fwc division of law enforcement weekly report - Florida Fish and ...

FWC
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
WEEKLY REPORT
June 15 – 21, 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
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NORTHWEST REGION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Faris Livesay responded to a boating accident on Quiet Water. Two personal
watercrafts (PWCs) were traveling side by side when the lead vessel suddenly turned hard into
the path of the second PWC, causing them both to collide. The first vessel sank and was a
total loss but fortunately there were no injuries. Officer Livesay cited the driver of the first vessel
for careless operation.
Officers Faris Livesay and Nick Barnard attended the arraignment of seven individuals they had
previously cited for failure to land in whole condition red snapper and greater amberjack. The
fishermen were returning from a day of fishing on the Gulf of Mexico when a fisheries
inspection revealed they were in possession of over 70 fillets of red snapper and greater
amberjack. All the individuals pled no contest. In total, $5,800 in fines were assessed to the
group. The vessel owner also received six months probation and loss of his fishing license for a
year.
OKALOOSA COUNTY COPS
Officers Henry Rockwell, Pete Rockwell, and Andy Maltais attended an annual Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office Youth Week event. During the event, area youth experience different
aspects of what it means to be a law enforcement officer. The youth attended classes and
viewed demonstrations on topics including crime scene investigation, felony vehicle stops, K-9,
swat operations, U.S. Coast Guard and FWC search and rescue responses, capabilities and
assets, and fire fighting. Approximately 90 youth attended the event.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Officer Brett Gill and K-9 Friar were called out by Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to
assist with locating a loaded firearm. The CCSO had a suspect in custody for pending charges
for aggravated domestic battery with a firearm in Lake City. Apparently, the suspect had thrown
a loaded firearm as he fled from deputies. Even though it was their day off, Officer Gill and K-9
Friar responded and after following two tracks, located a loaded .38 caliber revolver which was
processed by deputies as evidence in the case.
GILCHRIST COUNTY
Lieutenants David Ferguson and Tim Kiss were on water patrol in the Santa Fe River near the
Hollingsworth Bluff boat ramp. A boating safety inspection was conducted on a small canoe
with three adults and a small child on board. Only two adult life jackets were aboard the small
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craft. Officers followed the family back to safety at the boat ramp where the operator was taken
into custody for an active warrant and turned over to Gilchrist County deputies.
HAMILTON COUNTY
Officer Todd Nichols and Lieutenant Tim Kiss assisted Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in
locating a missing couple on the Florida Trail near White Springs. The couple had been lost on
the trail for two days without food or water. Their tracks were picked up by Officer Nichols as
he searched using an ATV and deputies eventually located them along the trail. They did not
suffer serious injury.
LEVY COUNTY
K-9 Officer Samuel Dishman and Investigator Larry Ayers were on patrol in Levy County
heading South on US 19. A light colored vehicle was observed approaching from the rear at a
high rate of speed. The posted speed was 65 miles per hour but the officers estimated the
vehicle to be going at least 95 mph as it passed the officers vehicle heading toward Inglis. The
Inglis Police Department was contacted for assistance and when stopped, the driver stated that
he had argued with his ex-wife and had left her somewhere on US 19. The driver was cited for
careless driving. Levy County deputies located the ex-wife on US 19 to check on her condition.
She was taken into custody on unrelated charges.
K-9 Officer Samuel Dishman and Investigator Larry Ayers were on patrol at a local fish camp in
Gulf Hammock. The officers observed an airboat with three subjects on board load their boat
and proceed to a mobile home on camp property. The airboat operator was approached for a
resource inspection. During the inspection, officers noted several redfish scales and fresh
blood on the deck of the boat and on tines of a gig on board. The operator stated that he was
alone and fishing for mullet. An inspection of the cooler revealed a bag of fish fillets in with the
mullet. The operator stated that the fillets were from a different trip. The two other occupants
were located and interviewed. Turns out that the two occupants were non-residents who had
paid the airboat operator for a fishing trip during which redfish were gigged and filleted on
board. Citations and warnings were issued appropriately.
ST. JOHNS
While on water patrol on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Officers Aaron O’Reilly and Rob
Geib inspected a string of blue crab traps to ensure compliance with commercial trap
regulations. Eighteen of the traps did not have identifying tags attached or biodegradable
devices. The traps were seized as evidence and a follow-up investigation was initiated. It was
determined that the blue crab endorsement and traps had been transferred but the new owner
proceeded to begin fishing the traps without receiving the required tags or constructing the
degradable panel. Officer O’Reilly tracked down the responsible fisherman and issued a
citation for the violations.
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NORTHEAST REGION
LAKE COUNTY
Officer Donnie McKee and Lieutenant Ben Eason responded to Blue Creek Lodge Road on
Lake George in reference to a single vessel boating accident occupied by three subjects within
Juniper Run. The initial information received indicated one of the passengers was diabetic and
in need of insulin. Officer McKee launched his airboat and began searching for the victims with
a Lake County Fire Rescue Paramedic. Officer McKee located the victims in Juniper Cut along
with the Lake County Sheriff’s Officer Marine Unit. The diabetic female was immediately
transported to Blue Creek Lodge Road suffering from exposure. She refused treatment once on
shore. A second passenger was transported to Blue Creek Lodge Road who was the boat
owner. Lake County EMS initiated treatment for ETOH (alcohol), but once ashore, this
passenger also refused treatment once ashore. A final passenger was transported to shore and
initially stated he was the operator. All three subjects stated the intoxicated vessel owner was
not operating the vessel at the time of the accident. After a thorough interview conducted by
Lieutenant Eason with all three subjects separately, the intoxicated vessel owner admitted to
operating the vessel at the time of the accident and no alcohol had been consumed since the
accident. This fact was corroborated by a sworn statement by the operator and passenger. It
was also determined the operator had conspired with the male passenger to claim that he was
the operator during the accident and to “lie” to the police. Given the actual operator was
currently on felony probation for DUI, it made sense why this fact was initially being withheld.
Officer Donnie McKee conducted sobriety tasks on the actual operator and subsequently
arrested him for Felony BUI. He refused to provide a breath sample. Additionally, the subject
was charged for VOP and his bond was set at $15,000. The vessel was recovered and turned
over to the female passenger who was the spouse of the arrested operator.
PUTNAM COUNTY
Officer Dana Klein was patrolling the St John’s River near Buffalo Bluff Rail Road Bridge in
Putnam County when she stopped a vessel for a boating safety inspection. During the stop, the
officer observed signs of impairment by its operator. After float task were formed, the Putnam
County man was arrested for boating while impaired and booked into Putnam County Jail.
SUMTER COUNTY
Officer Ian Sweet and Investigator Herb Frerking were working in Richloam Wildlife
Management Area (WMA). They heard what sounded like trucks mudbogging and damaging
state lands. They made contact with the operators and issued the appropriate citations.
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Officer Jared Beard and Investigator Frerking made contact with two users in Richloam WMA.
After consenting to a search of their vehicle, a bag of marijuana was found. The owner was
cited for possession.
Officer Sweet and Lieutenant Kevin Steinke made contact with three users that appeared to be
broken down in Richloam WMA. It was soon obvious that the three were hog hunting with dogs
during the closed season. Officer Sweet issued the appropriate citations.
SOUTHWEST REGION
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
During water patrol, Officers Samuel Cohl and Maxwell Edson stopped a small vessel for
violating a slow speed zone. They discovered that the serial numbers on the motor had been
removed and defaced. The motor was seized and turned over to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s
Office forensics division where the serial number was recovered from the outboard motor freeze
plug. The serial number revealed that the motor was reported stolen out of Charlotte County
approximately one year ago. The case has been turned over to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s
Office criminal investigations division.
HIGHLANDS COUNTY
Officer Matt Ervin received a tip regarding a subject who was showing co-workers pictures of an
alligator he killed. Officer Ervin contacted the individual, who confessed to killing the alligator
and advised that the alligator remains were discarded. Officer Ervin photographed the evidence
and with the approval of the Highlands County States Attorneys’ Office, charged the individual
with the illegal taking of an alligator.
LEE COUNTY
While on night water patrol, Officers Matthew Raczek and Jerry Yates observed three male
subjects cast netting in the waters east of Lovers Key in Estero Bay. Later, on land patrol, the
officers located the netters’ vehicle backed into the mangroves, south of Big Carlos Pass.
Officer Art Morrow joined the officers to assist in the investigation. They set up surveillance
near the vehicle and observed the three subjects carrying a bucket and net back to their vehicle.
The officers initiated a traffic stop and conducted a fisheries inspection. The bucket contained
various species of fish, including an undersized and out of season snook and an undersized
sheepshead. One of the subjects admitted catching the two illegal fish and was issued a notice
to appear for three misdemeanor offenses.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Officer Matt Ervin was on vessel patrol in Pool D of the Kissimmee River, when he found an
unattended boat with two cast nets onboard, moored to the Okeechobee County side of the
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iver. The officer located two subjects who were using the boat and an inspection revealed one
bass and 12 bream that showed signs of being taken by a net. One individual admitted to
catching the game fish with one of the cast nets. He was issued a notice to appear in court for
the violation and also received a citation for fishing without a license.
POLK COUNTY
Officer Robert Adams was conducting boating safety inspections in the Lake Alfred area when
he encountered a vessel whose occupants were returning from fishing. During an inspection of
the fish onboard, Officer Adams found three undersized black bass in the vessel’s live well.
The vessel owner claimed possession of the undersized fish and received a notice to appear in
court for possession of undersized black bass.
Officer Adonious Duhart received information from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office regarding a
subject in possession of gopher tortoises in the Kathleen area. Probation officers and sheriff’s
deputies were conducting a probation search of the subject’s residence and discovered five
gopher tortoises inside the residence. Officer Duhart seized the tortoises and cited the subject
for possession of gopher tortoises without a permit.
Officer Kevin Sweat was following up on a previous complaint of subjects feeding alligators
behind a truck stop in Haines City, when he observed an adult and two children approach the
fence surrounding a retention pond behind the truck stop. The adult opened a package of hot
dogs, gave the children the opened pack and proceeded to open a second pack of hot dogs. As
the adult and children began feeding the hot dogs to several small alligators that gathered along
the fence, Officer Sweat announced his presence. The adult was issued a notice to appear in
court for feeding the alligators. This is the second arrest Officer Sweat has made for feeding
alligators at this location.
SOUTH REGION A
BROWARD COUNTY
Lieutenant Dave Bingham, DEP Lieutenant Steve Alexander, and RPS Officer Mike Albert
responded to a subject taking snook at the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. They observed that the
suspect had hidden the snook and returned to the beach to continue fishing. A short time later,
the subject returned to his residence and denied catching snook. Consequently, K-9 Officer
Hank Juntunen and K-9 Gauge responded to conduct a search of the property and discovered
two snook hidden in a bucket. The subject was cited and the snook were seized as evidence.
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Lieutenant Dave Bingham was dispatched to a boating accident off Ft. Lauderdale Beach where
a vessel came onshore without any occupants. Initial reports indicated that a single occupant
was missing. Due to heavy rains and rough seas U.S. Coast Guard personnel conducted a
search off Ft. Lauderdale with no results. When the rain subsided, Lieutenant Bingham and
Officer Nick Carman assisted with the search all the way north to Pompano Beach with negative
results. The subject remains missing.
GLADES COUNTY
Officer John Santerfeit was patrolling the west side of Glades County when he noticed two
small lights in a field that was on private property. Officer Santerfeit heard dogs in the field and
observed the lights headed back to the fence. He made contact with two males while they were
crossing back over the fence with two dogs. Officer Santerfeit explained to the subjects that
they were on private property and were trespassing. Both subjects received citations for
trespass.
HENDRY COUNTY
Officer David Burnsed was on land patrol when he observed two male subjects throwing what
appeared to be a cast net into a canal. One of the subjects began throwing rocks at an alligator,
as if he were trying to keep it away from the net. Officer Burnsed made contact to conduct a
freshwater fishery inspection. Upon inspection, the suspects were found to be taking
freshwater game fish by unlawful method and both were cited for the violation.
MARTIN COUNTY
Officers David Moss and Rino Doricchi stopped a sport fishing vessel entering the St. Lucie
Inlet. Upon inspection, they found the captain to be in possession of three undersized mahi.
The captain of the vessel was cited for undersized mahi.
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Officers Jason Lipford and Michael Davis were on vessel patrol on the Lake Okeechobee rim
canal in the area of Taylor Creek. They noticed a male fishing from the bank and as they got
closer, the male saw them and began to act erratically. The officers conducted a fisheries
inspection which resulted in the subject being cited for possession of undersized black bass.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officers Jesse Alford and A.J. Maynard spoke to 25 children at the Ortona Community
Association Youth Camp. The Officers spoke about the importance of boating safety, resource
protection, and law enforcement.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY
While crossing the Fort Pierce South Bridge, Officer Randy Irwin observed a subject in the
water spearfishing. He made contact with the subject in the water and a nearby subject on a
PWC and directed them to go to the boat ramp. While at the ramp, Officer Irwin conducted a
resource inspection issuing the spearfisher a notice to appear for possession of an undersized
sheepshead. A warning was also issued for diving without a diver down flag. Officer Keith
Holmes with the Fort Pierce Police Department was also on scene during the stop. Officer
Holmes cited the subject for spearfishing in a closed area.
Officer James Payne responded to assist Investigator Kyle Patterson who was watching a
subject fishing at a local spillway. Investigator Patterson advised that the subject had just
caught a snook, currently in closed harvest season and hid it in the rocks. Before Officer
Payne’s arrival, Investigator Patterson called to advise that the subject had caught a second
snook, also hiding it in the rocks. The subject then began to gather his equipment to prepare to
leave the area. When Officer Payne arrived, the subject was by his vehicle loading in his
fishing gear. When he saw the patrol truck heading his way, he quickly made it back down the
bank, retrieved the snook, and threw them back into the water. The subject was cited for
possession of snook during the closed season, possession over the allowable bag limit and
failure to allow inspection.
Officer James Payne was on land patrol when he observed a vehicle, known to him from a
previous stop, traveling in the opposite direction and being operated by a subject he knew to
have a suspended driver license. The subject traveled to a popular nearby fishing spot, exited
his vehicle and began to fish. Officer Payne, within a few minutes, confirmed that the subject
did in fact still have a suspended license. The subject was taken into custody and booked in jail
for the violation.
Investigator Kyle Patterson while on land patrol in western Fort Pierce observed a vehicle on a
main thoroughfare operating in reverse of the flow of traffic, causing traffic to stop in both
directions for the fear of a traffic crash. A traffic stop was initiated, and Investigator Patterson
made contact with the driver. The subject stated that he was scared, lost and was trying to get
home. An investigation revealed the subject was in possession of several prescription
medications not prescribed to him. A deputy with the sheriff’s office arrived on scene to identify
the pills in question. Fourteen pills were found not to be prescribed to the subject. The subject
was arrested and booked in jail for possession of a controlled substance.
SOUTH REGION B
COLLIER COUNTY
Officers Michael Haney and Marc Shea arrested a PWC operator for BUI, reckless operation,
and violation of a manatee zone and issued three boating safety warnings. The officers
observed the PWC being operated at high speed attempting to spray occupants onboard
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another vessel. When the officers stopped the PWC, the operator exhibited signs of
impairment and failed field sobriety tasks. A test of breath alcohol content revealed a level
of .120.
DADE COUNTY
Officers Serdar Mert and Nate Martir-Negron, Lieutenant Andy Carcasses and Investigator Dan
Miranda responded to a request for assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection after
their agents stopped a vessel at Dinner Key boat ramp. The vessel had just returned from the
Bahamas and contained a large amount of freshly harvested fisheries products. Officers
identified 45 lobster (of which seven were egg-bearing and six were undersized), 26 hogfish, ten
yellowtail, six yellow jack, two porgy, 20 dog snapper, four mangrove snapper, nine grouper of
various species, two cubera snapper, and approximately 24 pounds of sea turtle meat. Due to
the federal fisheries violations, all of the fisheries products were seized and the case was turned
over to National Marine Fisheries Service agents for investigation.
Officer George Reynaud was on land patrol in the south end of the county when he observed a
suspicious SUV hauling a couch which extended beyond the vehicle. Officer Gabriel
Fernandez responded to assist and both officers conducted surveillance. The officers stopped
the vehicle as it exited the area, without the couch. The two vehicle occupants eventually
admitted they dumped the couch and guided the officers to the dump site. Both subjects were
each cited for littering and were directed to load the couch back into the vehicle for proper
disposal.
Officers Hunter Caldwell and Nate Martir-Negron were on water patrol near Boca Chita Key
when they stopped an inbound vessel returning from the Bahamas. A fisheries inspection
revealed the subjects were in possession of queen conch meat and ten queen conch shells. As
a result, several misdemeanor citations were issued for the queen conch violations.
MONROE COUNTY
Lieutenant David Dipre conducted a follow-up to an animal cruelty case that occurred several
weeks ago in the Lower Keys when 274 hens and roosters were discovered in a residential
area. Monroe County sheriff’s deputies and Animal Control agents joined together to collect 35
rooster fighting birds. The 35 birds were collected and euthanized due to their condition and
inability to find suitable homes.
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