FWC Law Enforcement Report

April 19, 2017

The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the  period ending April 13 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

Officer Clark attended the Annual Kid’s Fishing Clinic in Pensacola. There were approximately 400 kids in attendance, making it one of the largest in the state. The kids were taught the basic techniques of fishing and were given a rod and reel. Officer Clark answered many fish and wildlife questions from the parents.

Officer McHenry attended the Annual Firefighters Challenge at Pensacola Beach. He displayed a marked patrol truck in a first responder’s area that was set for kids. He also handed out brochures and answered many questions.


SANTA ROSA COUNTY

Officer Ramos received information that several men were fishing in Escambia Bay and keeping red snapper. After making his way to the area, the officer saw men actively fishing. When he asked the men if they had caught any fish, they replied that they had not. License and resource inspections revealed that one of the men had caught and kept two red snapper. The fish measured 11 and 10 inches, respectively. One of the men admitted he caught both fish. The fish were seized and the man was charged accordingly.

Officers Mullins and Hutchinson were patrolling the Yellow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), when they saw a truck damaging the road by spinning out. They stopped the truck and approached the man driving it. While speaking with him, three more trucks with large mud tires pulled up to them covered in fresh mud. The officers discovered that they were all together. During interviews, the men driving the trucks admitted to riding along closed roads and mud riding in a closed clay pit. While the officers were driving back to the pit to access the damage to state lands, they saw more damage to the roadways that was caused by the four trucks. The officers issued each man a notice to appear citation for damage to public lands by a motor vehicle. They were also issued warnings for driving on closed roads.

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.

NorthEscambia.com photo.

Comments

5 Responses to “FWC Law Enforcement Report”

  1. John Mason-Smith on April 22nd, 2017 8:59 am

    Wait, you can catch red snapper in Escambia Bay?

  2. RC on April 20th, 2017 7:27 am

    What I would like to see is a judge sentence them to about 6 months of weekends with a wheelbarrow and a hand tamper repairing the damage they’ve done. If they get done with that there’s trash to be picked up. The road to Fillingim Landing is crushed concrete and has been damaged by people stopping on the back side of the water diversion berms and digging huge ruts in the road. Then erosion starts. They try to have a nice facility there providing restrooms and trash cans but some people are too sorry to use the cans, preferring to throw their trash in the bushes. FWC officers have their hands full trying to cover all of the locations.

  3. Bob's Brother on April 19th, 2017 9:08 pm

    It’s pathetic that someone would keep 2 grossly undersized and out of season snappers. Are you that weak in fishing skill that you’d elect to keep that? Sell your boat, turn in your man card and give up fishing. You officially s__K.

  4. Phillip on April 19th, 2017 8:08 pm

    Many thanks to all the FWC officers who help protect state lands. The people who destroy the roads need to be held responsible by having to repay the state for the cost to repair the roads. The cost for repairs falls on the rest of the taxpayers who just want to enjoy the forest.

  5. BentStraight on April 19th, 2017 8:04 am

    Good work nabbing those scofflaws tearing up the forest roads, I hope they wind up having to pay hefty fines!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News