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FWC Law Enforcement Report

The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period November 18 through December 1 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

While on water patrol in Pensacola Bay, Officer Cushing conducted a resource inspection of a recreational vessel returning from a fishing trip. While alongside, Officer Cushing asked the persons on board if they had any fish. The operator/owner of the vessel responded that they had ten mahogany snapper. Upon further inspection, it was revealed that they had eleven undersized red snapper during closed season. The appropriate action was taken for the violation.

Lieutenant Lambert was working in the area of Salter’s Lake in the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he heard a gunshot nearby. Several hours later, he spoke to a hunter exiting the area who witnessed two individuals dragging a deer. Lieutenant Lambert responded to the area and spoke to two individuals who were at their truck in the parking area. Both subjects denied shooting anything. One of the subject’s boots had a large smear on it. The subject explained the blood was from cleaning a squirrel the day before. After interviewing the subjects, one of them admitted to killing a deer. Both subjects led Lieutenant Lambert to a small buck with spikes approximately one inch in length. The deer had been gutted and left approximately 500 yards away. A notice to appear citation was issued for the illegal deer.

Officer Clark responded to a call in which the complainant advised that there was an owl caught on a line on an adjacent piece of property. The complainant escorted the officer around the property, where a dead barred owl was seen caught in a steel trap, one of three which were set on top of wooden poles. There were also more than 100 chickens on the 2‑acre piece of property, housed in a variety of containers and some roaming free, with little sign of food and water. The small amount of food and water was mixed with feces and appeared old. The landowner claimed the chickens belonged to her son and he must have set the steel traps. Officer Clark interviewed the suspect and confirmed he set the traps. The subject was cited accordingly for setting steel traps in an attempt to take wildlife and for killing the owl. The officer also contacted animal control regarding the chickens. The animal control officer responded and issued both subjects citations for 79 counts of animal cruelty.

Officers Long, Manning and Allgood conducted a fisheries inspection on the commercial fishing vessel, Family Feud, where they discovered 28 undersized vermillion snapper, two undersized red snapper, and one undersized gray triggerfish. The fish were seized and the captain of the vessel was issued notice to appear citations for possession of undersized vermillion snapper, red snapper, and gray triggerfish. The captain will also be subject to enhanced penalties due to similar citations previously issued within the last six months.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officers Clark and Hutchinson received a complaint from a resident that someone had shot an 8‑point buck on his property the night before. The complainant reported that the suspect was driving a white truck with a loud exhaust and the deer was left in the field. Later that evening, the officers observed a white pickup traveling at slow speed and displaying a light out the driver side window in a manner capable of disclosing the presence of deer. They followed the vehicle a short distance and observed the vehicle turn off the road and park in tall brush as if trying to conceal the vehicle. The officers initiated a stop and found the driver in possession of a loaded rifle. In the truck, a cooler with fresh deer meat and the head of a 6‑point buck were found. The suspect claimed he hit the deer with his truck although the truck had no apparent damage. While being questioned, the suspect admitted he shot the buck a couple nights before. The suspect then led the officers to the location of the deer carcass. Only the back strap meat had been removed. The cooler in the suspect’s truck contained meat from an entire deer. The suspect then admitted to killing a doe deer a few days before – also at night with a rifle. The officers asked the suspect if he had any pictures of the deer he shot. He voluntarily showed the officers several photos, some of which were other bucks. Additional questioning revealed the suspect had shot five deer over the past couple of weeks. Two of the deer were shot in daylight hours and three were not. All of the deer were shot with a rifle. Upon completion of the interview, the officers seized a six‑point deer, seven‑point deer, eight‑point deer, nine‑point deer, a glass pipe with drug residue, 270 rifle with scope, 270 caliber bullets, sim card from phone, spotlight, and deer meat. The suspect was issued a notice to appear citation for attempting to take a deer with a gun and light and possession of drug paraphernalia. Warrants will be obtained for the additional charges of taking a deer with a gun and light along with taking a deer by illegal methods.

Officer Hutchinson was on foot patrol near a baited hunting site within the Blackwater State Forest. As he was walking towards the baited site, he observed two subjects in camouflage standing near a parked vehicle in close proximity to the trail leading to the bait. Officer Hutchinson crawled towards the vehicle for approximately 75 yards until he was within 10 yards of the vehicle. After watching the subjects for a while, he observed another subject walking towards the vehicle coming from the area of the trail leading to the baited site. After the subject reached the parked vehicle, another vehicle drove up and the third subject got in it. Officer Hutchinson made contact with all subjects and questioned them about the baited site. The third subject was untruthful at first. Officer Hutchinson checked the tread on the subject’s boots and then followed his tracks in the sand to the baited site while the subject accompanied him. He then admitted to placing the bait and the hunting stand on the management area. He was issued a notice to appear citation for placing bait in a management area.

Officer Hutchinson received a complaint regarding a subject who had dumped two deer carcasses on the side of the road. The complainant informed him that the subject drove a small truck with an Alabama license plate and was traveling south along the road. After several minutes, the complainant contacted Officer Hutchinson again and informed him of the location of the suspect’s vehicle. Officer Hutchinson drove to where the deer were dumped and discovered an antlerless deer and a spotted fawn carcass dumped along the right of way. He then drove to the suspect’s location and observed fresh deer blood, hide and pieces of the fawn in the back of the truck. After questioning, the suspect admitted to harvesting the deer in Alabama and dumping the carcasses on the side of the road. After checking the subject’s Alabama hunting license, Officer Hutchinson discovered that he didn’t list either one of the deer on his license and he didn’t report harvesting the deer, which is a requirement in Alabama. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation for littering in excess of 15 pounds and for possession of a spotted fawn. The subject removed the carcasses from the right of way. Alabama Game and Fish officers were notified of the violation in Alabama.

During the opening week of archery season, Officer Ramos discovered signs of illegal hunting over bait in the Eglin WMA. Over the course of several weeks, he conducted patrol and surveillance of the baited area, but found no one hunting over the bait. This past Saturday, he returned to the area and found a subject hunting from a tree stand near the bait. After an interview, the man admitted to placing bait in the management area and was charged accordingly. In addition to several criminal charges, the suspect’s hunting and fishing privileges in Eglin WMA were revoked for one year.

Officer Hutchinson was patrolling in Blackwater State Forest when he made contact with a male subject parked along one of the forest roads. The subject informed the officer about a shot he just heard from what sounded like a high-powered rifle. With more details, he determined that the shot came from a large piece of property surrounded by state forest. He drove to the private property and observed a mobile home and a camper parked under a shed approximately 300 yards away from the mobile home. A male subject walked out from behind the shed and Officer Hutchinson made contact with the subject, who appeared very nervous. While questioning the subject about the gun shot, he admitted shooting a doe deer with a high-powered rifle. He showed Officer Hutchinson the deer which was inside of a tractor bucket behind the shed. After further questioning, Officer Hutchinson discovered the subject was a convicted felon. The subject took Officer Hutchinson to where he placed the firearm after shooting the deer. Officer Hutchinson then discovered that the deer was shot on the Blackwater State Forest and the subject did not have a valid Florida hunting license or a WMA permit. After further investigation, Officer Hutchinson discovered another firearm that belonged to the subject. After seizing both firearms for evidence, the subject was issued a notice to appear citation for taking a deer during archery season with a firearm. He was issued a citation for hunting without a valid hunting license. Other charges are pending for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Lieutenant Clark was on land patrol in Navarre when he observed billowing black smoke drifting over the highway and into surrounding communities. He located the source of the black smoke and fire at a residence off Highway 98, where the homeowner was spraying water on the fire with a garden hose. Prohibited material was being burned: a bed mattress, particle board type furniture and a PVC pipe. The homeowner was cited and issued a notice to appear environmental citation.

Officers Hoomes and Long were working archery season in Eglin WMA when they observed a truck parked near an area Officer Hoomes had previously located baited with corn. The officers walked to the area and observed a subject hunting from a tree stand approximately 15 yards from the corn. The subject denied placing the corn but did say he knew it was there. The subject was issued a citation for hunting over bait in a WMA.

Officer Lewis attended College and Career Day at Jay High School. He spoke with the students on how to become an FWC officer and what to expect from a career as an FWC officer. Officer Lewis also answered many fish and wildlife related questions during the event.

Officer Lewis spoke with approximately 75 fourth grade students, teachers, and parents of Bagdad Elementary School at Blackwater River State Park. He explained FWC’s mission, duties of an FWC officer, and the importance of conservation.

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.