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FWC Law Enforcement Report
January 5, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the two week period ending December 31.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Jones, Maltais and Pifer were conducting a detail in conjunction with FWC Law Enforcement Aviation section targeting early entry into the Eglin WMA. FWC Pilot Tolbert, who was patrolling the WMA by aircraft, contacted Officer Maltais that he had a visual on a vehicle driving in the WMA before legal hours. Pilot Tolbert guided Officer Maltais to the vehicle’s location where he conducted a traffic stop. There was a small hunting dog and a loaded shotgun in the cab passenger seat. The driver did not possess a driver’s license, Eglin hunting permit, hunting license nor a deer permit. During the stop, Officer Pifer smelled the odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle. The individual stated that there was no cannabis in the vehicle because he had smoked it all. During a search of the vehicle, Officer Pifer located a tobacco container which contained cannabis. Officer Pifer cited the individual for early entry into the WMA and for possession of cannabis under 20 grams.
Officer Hutchinson received a complaint about someone illegally dumping three deer carcasses on the side of the road near a gate to a hunt club. After speaking with the complainant, Officer Hutchinson learned of three male subjects who were bragging about killing three deer the day before the carcasses were discovered. Officer Hutchinson located all three subjects at one of their residences and conducted interviews. During the interviews, two of the subjects admitted to dumping the carcasses on the right of way. Both subjects were issued criminal citations for littering (exceeding 15 pounds).
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling near a hunting club when he observed a large amount of trash that had been illegally dumped on the right of way and on the hunting club property. While investigating, Officer Hutchinson found clues as to the identification of the owner. Officer Hutchinson drove to the suspect’s house. Once he arrived, he discovered that the residence was vacant. He made contact with an informant who informed him that the person who was renting the residence and a friend were seen hauling off several large loads of trash just a few days before. Officer Hutchinson made contact with one of the subjects and conducted an interview. The subject admitted to helping his friend illegally dump the trash. Officer Hutchinson contacted the other subject and conducted an interview. The second subject admitted to dumping the trash. Both subjects were charged with littering exceeding 15 pounds.
While on foot patrol in Blackwater River WMA, Officer Ramos located a type of tree stand that is commonly used for hunting deer. A short distance away, the officer found a heap of fresh corn and noted that it was placed in a direct line of sight from the tree stand. Officer Ramos continued surveillance on the area until he discovered a vehicle that had parked on the closed road nearby. Officer Ramos approached the tree stand undetected and caught a man hunting there, directly facing the bait. After a brief interview the man admitted to placing the bait in the management area to attract deer. He was cited with taking wildlife on WMA lands upon which grain or other food has been deposited, and also issued two warnings for other violations.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No report was submitted for Escambia County.
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
4 Responses to “FWC Law Enforcement Report”
These guys are awesome. They do old fashioned law enforcement the way my Grandpa did… (he was a game warden). The way they observe, sneak, stalk, and confront offenders at great peril to their person safety is so admirable.
what is a “heap” of corn? Sorry, just got a giggle from the verbiage. Good job LEO’s for a task that most don’t appreciate.
Law enforcement never has been cost effective when the total costs are factored in, but if society wants criminals caught then money has to be spent.
I’m all for catching people breaking hunting laws. In fact there are few things that I dislike less than a illegal hunter. But wasting taxpayer money to use planes to issue citations? The citations can’t even possibly recoup the money wasted on the jet fuel, much less the plane! Seems extremely wasteful to me.