FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD OPERATIONS WEEKLY REPORT 7-03
June 20 - 26, 2008
This report represents some events the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
NORTHWEST REGION
BAY COUNTY
Officer Dennis Palmer received a complaint about an alligator that had been killed on Deer Point Lake. Officer Palmer went to the complainant's home and obtained a written statement concerning a neighbor who shot a pellet rifle at a 3-foot alligator. The alligator was later buried in the neighbor's backyard. The following day, Lt. Jay Chesser and Officer Palmer interviewed the suspected shooter. A written confession was obtained and a citation was issued. The pellet rifle and the alligator were seized as evidence.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
On June 24, Officer Sarah Hahner was on her way to a complaint in the Gulf Breeze area when she observed three males walking down the road with a stringer of undersized spotted sea trout. After stopping the individuals, one of the subjects claimed to have his identification at a nearby residence. When he went to retrieve his identification, he fled. A Santa Rosa County sheriff's deputy arrived and assisted with watching two of the males while Officer Hahner and K-9 Sadie tracked the subject through a scrub thicket to a residence in a trailer park. The subject was eventually located and arrested by Officer Hahner for resisting as well as possession of undersized spotted sea trout. Santa Rosa County sheriff's deputy transported the fleeing subject to the county jail. One of the two remaining individuals who did not flee received a citation for possession undersized spotted sea trout.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
On June 19, Officer Alan Kirchinger and Reserve Officer Chuck Bonta were on patrol checking boat ramps. At the Milligan Boat ramp around 4:30 p.m. they discovered two individuals in a van. After hearing noises from the van, Officer Kirchinger investigated to ensure everyone was okay. Upon contact with the occupants, Officer Kirchinger smelled an odor of green cannabis. After inquiring of the occupants, the female 18 year old passenger admitted to ownership of a small amount of marijuana. Officer Alan Kirchinger issued a citation for the violation and seized the marijuana.
On June 19, Officer Alan Kirchinger and Reserve Officer Chuck Bonta were on patrol checking boat ramps. At about 8:30 p.m. the officers returned to check the ramp area at Milligan and made contact with a vehicle operator having a strong odor of alcoholic beverage. The driver could not perform field sobriety exercises and was arrested for driving under the influence. A computer check of the individual revealed two previous convictions for DUI. At the Okaloosa County Jail the driver provided a sample of his breath which registered .254 and .245.
On June 24 while on patrol in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area near the mailbox area, Officer Alan Kirchinger discovered two different vehicles operating in closed posted areas. Officer Kirchinger issued citations for the violations.
WALTON COUNTY
On June 22, Okaloosa and Walton County FWC Officers responded to Alaqua Bayou after receiving a report of two overdue boaters. Two brothers launched their 14-foot jon boat in Alaqua Creek and failed to return after severe weather passed through the area. Their vessel was located later in the evening capsized with two flotation devices still onboard the vessel. Officer Randall Brooks walked the shoreline where the capsized vessel was located and was unable to locate the two brothers but retrieved items from the vessel along the shoreline. FWC Officers, United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel and members from the Walton County Sheriff's Department, organized an extensive search through the night. The USCG and Walton County Sheriff's Department utilized aircraft to assist with the search. The bodies of the two brothers were recovered on the afternoon and evening of June 23 in the bayou. A preliminary investigation has indicated the severe weather contributed to the incident. The accident investigation is on-going.
