FWC Field Operations Weekly Report

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 David Jernigan was on enhanced patrol when he observed a subject in possession of alcoholic beverages at the Pipes Recreation Area.  The 18-year-old man appeared intoxicated and admitted to having consumed several beers.  He was given a notice to appear for possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under the age of 21.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

A man was arrested on a felony warrant for giving an officer a false name which affects another.  Officer David Jernigan filed the warrant with the Clerk's Office earlier this month, a year after first meeting the man while on patrol on the Blackwater River.  Officers Jernigan and Joe Murphy were on patrol in April 2008 when they observed a man operating a paddleboat and fishing.  The subject did not have a fishing license and was cited for the violation.  A month or so later, Officer Jernigan was contacted regarding a man who was arrested for failing to appear.  The information on his citation was that of another man whom the suspect knew quite well.  This man provided information to Officer Jernigan that led him to the suspect.  After a computer check and follow-up investigation, Officer Jernigan confirmed the man's true identity.  Approximately a year later, Officer Jernigan observed the same man in the same paddleboat.  When confronted, the man all but admitted giving Officer Jernigan the false information.  Officer Jernigan obtained a felony warrant for the charge of giving an officer a false name which affects another, a much more serious charge than fishing without a license.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

Officer Steve Bartlett organized a target enforcement detail to inspect commercial shrimp boats on Choctawhatchee Bay.  The detail resulted in warnings being issued for two illegal size nets.  While traveling home after the detail, Officer Bartlett observed a vehicle swerving in a careless manner.  The vehicle was stopped and the driver displayed signs of impairment.  Field sobriety tasks confirmed the driver was impaired.

He was placed under arrest and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.

At the jail the driver agreed to a breath test which revealed a .170 breath alcohol content.  The subject was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail and charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Officer Matt Webb conducted a fishery inspection on a vessel in Destin Pass.  The inspection revealed a daily bag limit violation of king mackerel.  The captain of the vessel was cited for the over-the-bag limit violation.

Officers Steve Bartlett and Matt Webb checked three subjects fishing on the Destin Pass Jetties.  Two of the subjects were in possession of illegal size red drum.  A computer check revealed one of the fishermen had an outstanding warrant from Escambia County for child abuse.  Both subjects were issued a citation for possession of oversize red drum.

The subject with the active warrant was taken into custody and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail.

Officer Matt Webb completed a derelict vessel investigation which resulted in the owner being charged after he failed to comply with a warning and remove the vessel.

BAY COUNTY

While patrolling the Gulf of Mexico near Panama City Pass, Officer Nick Price conducted a fisheries inspection and found a vessel operator and passengers had harvested red snapper during the closed season.  He also discovered they had undersize red snapper and undersize trigger fish.

Citations were issued.

Officer Neal Goss was on water patrol offshore of Panama City when he observed a spotlight working offshore.  The light went out and Officer Goss slowly made his way toward the last known position.  He located a vessel with two people onboard fishing.  He conducted a resource and safety inspection and discovered a bag of cannabis.  The owner was issued a citation for less than 20 grams and failure to display proper navigational lights.

Officers Neal Goss and Nick Price worked the Gulf of Mexico with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.  The results of their patrols were a boating under the influence charge and taking red snapper during closed season.

Officers David Brady and Warren Walsingham conducted a plainclothes detail targeting dolphin feeding in and around the Panama City Pass. One warning was issued for dolphin feeding.

Lt. Jay Chesser and Officer Mike Nobles worked the Econfina Creek portion of the Econfina Wildlife Management Area addressing complaints of illegal activities in the area.  Numerous fishers and boaters were checked and five citations were issued for underage alcohol violations, two citations for no fishing license and one citation for possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Lt. Rama Shuster and Officers Chris Jones and John Allen were on water patrol aboard the offshore patrol vessel Orion.  A shrimp boat was observed entering East Pass.  Officers Jones and Allen boarded the vessel to conduct fishery and gear inspections.  The officers found an undersize cobia and 189 pounds of flounder in the hold.  The legal limit of flounder caught as by-catch aboard a shrimp boat is 50 pounds.  The officers issued two citations and seized the product.  The flounder was sold to the highest bidder.

Lt. Rama Shuster and Officers Shon Brower and Chase Yarborough were on water patrol aboard the offshore vessel Orion.  At approximately 2:30 p.m. Officers Brower and Yarborough boarded a recreational dive boat in federal waters.  The officers found red snapper out of season and undersized red grouper.  A citation was issued.

Lieutenants Jason Marlow and Rama Shuster and Officer Shon Brower were on water patrol aboard the offshore vessel Orion.  At approximately 2:30 p.m. a commercial vessel was boarded in federal waters with four persons on board.  The officers interviewed the captain and crew to find out if the vessel was fishing as a charter vessel, as a commercial vessel, or as a recreational vessel.  The captain and crew insisted that they were on a recreational fishing trip with friends even though they did not know each other's names.  A fisheries inspection revealed that they were over-the-bag limit of red grouper.  A federal citation was issued.

Lt. Rama Shuster and Officers John Allen and Charles Higman were on water patrol aboard the offshore vessel Orion.  At approximately 11:50 a.m. a shrimp boat was boarded in federal waters to conduct a fisheries inspection.  A warrant check on the crew revealed one subject to have an active warrant. The subject was arrested and transported to shore where he was turned over to Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

At approximately 4 p.m. Officers Allen and Higman boarded another vessel where they discovered 28 undersize black sea bass in the live well.  A citation was issued.

Lieutenants Scott Pearce and Rama Shuster and Officer Charles Higman were on water patrol aboard the offshore vessel Orion.  At approximately 1 p.m. a commercial vessel was boarded in federal waters.  A fisheries inspection revealed that the captain was using vermillion snapper as bait and did not have the required turtle release gear on board.  A federal citation was issued.

At approximately 2 p.m. another commercial vessel was boarded.  The captain did not have the required turtle release gear on board.  The captain had been previously warned about the turtle release gear and a federal citation was issued.

Officer Steven Cook along with investigators conducted a detail targeting the illegal harvest of oysters from leased water bottom. Officer Cook made contact with four harvesters who were actively engaged in the harvest of oysters.  After confirming that the harvesters did not have permission to harvest from the leased bottom the officers secured information to submit to the State's Attorney Office for pending charges.

Lt. Charlie Wood and Officer Steven Cook responded to a commercial oyster vessel just north of Little St. George Island that was unable to return to port due to high winds and rough sea conditions.  While attempting to leave the oyster bar, the commercial vessel took several waves over the bow.  At that point, the harvesters made contact with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.  The information was relayed through the Communications Center to the Franklin County officers.  Once arriving on scene, the commercial vessel was anchored and the two harvesters were retrieved from the vessel and transported back to the mainland uninjured.

GADSDEN COUNTY

Officer Ben Johnson cited a Gadsden County man for possession of undersize black bass on Lake Talquin.

LEON/GADSDEN COUNTIES

Lt. Kent Harvey received a disposition on a felony BUI case made on Lake Talquin in March.  The defendant was sentenced to 13 months to be served in the State Department of Corrections.  He also received 48 months probation, was ordered to attend Alcohol Anonymous meetings once a week, received a 90-day vessel impoundment and $2540 in fines.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Officer Jeff Babauta responded to a call for help from some individuals kayaking on the Slave Canal off of the Wacissa River.  The kayakers were not familiar with the area and became disoriented.  One of the kayakers was able to describe his surroundings to Officer Babauta by cell phone. With the description given, Officer Babauta pinpointed their location as being in the vicinity of an area known as Half Mile Rise.  This portion of the river is not navigable by motorized vessels.  Officer Babauta was able to drive into the area and locate the kayakers.