FWC Division of Law Enforcement Field Operations

April 24-30

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

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Officer Keith Clark inspected a commercial fishing vessel as it returned to Perdido Key.  The inspection revealed red snapper on the vessel.  A check with the FWC Communication Center revealed the vessel's captain failed to make the proper notification that he was landing red snapper.

Officer Clark contacted Special Agent Allan Coker with National Marine Fisheries Service and notified him of the federal violation.  Officer Clark photographed the fish and constructively seized them.  Lt. Brian Lambert and Officer Fred Rondeau assisted with the seizure of 197 pounds of red snapper.  Federal charges are pending.

Officer Faris Livesay and Lt. Dan Hahr were on water patrol near Bayou Texar when they checked a fisherman returning to the boat ramp.  The man stated that he had not caught anything and even suggested that he was going to have to eat his bait.  A check of his cooler revealed two redfish.  The man then stated that he thought that the limit was two fish.  Officer Livesay issued the subject a notice to appear for over-the-bag limit of redfish.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

After a day of water patrol, an FWC officer returned to the dock at the Navarre Beach ramp after dark.  The officer observed a vessel operating without displaying the required navigation lights.  Upon stopping the vessel, he discovered the operator was returning from Specter Island with his wife and young daughter on board.  During the initial contact and vessel inspection, the officer observed signs of impairment from the vessel operator.  Field sobriety tasks were conducted, which further indicated the operator was impaired.  The operator was arrested for boating under the influence and was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail where he refused to provide a sample of his breath for testing.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officer Darrell Johnson responded to a call for assistance in apprehending a suspect involved in the fatal shooting of two Okaloosa County sheriff deputies.  Officer Johnson arrived at the scene just as the suspect was shot by Walton County deputies near Highway 331 and Highway 90 in DeFuniak Springs.  Officer Johnson helped secure the scene and assisted with traffic control for several hours.  Officer Van Barrow also responded and assisted with traffic.

BAY COUNTY

Officer Joe Chambers observed two subjects drive up in a truck and begin fishing.  When he checked the individuals, each produced a Florida identification card.  When the driver was asked if he had a driver's license, he said it had been stolen.  A check found the license was suspended and the fisher was previously cited for unknowingly driving with a suspended license.  Officer Chambers cited the fisher for knowingly driving with a suspended license.

Officer Dennis Palmer located a 30-foot sailboat aground in a local bayou.  The boat was tied to a smaller boat that was occupied by an individual.  The occupant said he had "salvaged" the sailboat from Grand Lagoon and was trying to contact the owner.  Officer Palmer found the owner was currently in prison.  A certified letter has been sent to him concerning the derelict status of his vessel and the State Attorney's Office will review for possible theft charges filed against the "salvager."

GADSDEN COUNTY

Lt. Harry Parker and Officer Lane Bentley were conducting fishery and boating safety inspections on the Apalachicola River.  A vessel occupied by two subjects attempted to leave as the officers approached.  The officers motioned the vessel to stop.  Once the vessel stopped, the officers identified themselves and began a routine safety and fishery check.  They observed the individuals had only one fishing rod with a large treble hook attached.  The subjects were in possession of several flathead catfish.  Upon closer inspection, the officers observed the individuals were in possession of three shocking devices, one of which was still attached to the boat battery.  The two Georgia men were issued citations for taking freshwater fish by illegal method.  The fish were released alive and the shocking devices were seized.