Field operations weekly report, 2008 June 22-28

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report June 22-28, 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)
CHEROKEE COUNTY On June 22nd, Conservation Rangers patrolled Lake Allatoona. One suspect was arrested for boating under the influence after the rangers first observed the subject operating a PWC without wearing a personal floatation device. The officers issued three additional citations for various boating safety violations.
On June 23rd, Conservation Rangers assisted the Bartow County EMS and the Cherokee Dive Team in the recovery of a drowning victim in the area of Red Top Mountain State Park on Lake Allatoona. Conservation Rangers also investigated two boating accidents and issued several citations for boating safety violations during the week.
FANNIN COUNTY On June 27th, RFC Eddie Tompkins and Ranger Cody Jones Patrolled Lake Blue Ridge. The Rangers issued 2 citations and 7 warnings for boating and fishing violations.
On June 27th, RFC Eddie Tompkins filed charges in the Fannin County Juvenile Court on the operator of vessel involved in a hit and run boating incident that occurred on Lake Blue Ridge on June 13, 2008.
MURRAY COUNTY On June 27th, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Sgt. Brian Keener and Ranger Brad Hamby were conducting surveillance in an area along the Coosawattee River when they observed a subject using a cast net to catch fish. Upon checking, the subject was found to be in possession of several game fish. After issuing appropriate paperwork, the fish were released back into the river.
On June 28th, officers with DNR Law Enforcement, DNR Game Management, US Forest Service, and the Murray County Sheriff's Office conducted a detail on Holly Creek on the Cohutta WMA. Officer issued 31 citations during the detail, including eight citations for possession of marijuana, eleven for littering, eight for alcohol related offenses, three for traffic violations, and one for public indecency. Four suspects were arrested and booked into the Murray County Detention Center.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On June 25th, RFC Eddie Tompkins patrolled the Conasauga River and Crown Lake in Dalton. RFC Tompkins issued 5 citations and 2 warnings for boating and license violations.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FORSYTH COUNTY On June 27th, Ranger Pamela Garrison received a call about a bear that had been hit by an automobile on GA Hwy 20 in the city limits of Cumming. After she arrived on the scene she found a female bear that had been hit. The Game Management Section was notified and Wildlife Technician IV Mark Turner responded to assist Ranger Garrison with the bear.
On June 28th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Mark Stephens were patrolling Lake Lanier at Brown's Bridge. The rangers noticed a pontoon boat with a ski boat riding next to it. The passenger of the ski boat then signal the pontoon boat that the rangers were watching them. As the rangers approached the pontoon from the driver's side they noticed that no one was operating the boat. As the pontoon had passed, a female was operating the boat. After stopping the boat the female that was seen driving earlier was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and reckless operation.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On June 27th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling the Chestatee River on Copper Mine Road. The rangers saw a car parked at the river bridge. After looking up and down the river a subject was spotted fishing. As the rangers were attempting to check the subject he left the riverbank. Sgt. Brown found the subject after he hid his fishing pole and was trying to hide from the rangers. The subject was arrested for fishing without a license, littering and failure to allow inspection.
UNION COUNTY On June 22nd, RFC Kevin Dyer and Union County SO deputy Rick Landress were conducting a search and recovery patrol on Lake Nottely when they located and recovered the body of a 41-year-old white, male drowning victim. RFC Dyer and Deputy Landress secured the body on the patrol boat, transported it to the nearest boat ramp, and turned it over to the coroner. The officers had been searching for the victim for the past 10 days around the Rock Cliff area near the dam of the lake.
On June 25th, RFC David Webb assisted the Union County SO and the US Forest Service with a Search and Rescue ATV patrol of the National Forest lands in and near Cooper's Creek WMA for a missing person. This person had been riding his crosscountry motorcycle in the area prior to not returning home on June 22. The Union County SO deputies found his body and motorcycle of this missing person on June 27 behind a locked gate on a closed US Forest Service road near the edge of Cooper's Creek WMA. The body has been sent to the GBI Crime Lab to determine the cause of death.

On June 28th, RFC David Webb responded to a drowning of a 19 year old white, male on Lake Nottely. The victim dove off a dock near the Canal Lake boat ramp to swim with friends when he went under. Divers recovered his body about one and a half hours after he went under and RFC Webb and EMS personnel secured the body and turned it over to the coroner.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY On June 28th, Sgt Chaffin, RFC Brian Adams, RFC Grant Matherly and Wildlife Tech III Mark Patterson provided assistance at the Neptune Dive and Ski Event on Clark's Hill Lake. They also worked one PWC incident on the lake.
NEWTON COUNTY Rangers in Newton County certified an employee for the Johnson County School System in Hunter/Firearm Safety Education to enable her to incorporate the class into her classroom.
ELBERT COUNTY On June 27th, Sgt. Brian Carter and Cpl. Greg Colson patrolled the Vans Creek and Coldwater Creek areas of Lake Russell during the Elbert County fireworks show.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
PUTNAM COUNTY On June 27th at approximately 9:00p.m., Corporal Bubba Stanford and RFC Chad Welch were patrolling the Oconee River area of Lake Sinclair when they observed a boat operating without lights after dark. Cpl. Stanford and RFC Welch stopped the boat and as they approached it the driver and a passenger attempted to swap seats. RFC Welch performed field sobriety on the operator and determined him to be under the influence. RFC Welch placed him under arrest and the subject was transported to the Putnam County Jail.
On June 28th at approximately 9:00 p.m. Corporal Bubba Stanford was patrolling Lake Sinclair near Hwy. 441 when he observed a boat towing a skier after sundown. Corporal Stanford stopped the boat and made the skier return to the boat. Corporal Stanford performed field sobriety on both the boat operator and the skier and it was determined that the operator was under the influence.
BALDWIN COUNTY On June 27th at approximately 11:00 p.m. Corporal Bubba Stanford and RFC Chad Welch were patrolling the Baldwin County side of Lake Sinclair when they observed a boat operating without lights. Corporal Stanford and RFC Welch stopped the boat and identified the operator. Corporal Stanford and RFC Welch took note of the large amount

of empty beer cans on the boat and the fact that the operator and passengers showed great difficulty in talking and walking and had a strong odor of a alcohol coming from the operator. When RFC Welch asked the operator to perform field sobriety exercises for him the operator refused to do any of the tests and he was placed under arrest for BUI and transported to the Baldwin County Jail.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On June 27th, RFC Tony Cox arrested a subject from Tallahassee Florida for operating a vessel while his boating privileges were suspended. The suspension of privileges resulted from the operator being charged for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol earlier this month on the Flint River.
LEE COUNTY On June 28th, Ranger Randy James assisted Dougherty County police with an investigation of a property theft at a boat ramp. From information obtained at the site it was determined that the stolen items were being transported from the scene in a boat. Ranger James and a member of the Dougherty County Police proceeded up the Kinchafhoonee Creek by boat where they found the suspect and the stolen items in another boat. In addition to having stolen items in his possession, the boat operator was found to be intoxicated and was charged with BUI. The suspect was transported to Lee County to face the BUI charge then to Dougherty County to face the theft charge.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On June 29th, Ranger Randy James and Cpl. Robbie Griner were conducting a boating patrol on Lake Worth when they encountered a boat illegally pulling a wakeboard. The wakeboard operator was found to be intoxicated, and was charged with operating a vessel under the influence.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BEN HILL COUNTY On June 26th, RFC Mike Kicklighter received a call about unlawful burning at Shapiro Recycling in Fitzgerald. Upon arrival Kicklighter observed a fire burning on the yard at the facility. After further investigation, tires, several plastic containers and aluminum were found to be burning in the fire along with various other materials. RFC Kicklighter issued a citation for unlawful burning greater than 500lbs. The Environmental Protection Division was also contacted and will be following up on the case.

APPLING COUNTY On June 28th, Ranger Chase Altman, Cpl. Jimmy Williams and Sgt. David Reckley conducted a boating safety patrol on Lake Mayers. Several vessels were checked and the following violations were documented: towing a skier without an observer, operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's (one short), operating a vessel without a throwable device, allowing an underage person to operate a personal watercraft and several vessels with registration violations.
EVANS COUNTY On June 25th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked the Evans Public Fishing Area. Two warnings were written for driving around a closed gate and fishing with more that two poles and line. The subject was given a copy of the current fishing regulation book and explained the rules and regulations in regard to the Evans Public Fishing area.
Also on the same day, Officer Brannen was working a complaint in reference to someone shining and shooting deer. Officer Brannen saw a spotlight and heard gunshots in the area. One subject was checked at his residence. He was shooting a shotgun in the air to scare off the deer in a soybean field behind his house. He was advised he needed to obtain a crop damage permit to continue and he said he would call for one the next day. No further action taken.
LANIER COUNTY On June 28th, RFC Tim Hutto received a call that someone was shining a field on Crisp School road. RFC Hutto made contact with a deputy in the county, who had also received the call. The deputy explained that an off duty corrections officer had the subject in custody at his residence. Upon searching the vehicle the officers found a 270-caliber rifle and a maglight. The subject was arrested and transported to the Lanier County Sheriffs Office. He was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting big game from a public road.
CLINCH, CHARLTON & WARE COUNTIES Sgt. Patrick Dupree and RFC Brad Cox patrolled all public boat landings surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp, including the Suwannee River and St. Mary's River landings for fishing and boating activity. The Rangers were focusing on over the limit violations in addition to encouraging boating safety. No violations were discovered.
CHARLTON COUNTY Cpl. Gary Simmons attended a three day training course, in Forsyth, with his K-9 Jake. All eight K-9 units were involved in training for evidence location, tracking, and obedience.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CAMDEN COUNTY On June 27th, Cpl. Chris Hodge responded to a drowning at a county owned lake off of Hwy 40. The victim's body was recovered the same day.
On June 27th, Cpl. Chris Hodge attended the captain's meeting of the St. Mary's Kingfish Tournament to educated anglers about Georgia's fishing and boating laws along with Gray's Reef regulations.
GLYNN COUNTY On June 28th, Cpl. Ron Harris participated in the Chick Fil-A, Big Boys Toys Event in Brunswick. Cpl. Harris spoke to over 100 people about boating safety during the 4-hour event.