FWC Law Enforcement Report

July 19, 2015

The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending July 16 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

The Annual Blue Angels Air Show on Pensacola Beach took place this week.  The event was a success and the weather cooperated.  FWC officers performed vessel inspections on over 250 vessels and spoke to more than 600 people.  Sixteen citations were issued for boating safety infractions, three notice to appear citations were issued for underage drinking, and three subjects were arrested for BUI. Additionally, 38 warnings were issued and officers responded to two medical emergencies.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Lieutenant Suggs, Investigator Armstrong, and Officers Maltais and Molnar responded to a search and rescue in Destin.  It was reported that two swimmers were in distress.  The operator of a pontoon boat came to the aid of one of the distressed swimmers by pulling him onto the pontoon boat.  Witnesses reported that the second swimmer went down and did not surface.  Two FWC boats equipped with side scan sonar arrived on scene and a search recovery pattern was coordinated with the United States Coast Guard and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s marine vessel units.  Within a few hours, the deceased swimmer was located using side scan sonar.

FWC officers responded to assist the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office in locating two young women who were missing from the Blackwater State Park.  The officers located the two women just south of the park boundary.  The women were tubing and passed the bridge and swimming areas.  When they realized that they could go no further, they spent the night on a sandbar and attempted to walk back towards the park the next morning.  The women were shaken up from their ordeal, but were unharmed.  Many residents and tourists aren’t aware that the Blackwater River is impassable just south of the Blackwater River State Park and just north of the intersection with Coldwater Creek.

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. Information provided by FWC.

Comments

One Response to “FWC Law Enforcement Report”

  1. Andy on July 19th, 2015 6:59 am

    Still no report on boating accident July 5th on Old River at 4:30 am when a boat
    hit Sea Sprays dock, Taking out 4 sections on West end. Plenty of F W C people
    were there. Where is follow up? How are the people that were in boat? What
    caused them to hit pier??

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News