Fwc division of law enforcement - Florida Fish and Wildlife ...

FWC
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
WEEKLY REPORT
May 18 – 24, 2012
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
ESCAMBIA COUNTY COPS
Captain Mary Sumner participated in the statewide hurricane exercise at the Escambia
Emergency Operations Center. Fictitious Hurricane Gispert was tracked as representatives
from various city, county, state, and federal emergency response agencies worked together
on the table top exercise.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
On Mulat Bayou, Officers Nick Barnard and Christopher Pettey checked a commercial
oysterman in possession of two bags of oysters harvested earlier in the day. The oysters
had not been culled as required. The subject claimed he was going to cull them at home,
and later return the bedding shells to the oyster bed. The subject was cited for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY COPS
Officer Royce Johnson and Reserve Officer Lila Wise spoke to approximately 160 students
from Baker Elementary School at the annual field day event conducted at the Blackwater
Fish Hatchery. The event involves representatives from the Florida Forest Service and
different divisions within the FWC. The students learn about fish and wildlife, and various
programs within the two agencies.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Lieutenant Mark Hollinhead spent several days locating subjects who failed to return their
federal alligator CITES tags or harvest report form after their alligator public hunt permit
expired. Two subjects were cited for permit violations after it was determined they were not
concerned with returning the CITES tags as required.
WALTON COUNTY
Okaloosa and Walton County officers conducted an organized special detail to enforce
boating safety, boating under the influence, and rules and regulations for flounder in the
Choctawhatchee Bay. During the detail, officers responded to the search and rescue of a
missing boater and worked two minor boating accidents. Fifty-six vessels and 116 users
were checked resulting in 14 warnings and one uniform boating citation issued. Numerous
flounder were inspected for size limit violations.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
ALACHUA COUNTY

Lieutenant Scott Lee, Investigators Paul Graham, Kevin Larson, William Butler and Officer
Gregory Hoyle worked as a team to arrest a subject for selling freshwater game fish. The
investigators purchased eight bream from the individual at the Waldo Flea Market. Later
they purchased bream and black crappie from the same individual. The subject brought 23
bream and 72 crappie to the flea market for the officers to purchase. The man was charged
with six violations, including no freshwater retail license, unlawful sale of freshwater game
fish and over the possession limit of black crappie. The fish were donated to a local charity.
GILCHRIST COUNTY
Over the weekend, Lieutenant Roy Williams and Officers Justin Allen, Travis Cooper, Darby
Butler and Jordan Hilliard conducted a boating safety and resource detail on the Suwannee
River. Their effort resulted in numerous citations for boating safety, resource and fishing
license violations as well as two boating under the influence arrests. One subject had a
blood alcohol content of .155. The other was unable to complete sobriety tasks.
HAMILTON COUNTY
The assistance of K-9 Officer Billy Giles and K-9 Parker were requested by White Springs
Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. A large block party with an
estimated 1,000 attendants was dispersed around 11:00 p.m. in White Springs. While the
local officers were breaking up the party, nine shots were fired from a large caliber pistol.
The officers apprehended a fleeing suspect, but found he had an empty holster. Officer
Giles and K-9 Parker conducted a search and quickly recovered a .45 caliber pistol. The
suspect was booked in the county jail with charges of firearm violations and possession of
drugs and drug paraphernalia.
MADISON COUNTY
Officer Clay Huff was on patrol in the Twin Rivers State Forest when he observed a site off
the established road where yard debris had been dumped. There were fresh tire tracks
leading to and from the site, so Officer Huff watched the area for activity. A short time later,
a pickup truck pulled up to the same location and the driver proceeded to unload limbs from
the back of the truck, adding to the pile. When Officer Huff confronted the suspect he
admitted to the violation with the understanding that the dumping was illegal. Citations were
issued for operating the vehicle off road and dumping in excess of 15 pounds of debris.
NASSAU COUNTY
Investigator Jill Izsak, Officers Traci Stebbins and Tim Shearer worked the fishing grounds
off Fernandina Beach. They made several cases including possession of undersized black
sea bass and failure to land black sea bass in whole condition. A charter captain was cited
for having an expired charter license as well as boating safety violations. Two shrimp
trawler captains were issued warnings for violations involving turtle excluder devices.

Officers Rob Geib, Aaron O’Reilly and Lieutenant Brad Givens were on water patrol in the
patrol vessel, Sea Hawk, just offshore of Nassau Sound. A shrimp boat was detected on
radar that appeared to be trawling inside state waters which is closed to shrimping during
April and May in Nassau County. The Sea Hawk came alongside the shrimp boat and the
officers confirmed that the vessel was trawling inside state waters. The officers boarded the
boat and an inspection revealed that both trawls’ double-cover flaps exceeded the 15 inch
overlap and one turtle excluder device frame angle exceeded the maximum angle allowed.
A citation was issued for shrimping in the closed area and written warnings were issued for
the gear violations.
NORTHEAST REGION
No report submitted.
SOUTHWEST REGION
HIGHLANDS COUNTY COPS
Officer Matt Ervin gave a presentation at the Lake Placid Middle School’s Career Day. He
displayed an alligator and spoke about the role of FWC law enforcement officers.
Lieutenant Joe Allen participated in a presentation sponsored by the Friends of Lake
Istokpoga in Lorida. He spoke about the duties of FWC law enforcement officers and
answered questions concerning fishing issues and firearms possession.
LEE COUNTY
Officers Andrew Brown and Demian McColgin conducted a panther zone speed
enforcement detail near Corkscrew and Alico Roads. The officers cited six drivers with the
highest recorded speed of 87 miles per hour in a posted 45-mile-per-hour night time panther
speed zone. Officer Brown arrested a subject who was clocked driving 87 miles per hour.
After he was stopped, it was determined this was the fourth time the driver was caught
driving without a driver’s license. Officer McColgin had previously arrested the subject in
the same area for armed trespass and driving without a driver’s license.
MANATEE COUNTY
Officers Louis Hinds and Eric Sierra conducted a fisheries inspection on an individual
crabbing under the Manatee Avenue Bridge that extends to Anna Maria Island. The subject
was found in possession of numerous undersized and out of season stone crab claws and
was issued two criminal citations. The crab claws were seized and destroyed.

POLK COUNTY
Near Lake Wales, Officers James Adams and Robert Adams conducted a fisheries
inspection when they observed a subject carrying a stringer of bass from the lake to his
vehicle. Of the seven bass on the stringer, four were under the legal size limit of 14-inches.
The subject was cited for possession of undersized black bass and received warnings for
taking over the daily bag limit for bass and for not having a fishing license.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Officer Evan Laskowski received information regarding a person who shot a snook while
spearfishing in the Gulf of Mexico near Longboat Key. Officer Laskowski located the
individual carrying a dive bag. The officer conducted a fisheries inspection and found a
spear gun and a snook that measured 33 inches inside the bag. The subject stated that he
shot the snook, thinking it was a sheepshead. After he shot it, he decided to keep it. The
subject was cited for taking snook during the closed season and taking snook by an illegal
method.
Investigator Scott Kirsch and Officers William Holcomb, Louis Hinds, Eric Sierra, and Joel
Buckson conducted a detail in response to complaints of underage drinking and the use of
illegal drugs in the Venice area. The detail resulted in 16 citations issued for possession of
alcohol by a person under 21 years of age, possession of cannabis, less than 20 grams and
possession of undersized red grouper.
SOUTH REGION A
BROWARD COUNTY
Near Port Everglades Officer Asa Dias was on water patrol when he observed a subject
fishing from the shoreline using a Yo-Yo. The subject caught several small fish and tossed
them behind some rocks. Officer Dias secured his patrol vessel and made contact with the
individual. The subject had a bucket with many species of small fish including nine
undersized lane snapper ranging from four to seven inches and did not possess the
required fishing license. The subject was issued a citation for the undersized fish and a
warning for no saltwater fishing license.
Broward and some Dade County Officers participated in “Operation Wave the Flag” which
was part of 2012’s Dive Flag Awareness program spearheaded by Lieutenant Dave
Bingham. The operation included local coastal police agencies, sheriff’s departments, and
the U.S. Coast Guard throughout south Florida. The officers utilized laser range finders to
target vessels coming too close to divers on Saturday and concentrated their efforts on
divers themselves on Sunday. Citations were issued for dive flag display violations and for
undersized grouper and hogfish violations.

Officers Lex Corteguera and Hank Juntunen responded to U.S. Coast Guard Ft. Lauderdale
to assist with an inspection of a vessel returning from the Bahamas. Aboard the vessel, 23
queen conch shells and 23 pieces of conch meat were located. The shells and meat were
seized by order of the National Marine Fisheries Service for the Lacy Act violation.
GLADES COUNTY
K-9 Officer Felix Collazo, K-9 Jasmine and RPS Officer Mike Lilley conducted a
presentation at West Glades School in Muse. They spoke to the 4 th grade classes on the
use of tracking dogs during the holocaust in Germany and demonstrated K-9 Jasmine’s
tracking ability. The students wrote a letter to the officers thanking them for the
demonstration.
HENDRY COUNTY
Lieutenant Pam Steelman received a call from a panther biologist when a panther collar
began giving off a mortality signal on private property in southern Hendry County.
Lieutenant Steelman accompanied the biologist to the scene. The biologist determined that
the panther was probably killed by intra-species aggression. The panther was collect for
further study.
RPS Officer Mike Lilley was contacted by Lieutenant Steelman in reference to a dead
panther siting on Highway 80 inside the Lee County line. Officer Lilley arrived on scene and
met with Hendry County Sheriff’s Sergeant G.T. Elver, who had discovered the panther.
Officer Lilley identified the animal as a panther which had been hit by a large vehicle. FWC
panther biologists were contacted and transferred the dead panther to their office for further
study.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Officers Jason Lipford and Chris Douglas responded to a residential area regarding
a nuisance alligator and spoke to homeowners who were concerned for the safety of
children playing in the area. The officers relocated the gator to the Kissimmee River.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Officer Austin Warne was on land patrol on Military and the Hillsboro Canal when he
observed a subject with a cast net standing on the canal bank. Two coolers of fish were
next to him. Officer Warne conducted a fisheries inspection and found the subject in
possession of one undersized snook approximately 13.5 inches and three undersized
sheepshead. The subject was cited for possession of the undersized fish. He was also
given a verbal warning for illegal method of harvesting snook.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Investigator Kyle Patterson and Officer James Payne were conducting fisheries checks near
the South Bridge in Fort Pierce when they encountered a subject in possession of a
20-inch gag grouper. The minimum size limit for gag grouper is 24 inches. The subject was
cited for the violation.
Officer James Payne was conducting fisheries inspections at the North Bridge Boat Ramp
when he checked a vessel coming into the ramp. The subjects on board at first said they
had no fish, then they said they had only mullet. An inspection of their catch revealed
several regulated fish. The subjects were found in possession of an undersized redfish, an
undersized sheepshead, and an undersized spotted sea trout. One subject failed to
possess a valid saltwater fishing license. The subject, who admitted to catching the fish
with a cast net, did not have verifiable information and was arrested and booked into St.
Lucie County Jail for the violations.
COP
Officer Cris Douglas and K-9 Boone participated in a Science Fair Open House for Saint
Lucie County Middle Schools. Officer Douglas manned a K-9 booth and an alligator booth,
where a small alligator was displayed. The booths and information provided were well
received by many students and parents.
Lieutenant Douglas Rogerson attended and manned an FWC booth at the annual U.S.
Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce Open House. Visitors toured the base and many patrol
boats from different law enforcement agencies, as well as Coast Guard cutters, were
displayed. The FWC booth provided informative pamphlets relating to required safety
equipment for recreational and commercial vessels, restricted speed zones, and other
boating activities. The event was well attended.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
On May 18, a Naples man pled guilty to killing a Florida panther, a violation of the
Endangered Species Act. The subject faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a
fine of up to $100,000, and forfeiture of weapons and other equipment used in killing the
animal. In October 2009, the subject was hunting from a tree stand when he knowingly shot
and killed the panther with a compound bow. He attempted to conceal the animal and two
days later, he moved his tree stand. That day an FWC officer located the dead panther in
thick vegetation. FWC officers and K-9 units combed the area for evidence and worked with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other entities on the completion of the investigation.
Late at night after completing water patrol, RPS Officer Thomas Van Trees encountered a
wreckless driver on U.S. Highway 41. The vehicle operator was stopped and he performed
poorly on all field sobriety tasks. The subject stated he knew “the deal” because he already

had a DUI in Kentucky. Containers of alcoholic beverages (full and empty) were found in
the subject’s vehicle. Officer Steve Wicker assisted with arresting the subject for driving
under the influence. The subject refused to submit to a test of breath alcohol content.
Officers James Futch and Nathan Douglas responded to a report of deer poaching from a
Collier County deputy. Upon arrival, a father and son told the officers they were driving and
saw two deer run across the road in front of them. One of the men exited the vehicle and
shot across a fence into a field where one deer was standing and wounded the deer. Both
deer immediately ran further into the property. The subject fired again and killed the second
deer. Seconds later, the wounded first deer also fell dead to the ground. Both subjects
were placed under arrest for unlawful taking of doe deer, discharging a firearm from a public
roadway, and felony trespass by projectile.
Officer James Futch arrested a vehicle operator for DUI after observing the vehicle traveling
north in a southbound lane on Collier Boulevard. During the traffic stop, the driver told the
officer she had a lot to drink and felt she was too drunk to drive.
DADE COUNTY
Officer Randy Yanez participated in “Operation Zone Blitz” organized by the U.S. Coast
Guard. Nine vessels were inspected and several misdemeanor citations were issued to one
subject in possession of nine undersized and four over the bag limit of hogfish. In another
incident, Officer Yanez and a USCG Petty Officer encountered a 100-foot illegal gill net
within the Biscayne National Park, near Broad Creek. An eight foot bull shark was
entangled in the net and released unharmed, but an entangled five foot lemon shark did not
survive.
COP
Officers Alex Diaz and Randy Yanez and Lieutenant Pomares participated in a presentation
for Boating Safety Awareness Week at Bayside.
MONROE COUNTY
Officer Shelton Bartlett was conducting a fisheries inspection at the Tavernier Creek Bridge
when he located a cooler with five wrung tails inside. Two men snorkeling nearby and
spearing lobster with a gig and were found in possession of a catch bag containing
additional lobster and wrung tails. One subject threw his catch bag and gig into the woods
when he saw the officer approaching. RPS Officer Christopher Mattson was summoned to
assist and the subjects eventually admitted they were harvesting lobster out of season.
In conclusion, several Miami men were arrested on seven misdemeanor violations including
possession of 23 lobster out of season, five wrung tails, spearing lobster, and interference.
Investigator David McDaniel and Lieutenant Jay Marvin initiated a vessel stop after
observing a passenger riding unsafely on the bow. During the stop, the operator exhibited

numerous signs of impairment and fell overboard while searching for safety equipment. He
first told officers he had consumed eight beers, then later told them he had four beers. In
addition to failing field sobriety tasks, breath alcohol measurements indicated successive
levels of .163, .191, and .189. The operator was arrested for boating under the influence
and received infraction citations for careless operation and insufficient visual distress
signals.
RPS Officer Christopher Mattson and Officer Kip Hoover stopped a vessel resulting in an
arrest of the operator for boating under the influence. The subject exhibited numerous signs
of impairment and when asked if he had been drinking, he replied that he had “One big
one.” The subject refused to perform dockside field sobriety tasks and was charged with
refusal to submit to a test of breath alcohol content. He received an infraction charge for
insufficient life jackets.
COP
Lieutenant Liz Riesz provided FWC education at the Florida High Adventure Seabase event
to approximately 100 summer staff members and boat captains. The presentation included
dive flag rules, licensing requirements, and fishing regulations overview.
>