Field operations weekly report, 2008 May 11-17

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report May 11-17, 2008
This report is a broad sampling of events that have taken place in the past week, but does not include all actions taken by the Law Enforcement Section.

Region I- Calhoun (Northwest)
FANNIN COUNTY On May 15th, Sgt. John VanLandingham and Cpl. Casey Jones responded to a report of a boating accident at the Lake Blue Ridge Marina. The vessel owner who reported the accident stated that they had came to the marina to prepare their boat for the upcoming weekend and found damage to the rear of the vessel and the outboard motor had been destroyed. The officers located another vessel in the marina that had recent damage matching the damage to the first vessel. On May 16th, Cpl. Jones and RFC Eddie Tompkins executed a search warrant and seized the suspected hit and run vessel.
FLOYD COUNTY In May of 2007 Cpl. Shawn Elmore and RFC Grant Matherly caught a Cedar Bluff, Alabama man illegally commercial fishing with baskets in the Coosa River. He had 117 catfish in his possession. This same man was also caught illegally commercial fishing in July 2002 by Cpl. James Keener and Cpl. Tommy Gentry where he had over 500 catfish. This man recently plead guilty to unlawful commercial fishing with baskets in the Coosa River, possession of illegally taken wildlife, non-resident commercial fishing without a license, and operating a vessel at night without lights. He was fined $500, placed on 12 months probation ($44 per month fee) and banned from fishing or obtaining a fishing license in Georgia and 25 other states. He was also ordered to forfeit ownership of the vessel, motor and all equipment he was caught with in May 2007. The vessel has been turned over to Floyd County EMA to be used for emergency operations on the rivers in Floyd County.
On May 17th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, Cpl. Tommy Gentry, RFC Chad Cox, and Ranger Roger McConkey participated in the Floyd County Ducks Unlimited Green Wings event held at the Taylor Farm in Shannon. Cpl. Elmore operated the laser shot, Cpl. Gentry taught the kids how to shoot BB guns, RFC Cox taught the archery program, and Ranger McConkey assisted with the skeet-shooting program. There were close to 150 kids and 200 plus adults in attendance.
GILMER COUNTY On May 17th, RFC Eddie Tompkins patrolled Carters Lake. He issued 3 citations and 5 warnings for boating violations.
HARALSON COUNTY On May 10th, Sgt. Danny Crook, Cpl. Eric Brown, and RFC Chad Cox attended the 27th annual Haralson County Trout Rodeo. Over 1200 youths were in attendance and over 400 rod and reels were given out. Sgt. Danny Crook's father, Max Crook, started the Trout Rodeo 27 years ago. The annual event has become a greatly anticipated outing by all who attend.

On May 13th, Cpl. Eric Brown presented a program to over 150 third graders at Buchanan Elementary School. Cpl. Brown taught the youths how to identify mammals and owls and how each was unique to their respective habitats in Georgia.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
LUMPKIN COUNTY On May 17th Cpl. Jason Roberson along with an intern assisted with a Kid's Fishing Event at Yahoola Reservoir. The children participating were Pre-Kindergartners rising to Kindergarten. There were approximately 75 children present with some of them catching their first fish.
WHITE COUNTY On May 17th, Cpl. Buddy Lovell and RFC Kevin Dyer assisted with a Jake's Day Event at Smithgall Woods. They set up and ran the Laser Shot System, which is designed to educate hunters on firearms safety.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY RFC. Bobby Timmerman responded to a drowning call on Clarks Hill Lake. Rangers from South Carolina recovered the body approximately 1 hour after the first call was
received.
RFC Robert Timmerman completed a joint investigation with South Carolina DNR Law Enforcement. The case dealt with several illegal excavations of American Indian sites along the Savannah River. On 5-12-08, Timmerman obtained two arrests warrants. Criminal cases were made for criminal trespass and illegal excavation of Indian artifacts.
Cpl. Ryan Swain and RFC Bobby Timmerman attempted to make a boating safety stop on Clarks Hill Lake. During the pursuit, items were being thrown from the violator's vessel. After the vessel came to rest, marijuana was discovered in the pocket of one of the people aboard. Other drug evidence was retrieved from the water. Charges were made for VGCSA, insufficient PFD's, littering, and no boat registration.
GLASCOCK COUNTY RFC Brian Adams worked a complaint of an illegal dig for Indian artifacts. Working on his off day, RFC Adams was able to set up surveillance on the area and apprehended two subjects caught in the act. Numerous pieces of pottery and arrowheads along with equipment used in the dig were confiscated.

WILKES COUNTY Capt. Thomas Barnard, Sgt. Brian Carter, Cpl. Julian Wilkins, Cpl. Greg Colson, RFC Bob Holley, Ranger Niki Spencer and SGT. Mark Padgett assisted the Georgia State Patrol with the annual Mayfest Celebration in Washington Georgia this past Saturday. Roadblocks were set up in several areas of the county. Numerous DUI and drug arrest were made.
WALTON COUNTY Region III Law Enforcement welcomes a new Ranger to Walton County. Ranger Niki Spencer is no stranger to DNR Law Enforcement. She is the daughter of longtime DNR Sgt. Donnie Peeples. Welcome aboard!
GREENE COUNTY Sgt. Matt Garthright and Cpl. David Allen patrolled Lake Oconee on May 17th. They assisted with one disabled vessel and escorted one vessel w/o lights back to shore.
RICHMOND COUNTY On 5-17-08, Cpl. Brian Hobbins assisted Sgt. Max Boswell with a marine event on the Savannah River. The event was an honors day for soldiers in the Augusta area. Approximately 10,000 people were in attendance. DNR provided boating enforcement and water security for the event.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BUTTS COUNTY On May 4th, RFC Keith Page and Sgt. Tim Kendrick checked for fishing activity on the Ocmulgee River behind the Lake Jackson Dam in Butts Co. While watching 4 subjects fish at approximately 9:00 pm RFC Page and Sgt. Kendrick noticed that 2 of the subject were smoking marijuana. After confronting the subjects, a search of the area revealed a 15-gram bag of marijuana. Both subjects were arrested and charged with V.G.C.S.A. (possession of less than 1oz. of marijuana)
BIBB COUNTY On May 11th, RFC Tim Butler, Cpl. Tony Wynne, Cpl. Robert Stillwell, and Sgt. Tony Fox assisted Bibb County authorities with emergency response efforts in regards to a tornado that struck the City of Macon earlier that morning.
TWIGGS COUNTY On May 11th, RFC Chad Welch, Wildlife Technician Ronnie Beard, and Sgt. Bo Kelly assisted Twiggs County authorities with emergency response efforts in regards to a tornado that struck the area of Dry Branch earlier that morning.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
SEMINOLE COUNTY On May 17, RFC Jeff Phillips and Cpl. Terri Jones responded to a boat incident with injuries on Lake Seminole. There were six severely injured occupants in the vessel. Due to the extensive damage to the vessel and the severity of some of the injuries, Sgt. David Ruddell, a DNR Critical Incident Reconstruction Team member was brought in to assist with the investigation. The cause of this incident has yet to be determined.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On May 15th, RFC Ben Roberts observed a pick up truck pulling into the Marine Canal ditch on the Flint River with trash in the back of it. This is a well-known dumping area in Albany. RFC Roberts met the vehicle as it was leaving the area and began questioning the driver. Upon further investigation RFC Roberts discovered that the subject was wanted out in Tift County for a probation violation. RFC Roberts placed the subject under arrest and searched the vehicle where he found a small amount of marijuana. Albany Police Department transported the subject to Dougherty County Jail.
On May 17th, Cpl Scott Carroll and RFC Al Greer observed a boat operating on Lake Worth with two adults and a child on board, who was not wearing a PFD. While conducting a check for the safety equipment on the vessel RFC Greer noticed a bag of marijuana in plain sight. The operator was placed under arrest and a further search of the vessel revealed another bag of marijuana. Both adult subjects were transported to the Dougherty County Jail for possession of marijuana less than 1 oz. The operator was also charged with allowing an underage child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a PFD and operating a vessel with improper PFD's. The child was released to his grandmother.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BERRIEN COUNTY On May 17th, Cpl. Greg Moody, RFC Tim Hutto, and Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey worked boating and fishing activity at Paradise PFA. Twenty-one citations were issued for boating and fishing violations. The officers also gave verbal guidance numerous times for other infractions such as blocking gates and fishing with more than 2 poles.
BULLOCH COUNTY On May 17th, Cpl. Dave Sims was worked boating safety on a stretch of the Ogeechee River and checked 12 boats, 26 fishing licenses and issued 1 citation for fishing without a license.

On May 11th, while checking river landings along the Ogeechee River in Bulloch County, Cpl. Eddie Akins located an abandoned boat that had been set adrift in an attempt to dispose of the vessel. The abandoned boat was a 15-foot fiberglass boat with a walk through windshield. The boat was an older model boat and in poor condition. Cpl. Akins and Sgt. William Vickers spent the rest of that Sunday afternoon getting the boat to the landing. The next couple of days were spent tracking the registration and owners of the boat in an attempt to locate the last owner of the vessel. The investigation ended when it was determined that the last known owner had sold the boat to an unknown individual approximately six to eight months ago.
On May 17th, Cpl Eddie Akins worked on the Ogeechee River checking boaters and fishermen. The activity of the day resulted in Cpl. Akins making several cases and warnings for no fishing license, operating a vessel without registration or expired registration and insufficient or improper PFD's.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On May 16th, Cpl. Dave Sims patrolled a section of the Ogeechee River near an area known as Steele Bridge. Cpl. Sims checked 8 boats, 21 fishing licenses and issued 2 citations; 1 for expired boat registration and 1 for insufficient life jackets.
LAURENS COUNTY On May 19th, RFC Rodney Horne received a call from the State Operations Center about someone hunting raccoons without permission on South East Paper property. RFC Horne contacted Cpl. Larry Dean and both responded to the property where a Laurens County Deputy had the violators detained. After evaluating the situation it was found that only one out of the five had a hunting license. Nine total citations where issued for hunting without a license and hunting without permission.
DODGE COUNTY On May 13th, Cpl. Johnny Ashe completed an investigation of a complaint of possible taking over the limit while turkey hunting and found the issue to not be true. However, the subject and his wife had taken 4 birds and after checking further on their licenses, they were found to be expired. The male subject was issued a citation and a warning for hunting without license and hunting without big game license and his wife was issued warnings for the same.
PIERCE COUNTY On May 11th, Cpl. Gary Simmons was traveling on River Road towards the FFA Landing on the Satilla River. Gary observed a suspicious vehicle traveling slow and weaving. Gary initiated a vehicle stop and found both the driver and passenger was drinking alcoholic beverages. The driver did not have a license and it was determined that the driver's license was suspended. Georgia State Patrol and a Pierce County Sheriff's deputy were called to the scene. Upon their arrival, the vehicle was searched and cocaine was found in the vehicle. Both subjects were charged with possession of cocaine and the driver was charged with driving with suspended license, open container, and DUI.

On, May 13th, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation requested Cpl. Damon Winters to assist with operation "Takedown". This was the culmination of a six months investigation of narcotics distribution in Pierce County. Thirty-two arrest warrants were executed without incident. All suspects were incarcerated at the Pierce County Jail.
TOOMBS COUNTY On May 16th, Cpl Jon Barnard conducted career day presentations at the Toombs County Middle School for the 6th, 7th and 8th grades with 625 students and 45 teachers in attendance.
On May 18th, RFC Clint Jarriel and Sgt. Donny Peebles were checking boats at the Highway 1 Bridge in Toombs County. They checked 4 boats and wrote citations for Operating Vessel Under the Influence and Insufficient PFD's.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
WAYNE COUNTY Between May 10th, and May 15th, Cpl. Bobby White caught 4 subjects fishing without permission and issued citations to each.
On May 12th and May 13th, Sgt Bunny Grantham taught a block of instruction to the current Conservation Ranger School on Man Tracking.
On May 15th and May 16th, Sgt Bunny Grantham, Cpl. Bobby White, and Ranger First Class Randy Aspinwall presented a Boating Safety Information & Education Program to the Arthur Williams Middle School. There were approximately 100 8th graders in the programs. Most of had never been on a boat or the Altamaha River.
On May 17th, Cpl. Bobby White and RFC Randy Aspinwall and responded to a call from the Wayne County 911 Center reference a woman and her children being stranded on the Altamaha River following a domestic violence case. The woman and her children were safely transported to the landing.
LONG COUNTY On May 17th, RFC Randy Aspinwall was requested to assist the Long County Sheriff's Office with a raid at an illegal Chicken Fighting Event. There were approximately 50 people involved in the event.