trawling with four large otter trawl nets and was in possession of an active brine tank. Inspection of the nets revealed the net mouth circumference was well in excess of the lawful limit of 66 feet and square footage legal limit with a size exceeding 2,700 square feet each. The other vessel had several violations related to the legal parameters of the TEDs. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued for the violations and the nets were seized as evidence.

While working in the Apalachicola Bay area, Officer Robb received a call regarding a guide fisherman keeping undersized spotted sea trout. With a description of the vessel, Officer Robb located four individuals matching the description returning to a boat ramp in Apalachicola. Officer Robb spoke to the captain and conducted a resource inspection. During the inspection, multiple undersized spotted sea trout were located in a cooler. Officer Stephens arrived and assisted with interviews. The appropriate citations and warnings were issued for the violations.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

While aboard the offshore patrol vessel Vigilance and approximately 15 miles south of Destin in federal waters, Officers Rockwell and Trueblood boarded a 46‑foot vessel. During the boarding, eight red snapper and four gray triggerfish were located. The season is closed for both red snapper and gray triggerfish and seven of the snapper were undersized. The appropriate federal citations and warnings were issued for the violations.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

While on patrol in the early morning hours in the Yellow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Officer Ramos was contacted by a local landowner that several trucks were off‑roading in the WMA. The landowner stated that it sounded like they were mud bogging. Once in the area, Officer Ramos encountered three trucks, two of which were heavily coated in fresh, wet mud. The trucks left a fresh mud trail to a closed area of the WMA where the trucks had dug deep, muddy ruts. After speaking with the subjects, Officer Ramos cited them for destruction of public lands. A traffic citation and three separate warnings were issued for other minor violations.

Officer Roberson was on land patrol conducting state fisheries inspections at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier when he observed an individual who was standing next to a rod and reel and a cooler. Officer Roberson asked the individual if he could look inside their cooler and the individual gave him permission. Upon inspection, the individual was in possession of seven undersized Spanish mackerel. The individual was issued a misdemeanor citation for the violation.

Officer Hutchinson was patrolling in the Blackwater State Forest in the early morning hours when he observed a light being shined from the cab of a vehicle into the woods. He watched the vehicle and observed the driver of the vehicle shine the tree line and the ditch along a roadway as he drove very slowly along the road, stopping several times. Once the truck reached an intersection, he observed the light being shined into an open field area. Officer Hutchinson pulled to the intersection with his headlights on. He visually identified the driver of the vehicle as being a male subject who he had previously arrested for driving with a suspended driver license. He knew the license was still suspended. The subject turned onto the roadway and Officer Hutchinson turned around and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. When he made contact with the driver, he observed a hunting rifle leaning against the passenger seat and a flashlight lying in the subject’s lap. He asked him for his driver license and the subject informed him that he did not have one and that it was suspended. After further investigation, Officer Hutchinson discovered that the rifle was loaded and had a bullet in the chamber. After further questioning, the subject admitted to using the handheld light to look for deer and bobcat. The subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail. He was charged with possession of a gun and light at night. He was also charged with driving with a suspended driver license.

While patrolling a dirt road leading to a boat ramp along the Escambia River, Officer Hutchinson observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed. He pulled behind the vehicle and followed it a short distance before the vehicle pulled over. He made contact with the driver who informed him that he stopped because he thought he was getting pulled over. After speaking with the subject, Officer Hutchinson turned around and drove in the direction from where the vehicle came. While driving along the dirt road, he observed several areas where fresh ruts and spin-out marks were in the roadway. Officer Hutchinson noticed the tire tracks in the ruts matched the tire tread on the subject’s vehicle that he had just stopped. After photographing the damage to the roadway, he turned around and drove back and made contact with the subject again. After questioning, the subject admitted to spinning out and tearing up the road with his vehicle. Officer Hutchinson issued him a notice to appear citation for damage to public lands while using a motor vehicle.

Officer J. Rockwell received a call from dispatch advising there was a car accident in Blackwater State Park. When he arrived at the intersection of Deaton Bridge Road and Boat Ramp Road, he made contact with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office who advised him that all the vehicle occupants were juveniles and all refused medical treatment from Emergency Medical Service. Officer Rockwell separated the driver and three passengers to obtain sworn statements. Officer Clark arrived on scene to assist. Upon interviewing the driver and passengers, Officers Rockwell and Clark determined alcohol was a contributing factor. The driver submitted to a portable breath test and her blood alcohol content was .013. Officers Rockwell and Clark charged the driver and passengers with possession of alcohol by person under the age of 21. Warnings were issued for no seat belt. The driver was also charged with careless operation of a motor vehicle.

RESCUES

A 911 call was made by a woman who became lost in the Eglin WMA. Her vehicle was stuck on a sandy road and the sun began to set. She told dispatchers that she was low on fuel and her cell phone was about to die. She was unsure of her location and was requesting help. Officers Ramos, Land and Tolbert responded to the area and began searching. Based on her cell phone location, the officers located her shortly after sunset and removed her vehicle from the sand. She was escorted back to the main highway.

DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS

FWC officers conducted a detail targeting illegal hunting in the Eglin WMA. Lieutenant Berryman along with Officers Jones, Land and Ramos concentrated their efforts in the area where a 48‑hour hog hunt was occurring in the WMA. While officers checked several hunters, no violations were found.

COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Officer Cushing spoke to a group of 20 Cub Scouts at the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pensacola station. They were preparing to earn a badge for fishing. Officer Cushing spoke and answered questions about the agency’s mission and different types and species of fish they hoped to catch.

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