FWC Field Operations

Nov. 6 - 12, 2009

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.

NORTHWEST REGION

WALTON COUNTY

Walton County Sheriff's Office notified FWC Dispatch that one of their deputies had stopped a vehicle and found the subject in possession of a spotted fawn.  Officers Danny Arnette and Van Barrow responded to the deputy's location and interviewed the subject who admitted to shooting the fawn on Highway 2.  The subject was charged with possession of a spotted fawn and killing a deer at night with a gun and light.

BAY COUNTY

Officer Joe Chambers checked a subject in East Bay whose fishing license was expired for over a year.  He also located 14 whole stone crabs and five undersize claws during the inspection of the subject's boat.  Citations were issued.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Officers Woody Cook, Jason Carroll, John Allen, Travis Huckeba, and Capt. Donald Duval conducted an illegal net fishing detail.  Two vessels, occupied by four commercial fishermen, were boarded and inspected in the area of Postum Bayou.  During the first vessel inspection, one of the two fishermen was charged for violations pertaining to not having a restricted species endorsement and not having their nets properly marked with their saltwater products license number.  During the second vessel inspection, the two commercial fishermen were arrested and charged with violations pertaining to nets not properly marked, too many meshes per foot, possession of entangling nets, use of entangling nets, use of nets over 500 square feet, fishing more than two nets at a time, possession of over 50 mullet and an entangling net, possession of spotted sea trout and an entangling net, flagrant net violation (felony), and fishing with a suspended saltwater products license (third offense, felony).  Four nets were seized along with 747 pounds of black mullet and three spotted sea trout.

GADSDEN COUNTY

Officers Billy Kemp, Matt Bell, Reserve Officer Donald Trussell and Lt. Harry Parker responded to a call for help from an individual who was lost on the Wacissa River south of Goose Pasture.  The subject stated he had a 2-year-old boy and another companion in a small boat and was unable to find his way back to the landing.  Pilots Frank Utermohlen and Dave Calianno responded and located the subjects with a helicopter and search light. After spotting the subjects, they directed Officers Kemp and Bell to the location.  The officers led them out of the swamp and back to the landing.