NORTHWEST REGION
BAY COUNTY
Officer Basford was conducting resource inspections at Martin Lake. During one of the inspections, he found an individual in possession of three undersized red drum. The individual stated that he caught the fish earlier in the day while fishing from the beach. The fish measured 15.5, 16 and 17 inches. Officer Basford issued the individual citations for possession of undersized and over the bag limit of red drum.
Officer Basford was on vessel patrol when he conducted a resource inspection of a vessel that was actively engaged in fishing. During the inspection, he found the two occupants of the vessel to be in possession of six king mackerel. The captain of the vessel took responsibility and was issued a citation for the violation.
Officer Hellett was on vessel patrol near the Hathaway Bridge when he observed three subjects snorkeling near the seawall on the east side of the bridge with no diver-down device displayed. Officer Hellett approached the subjects and questioned them for not displaying a diver down device. The group stated that they did not have one. Officer Hellett could see a black diver’s “catch bag” on the bottom near the subjects. He asked them what was in the bag and they stated “crabs.” They gave the bag to officer Hellett and he found 18 stone crabs. Officer Hellett checked all three subjects for warrants and two of them had active out-of-area warrants for their arrest. Officer Hellett arrested the suspects that had active warrants and issued citations for possession of stone crabs out of season, possession of undersized stone crab claws and possession of whole stone crabs.
CALHOUN COUNTY
Officer Baber, in the very early morning hours, saw a vehicle occupied by a male and female parked at Lam Eddy Boat Ramp along the Apalachicola River. As he approached the driver, a methamphetamine pipe was in plain view. The vehicle then fled the area and ran into a ditch approximately one mile away. Both suspects fled on foot. During a search of the vehicle, a large amount of drugs and paraphernalia was recovered. Officer Baber was able to identify both suspects and subsequently obtained arrest warrants for both. The driver was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended, fleeing and attempting to elude. The passenger was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest without violence.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Manning and Allgood inspected two commercial fishing vessels as they returned to shore. On both vessels, they found undersized red and vermillion snapper. A total of 125 pounds of illegal fish were seized. The operators of both vessels were issued notice to appear citations for the violations. Additionally, two of the vessels’ crew members were arrested and transported to the Escambia County Jail on outstanding warrants.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
While conducting a patrol in the Carrabelle River, Lieutenant Marlow and Officers Boyd, Nelson and Robb located a small commercial vessel that had a trawl net aboard rigged for fishing and had saltwater products aboard. During further inspection of the vessel and gear, it was observed that the trawl net was the only net aboard and had evidence that it had been recently fished. The net did not have a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) or Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD). The captain of the vessel did not have his required commercial licenses and had three boating-related violations as well. The appropriate action was taken for the violations.
During offshore patrol south of Franklin County, Lieutenant Marlow and Officers Boyd, Nelson and Robb conducted numerous vessel stops in federal waters. During the patrol, they located three different vessels with red snapper aboard during the federal closure. The vessel stops resulted in multiple cases for possession of red snapper during federal closure. The appropriate action was taken for these violations.
While conducting offshore vessel patrol south of Franklin and Gulf counties, Lieutenant Marlow and Officers Boyd, Nelson and Robb conducted a stop on a dive vessel approximately 25 miles offshore. As they approached, they noticed two red snapper floating directly behind the vessel. After recovering the red snapper, they noticed that one of the fish had been shot with a spear gun. Once aboard the vessel, the officers located another red snapper in another cooler and the captain of the vessel stated “where did that come from?” An interview of the occupants revealed that they had speared, hooked and line-caught the red snapper and thrown them overboard upon seeing the officers. The appropriate action was taken for the violations.
As they approached a vessel in federal waters, FWC officers observed fish being thrown overboard. They observed an occupant quickly digging in a cooler. A quick approach prevented additional fish from being thrown overboard and the officers were able to locate four red snapper in the fish box and one red snapper in between the captain’s foot and gunwale of the vessel. The appropriate action was taken for the violations.
JACKSON COUNTY
Officer Forehand saw a vehicle driving erratically, weaving in and out of its lane and almost striking a parked vehicle. He initiated a traffic stop and the driver showed signs of impairment. Based on field sobriety tasks, the driver was booked into jail for DUI.
Lieutenant Allen and Officer Forehand watched two fishermen wading along the bank of the Apalachicola River near the Hwy 90 Bridge. When the fishermen began to leave the area, the officers checked their catch. They found that one of the fisherman had gigged gamefish, including a five-pound black bass. He was charged with taking freshwater gamefish by illegal method.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Officer Corbin was on land patrol at the Fort Walton Beach Landing where he observed a sailboat in a junked, wrecked and dismantled condition. He recognized the sailboat and had previously warned the vessel owner that the sailboat was a derelict vessel. The sailboat was tied to a private pole on the south side of the Intracoastal Waterway. Upon completion of the derelict vessel process, the vessel owner was issued a notice to appear citation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Ramos and Roberson were on patrol in Blackwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and conducting inspections on primitive campsites. At one remote site, Officer Ramos detected the odor of cannabis. A brief interview revealed the couple had cannabis and drug paraphernalia on them. The couple had also committed three additional non-criminal violations per Blackwater WMA regulations. Each person was charged for the cannabis and drug paraphernalia and warned for the remaining violations.
WAKULLA COUNTY
Officer Boutwell was on land patrol in the Flint Rock WMA when he saw two men standing next to a vehicle. When he made contact with the camouflage-clad individuals, they said that they had been scouting for deer. Officer Boutwell noticed that they had backpacks on the ground next to them and asked if he could inspect them. One of the backpacks contained several empty Ziploc bags. When asked what had been in the bags, one of the men said they had contained corn and other bait for deer. The two men agreed to show Officers Boutwell and Anderson where they had placed the bait within the WMA. One of the men admitted that he had been the one who had placed the bait and was issued a notice to appear for placing bait in a WMA.
WALTON COUNTY
Officers Basford, Wicker and Lieutenant Allen were conducting patrols offshore when they observed a vessel with several subjects fishing. During the subsequent fisheries inspection, it was determined that the vessel was on a charter. While inspecting the fish that had been declared, Officer Wicker noticed a large, black bag in one of the vessel’s hatches. As Officer Wicker asked the captain of the vessel about the bag, something inside moved. A closer inspection of the bag revealed two red snapper in the bag. At this time, red snapper season is only open on weekends. The captain of the vessel was issued a citation for possession of red snapper during closure.
RESCUES
JEFFERSON COUNTY
An elderly Jefferson County resident left his house in his pickup truck to go scout a friend’s property for hunting. He started his walk around sunrise and shortly after noon he realized he was lost and too exhausted to continue walking. He called a friend for help on his cell phone. After receiving a call for assistance from the Sherriff’s Office, FWC Officers Wilcox, Pekerol and Lieutenant Wass de Czege arrived to assist with the search. After searching the property for a short time, the FWC officers, along with a friend of the lost man, found him lying in the shade at the edge of a cow pasture around mid-afternoon. Vehicles were escorted to the site and the man was taken to an awaiting ambulance where he was examined and found to be in good condition.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Ramos and Roberson were on patrol In Eglin AFB in the very early morning when they made contact with Santa Rosa County deputies responding to two stranded motorists stuck in the sand on the Eglin Reservation. Officers Ramos, Roberson and the Santa Rosa County deputy located the woman, along with her husband, deep in the reservation. The officers were able to safely pull them out of the sand and escort them to a main road. The couple had gotten lost and stuck in a long patch of very soft sand while trying to find a campsite at Escribano Point WMA.
DIRECTED CONSERVATION PATROLS
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Ramos and Roberson concentrated enforcement efforts the weekend nights from the early evening to the very early morning hours of the next day, checking more than nine boats and looking for users on alligator hunts. They did not observe any hunting violations, but did address multiple boating safety and navigation issues.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
CASES
ALACHUA COUNTY
A person with a license for personal possession of venomous reptiles sent out an email to a mass distribution list offering baby Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes for sale, and records indicated he did not have a license to sell venomous snakes. Investigator Holmes responded to the licensee’s address and found he had already sold 12 rattlesnakes and had the remaining 11 set to sell the next day. In addition to the unlawful sale of venomous reptiles, Investigator Holmes found several other violations, including unsanitary conditions, lack of species identification and warning placards, and failure to maintain or submit inventory records. Two misdemeanors citations and written warnings were issued.
BRADFORD COUNTY
K-9 Officer Gill was working an area where there had been previous evidence of running deer out of season in a local hunting club. Officer Gill heard a pack of hunting dogs early in the morning consistent with running deer. Officer Gill went on foot in the area where the dogs were running in an attempt to cut off the deer and catch the dogs. After a lengthy chase, Officer Gill made his way to the area where the deer and dogs had entered the hunting club road. Officer Gill observed a vehicle pick the dogs up and leave the area. Officers Burnsed and Jenkins came to assist and stopped the vehicle before it could exit the hunting club. The individual admitted to running deer while training his dogs. The subject was charged with running deer during the closed season.
CITRUS COUNTY
Officer Boyer received information about a person harboring a small gopher tortoise in their home, made contact with the subject at the residence and conducted a resource investigation. The subject advised the officer that they had a small gopher tortoise in a glass enclosure inside of the residence. During the investigation of the gopher tortoise, Officer Boyer located a red-bellied woodpecker in a cage. It is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to possess a red-bellied woodpecker without a permit. The suspect was issued citations and warnings for the violations. The gopher tortoise was turned over to a wildlife rehabber and the woodpecker was released back into the wild.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Officer McDonald was on patrol on Suwannee River Water Management District (SWRMD) land Gar Pond tract when he located fresh tire sign after rainfall. Officer McDonald tracked the vehicle sign west through SRWMD land and onto private property, where the vehicle had circumvented a gate. Both the private property and the SRWMD land are well posted. The tire sign led to a private residence, where an antique jeep was located with the same unique tire sign found on the SRWMD land. He also observed several bags of saw palmetto berries in the back of the jeep. He made contact with the owner of the jeep and the individual admitted to removing the saw palmetto berries from state lands and trespassing on the property. The subject was cited for removing saw palmetto berries from state land and entering and exiting at an undesignated entrance. A warning was issued for trespassing.
DUVAL COUNTY
Environmental Investigators Terrones and Starling were approaching a wooded lot in Jacksonville plagued by frequent illegal littering. A truck that was pulling an empty yard trailer was exiting the site and was stopped by the investigators due to the trailer not having a tag. The three occupants were interviewed separately and two of them admitted to having just illegally disposed of a large amount of furniture, cardboard, household garbage, drywall, and paint from a nearby home renovation they were working on. After several trailer loads to a legal landfill, the site was cleaned and the suspects were charged accordingly.
MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE
CITRUS COUNTY
Officer Crane received a call concerning a manatee cow and her calf that were possibly land locked and needed to be relocated. Officer Crane found the two manatees in a roadside ditch that was flooded from Hurricane Hermine, and determined that it was impossible for them to make it back to open water. Officer Crane requested an emergency response from the FWC biologists rescue team. Officer Crane assisted with the rescue and relocation to Kings Bay. Both manatees were monitored by the biologists for any health issues and microchipped. They were then released in the bay at the Plantation Inn on Kings Bay.
NORTHEAST REGION
CASES
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Officer Krynicki encountered a man and woman returning to a secluded boat ramp right at dark. In the vessel, he located three redfish, one of which was undersized. The female claimed two of the fish, including the undersized one. She was issued a citation for the short redfish and a warning for over the bag limit of redfish.
BREVARD COUNTY
Officer Platt was working the statewide alligator hunt in the early morning hours when he observed an airboat in Sweetwater Canal whose occupants were hunting alligators. He watched from a concealed location as they hunted with a spotlight and crossbow. Officer Platt stopped the airboat for a resource inspection, and discovered that the hunters were permitted for a different alligator management unit. Citations were issued for the violation.
Officer Hadwin was working the statewide alligator hunt late at night near Lake Winder when he found a buoy with something attached to it. He began surveillance of the buoy to see if anyone would check it. A short time later, a Jon boat with two men on board entered the area shining a spotlight. They approached the buoy, and then Officer Hadwin heard what sounded like a bang stick being discharged. Officer Hadwin approached and found the subjects had harvested a six-foot alligator unlawfully (from the unattended buoy and bait). The alligator had also not yet been tagged with a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) tag. The hunters admitted to setting two baits that night and leaving the area, returning to check them every once in a while. Citations were issued for the violations.
Lieutenant Lightsey and Officer Rutherford conducted numerous resource inspections at Sebastian Inlet State Park. They encountered several resource violations, including three cases of oversized snook, two cases of oversized redfish, and one case of over the bag limit of mangrove snapper. Numerous citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Rasey was checking bank fishermen in Titusville early one morning when he encountered a man with several violations. He was in possession of three undersized spotted seatrout and an undersized mangrove snapper. A citation and warning were issued.
RESCUES
Officers from Volusia County responded to Lake George to search for a female who went missing while out riding on a PWC. The female was last seen leaving a waterfront residence in Lake County headed toward Lake George at about 6:30 PM. When she did not return by dark, family members called the sheriff’s office and FWC. FWC officers, Lake County and Volusia County deputies responded by vessel to search for the woman and missing PWC. Volusia County also dispatched their helicopter to assist in the search. At 11:00 PM, the woman and PWC were located on the west bank of the lake near Silver Glen Springs. The PWC had broken down and drifted to the bank. The woman was reunited with friends and family who took her and the PWC home.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
Officer Krynicki taught the laws portion of a hunter safety class at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. The class was made up of 26 adults and four youths.
SOUTHWEST REGION
CASES
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Officer Norris was on ATV patrol in the Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve State Park when he noticed two vehicles inside of the park boundaries. As he drove closer, the subjects quickly started their vehicles and began to drive away. Knowing that there was only one way the vehicles could exit, Officer Norris radioed to see if another unit was close by. Investigator Cooke was nearby and found one of the vehicles matching the description leaving the area. He stopped the vehicle and, shortly after, stopped the other vehicle as it was leaving the area. It was determined that the four subjects were illegally harvesting palmetto berries inside of the state park. One of the drivers of the vehicles was also knowingly driving with a suspended license. A criminal citation and numerous infractions and warnings were issued for the violations.
K-9 Officer Stasko was patrolling the Webb WMA for the opening of the Archery Hunt, when he noticed a vehicle off a designated name or numbered road. Officer Stasko observed from a distance to see where the vehicle was headed. Once the vehicle stopped, a subject dressed in camouflage exited and appeared to be getting something out of the bed of the truck. After making contact with the subject, he stated that he was going to remove his tree stand and hang another at a location close by. Officer Stasko explained that vehicle traffic was only allowed on designated name or numbered roads during the hunt. The subject was issued a citation for the violation and later admitted to “being lazy” and “didn’t want to walk the distance from the roadway.”
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
While on patrol, Officer Dearborn observed an individual shoving what appeared to be a snook into the trunk of his car. After making contact and conducting a fisheries inspection, the snook was found to be several inches undersized. The subject was cited accordingly.
LEE COUNTY
Officer Price was on land patrol when he came across a vehicle near a canal. He first thought someone left the vehicle and was out fishing, but other clues indicated there may be something more. It was raining heavily and the vehicle’s windows were down and the vehicle’s tag was missing. After running the vehicle’s identification number, he determined the vehicle was stolen. Officer Price secured the scene and contacted the local sheriff’s department to recover the vehicle.
MANATEE COUNTY
Lieutenant Hinds was on land patrol in the area of the Palma Sola Causeway and stopped to perform a fisheries inspection on an individual fishing under the first relief bridge on the causeway. During the inspection, he found the subject to be in possession of four red drum, all of which were undersized. The subject was given two criminal citations for the possession of over the bag limit of red drum and possession of undersized red drum. He was also given a warning for possession of undersized mangrove snapper. The four redfish were released alive back into the bay.
Officer Hinds responded to a complaint from a home owner reporting that his neighbor had possibly killed two deer illegally. At the scene, he found two fresh deer heads in the subject’s back yard in plain sight. When the subject was interviewed, he gave a written statement stating that he had indeed killed two bucks out of season on private land. The subject was given a criminal citation for killing deer out of season and two written warnings. The deer heads were seized as evidence.
PASCO COUNTY
While on patrol in the Pithlachascotee River, Officer Williams observed a vessel violate the idle speed/no wake zone. He stopped the vessel for the violation conducted a boating safety inspection. During the inspection, the operator exhibited signs of impairment and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. While at the jail, the operator provided a breath sample that measured .155 and .151. The individual was booked into the Pasco County Jail for BUI, and Officer Williams issued three warnings for boating safety violations.
PINELLAS COUNTY
While on foot patrol at the Tierra Verde Bridge, Officer Bibeau made contact with an individual that was actively fishing. When asked if he had caught any fish, the subject showed him one, legal-sized mangrove snapper. Officer Bibeau inquired about the cooler located in the back seat of the subject’s vehicle and was given consent to inspect it. During the inspection, he located an undersized gag grouper. The subject was issued a misdemeanor citation for possession of an undersized gag grouper.
Lieutenant Wells and Officer Smith were working offshore in an unmarked law enforcement vessel approximately 35 miles off the coast. Numerous vessel inspections were conducted. One vessel was in possession of American red snapper during the closed season, undersized American red snapper and undersized grouper. Three federal citations were issued. During the same patrol, the officers inspected another vessel approximately 30 miles west of Anclote Island. This vessel was in possession of one American red snapper, and they were cutting up grouper and using it as bait. A state citation was issued for reef fish not in whole condition.
While Lieutenant Hinds was on land patrol in the area of the North Skyway Rest Area, he stopped and performed a fisheries inspection on an individual returning to his vehicle from a day of spearfishing. The subject had several fish including a 24-inch cobia. The subject was advised that cobia must be 33 inches to the fork of the tail to possess. He was cited criminally for possession of undersized cobia and the fish was seized as evidence.
POLK COUNTY
Officers Alvis and Creel were on land patrol at Lake Hancock when they spotted a vessel that was alligator hunting. Officer Alvis split off from Officer Creel and watched the subjects throw jugs with bait on them to hunt the alligator more easily. Officer Creel launched the boat and, along with Officers Lehman and Alvis, checked the subjects. The officers split the subjects up for questioning who confessed to hunting alligators by illegal method. The subjects were cited accordingly.
Officer Adams was patrolling northbound along Scenic Highway in Frostproof and observed a subject driving his vehicle in an erratic manner as he swerved off and back onto the roadway. Officer Adams conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver. There was no odor or presence of alcohol or other substance, but the driver seemed very lethargic and had great difficulty with memory and the ability to answer questions. Officer Adams requested assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office who interviewed the driver and conducted a medical evaluation. The deputy determined that the driver was likely experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and was not fit to operate a motor vehicle. The deputy notified the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) of the situation, and requested that the driver’s driving privileges be suspended.
RESCUES
PINELLAS COUNTY
Lieutenant Wells and Officer Smith were on patrol approximately 12 miles west of Clearwater and came across a vessel returning from off shore. The vessel captain advised the officers that there was a medical emergency on board. The officers observed a female lying on the deck of the vessel while on oxygen. The female was participating in a lionfish tournament and she was diving/spearfishing on the pipe line. The officers escorted the vessel back to the marina where EMS had been waiting on the arrival of the patient. She received appropriate medical care for the diving accident.
HARDEE COUNTY
Officer Cloud responded to a search and rescue on the Peace River. A man and woman were headed down river from Zolfo Springs, when they got lost due to the high water levels. Officer Cloud launched a patrol vessel and began searching for the individuals. Officer Cloud located the individuals at 5:30 a.m. Other than fatigue and mosquito bites, the individuals were in good health. They were transported back to Gardner Boat Ramp where family was waiting.
SOUTH A REGION
CASES
MARTIN COUNTY
While conducting a fisheries inspection at Hobe Sound Beach, Officer Morrow made contact with a group of subjects fishing from the beach. Prior to checking the subject’s cooler, the subjects were asked what they had caught and they replied “some catfish.” Checking the cooler hidden under a box of bait, an undersized pompano was located which measured six inches, five inches under the recreational harvester limit. Officer Morrow then issued a misdemeanor citation for the undersized pompano and warnings to two of the subjects for no saltwater shoreline license.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Officer Newman was on land patrol at the Corbett WMA south check station and observed a pick-up truck exiting the WMA that failed to stop at a stop sign while traveling at a high rate of speed. After making a traffic stop, a large amount of saw palmetto berries in bags in the bed of the truck was observed. All seven occupants were charged accordingly and the driver received three traffic citations. Five of the seven occupants were handed over to Customs and Border Patrol. Eleven burlap bags of saw palmetto berries were returned to the WMA in an undisclosed area.
Lieutenant Russo, Officers Hankinson, Godward and Spradling assisted in joint operations with the U. S. Coast Guard in efforts to remove a grounded 72-foot yacht on Palm Beach Island. To date, the known hazardous materials have been removed from the environmentally sensitive area without harm. The derelict vessel investigation is ongoing.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Officer Shermetaro and Investigator Patterson were conducting resource inspections at Stan Blum Boat Ramp in Fort Pierce on multiple vessels returning from a day of fishing. One vessel that was inspected had four subjects on board. While Officer Shermetaro inspected their catch, he discovered an egg-bearing lobster which is illegal to harvest or possess. Officer Shermetaro issued a citation to the individual who admitted catching the lobster.
Officers Fretwell and Irwin conducted a vessel stop on a PWC that was operating on plane in a Manatee Slow Speed Zone. While securing the vessels together, Officer Fretwell initiated contact with the operator, requested necessary paperwork and explained the nature of the violation which had been observed. When the operator provided the paperwork, Officer Fretwell noticed a small zip-lock bag, in plain view, in the center compartment on the vessel. Continuing with the inspection, Officer Fretwell noticed the subject to be very nervous with extremely shaky hands. He could also smell the odor of marijuana coming from the operator. When asked if the nervousness was due to the marijuana in the bag, the reply was “yes.” When the bag was removed from the compartment, a small red metallic smoking pipe was also discovered. The subject was administered standard field sobriety tasks to determine the level of impairment, if any, but was released a short time later after the tasks were completed. The operator received several citations and a requirement to appear in court to answer to the charge of possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
Investigator Patterson observed four subjects filleting fish at Black Pearl Boat Ramp. A resource inspection was conducted with the assistance of Officer Shermetaro. The subjects were in possession of 44 snapper consisting of 35 mangrove snapper and 9 mutton snapper. Further inspection revealed the 9 mutton snapper and multiple mangrove snapper were undersized. Subsequent to further investigation and interviews, one of the subjects stated he purchased the fish from an unknown source and solicited the help of the remaining subjects to fillet the fish. The subject stating he purchased the fish was issued a notice to appear for charges of over the daily aggregate bag limit of snapper, over the daily limit of mangrove snapper, possession of undersized mangrove snapper, and possession of undersized mutton snapper. The fish were seized as evidence.
MAJOR WILDLIFE ASSISTANCE
MARTIN COUNTY
Officers Newman and Norbrothen responded to a sea turtle in distress near the Black Pearl Marina. The turtle was found tangled in fishing line that had a deceased snook attached to the hook. Employees from the marina were able to grab the turtle and place it on the dock unharmed. The green sea turtle was brought to Loggerhead Marine Life Center and is being treated.
SOUTH B REGION
CASES
COLLIER COUNTY
Officers Johnson and White were on state water patrol in Naples Bay when they performed a vessel stop outside of the flow of channel traffic. As they were finishing up the stop, another vessel left the channel, maintained plane speed, went around the officers’ vessel, and then reentered the channel. The speed outside of the channel is slow speed. The officers terminated their vessel stop and then stopped the second vessel to address the violation. The officers immediately observed signs of impairment from the operator during the subsequent conversation and boating safety inspection. The operator consented to perform field sobriety tasks which exhibited sufficient clues to indicate impairment. The operator was arrested for BUI and provided a breath alcohol sample measuring 0.151. The operator told the officers that it was his first arrest “besides some minor things when he was younger,” and that he had never been arrested for DUI or BUI. The officers transported the operator to jail where a criminal history check revealed that the operator had three prior convictions for DUI, which escalated the BUI to a felony offense.
While patrolling at the Jolley Bridge, Officer Lugg observed two individuals returning from the water with a bucket. Upon approaching the individuals, Officer Lugg observed that the bucket contained a cast net that was wet and proceeded to perform a marine fisheries inspection on the individual. Officer Lugg asked the individual carrying the bucket if he had caught any fish and he stated that he had not. Officer Lugg then proceeded to find eight mangrove snapper located under the cast net, five of which were undersized. The individual was cited accordingly.
Officer Araujo, while on patrol in Picayune Strand State Forest, observed a truck traveling at a high rate of speed on 52nd Avenue. The vehicle failed to stop for a stop sign and nearly crashed into the sign as it made the turn onto Miller Boulevard. Officer Araujo stopped the truck and observed a very frail female exit the truck wearing only a dirty t-shirt and underwear. He asked the woman if she was okay and if she needed medical attention. She said no, but stated that she was not seeing well. The woman then began speaking in random and incoherent phrases. Officer Araujo asked the woman to conduct field sobriety tasks and she consented. After failing to complete the tasks, the subject was placed into custody and transported to the Collier County Jail. When they reached the jail, the woman declined to give a breath alcohol sample. The woman was subsequently arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended license.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Officers patrolling the south end ocean side of Elliot Key stopped a vessel for a boating safety inspection. The operator immediately gave information of a possible human skull located nearby. The officers quickly went to the location as the tide was coming in and the loss of the skull was imminent. The officers provided a good GPS coordinate and photographed the skull. The officers later returned, along with detectives of the Miami-Dade Police Department, and assisted with the retrieval of the positively identified human skull. The Miami-Dade PD investigation is ongoing.
Three officers were on water patrol near Black Point Marina when they stopped a vessel with four male subjects on board to conduct a fisheries inspection. The officers observed speared hogfish and one lobster in a live well. Upon further investigation, one of the officers located a bag of wrung lobster tails and two queen conch that had been hidden in a different compartment of the vessel. When counted and measured, the officers determined that the bag contained thirty-one lobster tails, twenty-two of which were undersized and one of which was egg-bearing. One subject was arrested and taken to jail for the violations.
Two officers were on late-night land patrol when they conducted a fisheries inspection on fours subjects aboard a vessel that was returning to Black Point Marina. The inspection process started out normally with the subjects showing the officers their catch that was contained in a cooler. Some of the circumstances were odd so the officers asked for and received consent to further inspect the vessel. One of the officers located a bag of fish that had been hidden in the vessel’s anchor locker. Once counted and measured, the officers determined that the bag contained a total of forty mangrove snapper, thirty-two of which were undersized. Three of the subjects received citations for the multiple violations.
An officer conducted a fisheries inspection of two subjects on board a vessel at Black Point Marina and discovered them to be in possession of eight, speared parrotfish and one undersized and speared hogfish. Citations were issued for the violations.
During the Labor Day holiday weekend, multiple officers participated in a one-day special enforcement detail by concentrating water patrol efforts between Bear Cut Bridge and Mashta Point. The officers emphasized the enforcement of manatee speed zones, boating safety equipment regulations and BUI detection. Their combined efforts resulted in the issuance of forty-six boating citations and forty-four written warnings; one vessel operator was arrested for BUI.
MONROE COUNTY
Officers Johnson, Richards and Foell were on JEA patrol aboard the FWC 12-meter Interceptor and observed a commercial spiny lobster vessel actively pulling lobster traps along the reef line west of the Marquesas. Officers Foell and Richards boarded the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection and located four, egg-bearing spiny lobster in a live well. Also, the undersized spiny lobster used for baiting the traps were not in water, or in a circulating live-well. The commercial aerial buoy and number display on the vessel was well under the minimum legal size limit. A criminal notice to appear citation was issued accordingly.
Officer Dube assisted the United Stated Border Patrol with a migrant landing in Key Largo. Officer Dube was called to assist when six Cuban migrants came ashore in their makeshift sailing vessel which included 5 men and 1 female. Officer Dube gave them water and snacks while waiting for Border Patrol agents to arrive from their Marathon Station.
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
COLLIER COUNTY
Lieutenant Mahoney and Officers Reams and Reith joined the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, North Collier Fire Rescue District and the Greater Naples YMCA for a 9/11 Memorial Stair Run event. The participants were asked to run/walk up 110 stories as a tribute to the 343 firefighters, 63 police officers and 8 EMT personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001. To complete the equivalent of 110 stories, the participants had to complete 17 laps at the reconstructed YMCA main campus by starting in their west staircase, run across the roof, down the east staircase, and then back across the campus to the west staircase. The event started with the National Anthem and a “Ringing of the Bell Ceremony.” Lieutenant Mahoney and Officers Reams and Reith completed all 17 laps.
MONROE COUNTY
Officer Dube was the Co-Host on Captain Bill Kelly’s Friday night radio show at Wahoo’s Restaurant in Islamorada. Officer Dube talked about current events along with some arrests and cases made by FWC officers over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend. Officer Dube also talked about the commercial lobster fisheries and the consistent problem of trap robbing throughout the Keys and how boaters can help law enforcement reduce this problem.
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
