Field operations weekly report, 2008 February 17-23

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 17-23, 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)
CARROLL COUNTY On Sunday, February 24th, Sgt. Danny Crook, Cpl. Rick Dempsey, Cpl. Eric Brown, and RFC Chad Cox along with the Little Tallapoosa River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation were presented with an award at the National Convention in Atlanta for the best JAKES Day Event (with over 450 youth participants). The Department of Natural Resources provides and runs events at the annual JAKES Day including the Laser Shot, Fishing Simulator, Archery, Plant Identification, Wildlife Identification, and Turkey Identification.
FANNIN COUNTY On February 17th, Cpl James Keener attended the National Wild Turkey Federation Banquet. Cpl Keener utilized the Laser Shot Simulator for the enjoyment of the banquet guests.
FLOYD COUNTY RFC Ben Cunningham and Cpl. Shawn Elmore patrolled the Brushy Branch area of the Coosa River due to high boating and fishing activity. Approximately 15 boats and 25 fishermen were checked. Several citations were issued for fishing without a license and operating a vessel without personal flotation devices.
GORDON COUNTY Cpl. Shawn Elmore completed an inspection of Sanford's Taxidermy in Ranger and Pettit's Taxidermy in Fairmount. Both taxidermists were found to be in full compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations.
POLK COUNTY On February 24th, Cpl Ricky Dempsey received a call about trespasser on private property. He responded and apprehended three subjects and turned them over to the Polk County Police Department to be charged with trespassing. They were connected with the vandalism of a tree stand and stealing of an office chair from the stand the day before. This lead Cpl. Dempsey and RFC Chad Cox to a camper trailer in Floyd County where the three subjects were staying. Upon arriving at the trailer, the rangers knocked on the door and heard movement, but know one came to the door. The rangers thought they heard movement in a small shack that had carpet hanging over the door. While checking the shack for officer's safety the rangers discovered a working liquor steel. The liquor steel was turned over to Floyd County Police Department.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HART COUNTY On February 17, Cpl. Craig Fulghum was patrolling affidavit properties in Hart County. He caught two subjects fishing without permission on the Goldmine Watershed. Each subject was charged for fishing without permission.
On February 22, RFC Josh Chambers received a complaint from a landowner in Hart County about numerous illegal dump sites on a piece of private property. Chambers began searching the area and has currently written ten citations for illegal dumping and is still investigating several others with more charges possible. RFC Chambers has also contacted the E.P.D. for assistance.
GWINNETT COUNTY On February 13, 2008 Cpl. Eric Sanders and Fisheries Senior Biologist Chris Martin presented a program to the Hebron Baptist Church Sportsman Group. This program was about trout fishing on the Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam in Gwinnett County. Chris Martin presented a power point on the stocking program on the Chattahoochee River. Cpl. Sanders followed up with answering questions on trout laws and other general questions about the river.
JACKSON COUNTY On Thursday February 21, 2008, RFC Eric Isom attended a wild game super sponsored by Maysville Baptist Church. Approximately 1200 people attended the wild game super. RFC Isom set up and demonstrated his sections deer decoy. In addition, he answered questions from the public.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On Saturday, February 23, Cpl. Greg Colson responded to an in progress hunting without permission complaint on Duck Pond Rd. in Oglethorpe County. Upon arrival he met with the owner of a high fence operation. The subject had found a dog running around on his property. He also found drag marks where a hog had been dragged off his property onto the adjoining tract through a downed section of the fence. There, he located a group of five hog hunters who were in possession of a dead hog. The subjects were confronted and denied having been inside the fenced area but one of the subjects did claim the dog. The hunters advised Cpl. Colson their dogs had killed the hog on their property. They also made mention of two other hunting parties utilizing the same land that day. The incident is still under investigation

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
On February 18, 2008 Corporal Wanda Roberts attended E-Team Training at GEMA Headquarters that will assist department personal in documenting and tracking incident complaints generated by the public.
On February 23, 2008 RFC Travis Sweat, RFC Brooks Varnell assisted with the shooting and fishing simulators at the NWTF 32nd Annual Convention and Sport Show held in Atlanta at the World Congress
PUTNAM COUNTY On February 21, 2008 Sgt. Bo Kelly received a call to assist Putnam County with the search for an elderly man who had been out on his property (approx. 600 acres) and had not returned home. Sgt. Kelly requested assistance from personnel in Region III. Due to weather conditions this search had to be done by foot and ATV. On Feb. 23, the subject was located approximately 2 miles from his vehicle.
SPALDING COUNTY On February 18, 2008 RFC Travis Sweat and RFC Kevin Godbee participated in Spalding County Game Banquet located at the Spalding County High School in Griffin Georgia. The department Wildlife Trailer as well as handouts were used during the presentation. Personnel also spoke with the public and students about Wildlife, Boating Safety and the functions of the Department of Natural Resources.
BIBB COUNTY On February 23, Rangers Kevin Joyce and Tim Butler conducted patrol in the area of Lake Tobesofkee in regards to creel limit and license compliance checks. A total of six license violations were documented, with the offenders being issued courtesy warnings for the infractions.
BLECKLEY COUNTY On February 17, Corporal Robert Stillwell encountered two subjects driving into the area of a public boat ramp on the Ocmulgee River. After observing one of the subjects drinking alcohol, Cpl. Stillwell initiated contact. During this interaction Stillwell detected the odor of marijuana and he inquired as to whether the subjects were in possession of the drug. Initially, the subjects denied having marijuana but upon further questioning one of the subjects voluntarily gave the officer a marijuana pipe. Further investigation revealed this subject was in possession of marijuana and he was taken into custody and charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. The second subject was cited for the offense of having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

CRAWFORD COUNTY On the evening of February 23, Ranger Kevin Joyce responded to a complaint regarding the illegal killing of a deer out of season. Upon arriving at the scene Joyce discovered fresh blood in the area where the deer was allegedly shot. Further investigation revealed the deer had been transported to a nearby residence, where Joyce discovered the tail of a freshly killed deer in the back of a pickup. However, no further physical evidence was found. The resident of the home denied having any knowledge of who killed the deer but did admit that he allowed the guilty party to utilize his ATV to retrieve the animal. The incident is still under investigation.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
STEWART COUNTY On Saturday February 23, 2008. Sgt. Butch Potter, RFC. Jim Atchley and Alabama Game and Fish officers conducted a combined patrol to investigate a report of illegal hunting activity occurring in both jurisdictions. Sgt. Potter, RFC. Atchley and Cpl. B.J. Foster conducted patrols of the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge for fishing and regulation violations. Citations were issued for possession of marijuana, fishing without license and illegal use of an all terrain vehicle.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EVANS COUNTY On February 23, 2008, RFC Debbie Brannen and Cpl. Dave Sims inspected a local taxidermist. A written warning was issued for failure to tag wildlife. The taxidermist was advised in detail of the laws that regulate taxidermy. The same day two local fish dealers were inspected and one was issued a written warning for selling fish without a fish dealer's license. The business was given an application and advised of the requirements of the law.
ECHOLS COUNTY On Friday, February 22, 2008, Cpl. Damon Winters and Cpl. Gary Simmons attended Career Day at Echols County High School. They were able to speak to students from 9th through 12th grade about a career in the Wildlife Resources Division, Law Enforcement Section. The program was well received and several students showed interest in pursuing a career with the Law Enforcement Section.
TELFAIR COUNTY On February 23, 2008 RFC McLaughlin assisted Helena Police Department with a vehicle chase that resulted in the fleeing driver threatening to commit suicide after wrecking his vehicle. The driver had armed himself with a handgun and sat in his wrecked vehicle. During the standoff, the driver began to drink. He also stated he would not go back to jail and that the police would have to kill him. After several hours of negotiations, the subject became unconscious and was pulled from the vehicle without

harm. The subject also was found to be using crack cocaine before and during the stand off and was subsequently charged for all offenses.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
WAYNE COUNTY After dark on 02-23-08, RFC Randy Aspinwall and Sgt. D.V. Grantham responded to a call for an overdue boater on the Altamaha River. The Rangers launched a boat at Jaycee landing and while searching down river the boat was located. The Rangers then towed the people and boat back to Jaycee landing. There were no injuries.
LONG COUNTY On 02- 23-08 Cpl. Bobby White set up and operated the Laser Shot system for the Ludowici Baptist Church in Long County. The event was a "Wildlife Supper" sponsored by the church in Ludowici. There were 200 people in attendance at the event.
CAMDEN COUNTY On 2-17-08, RFC Craig Smith and Cpl. Chris Hodge responded to a single boat incident on Borrell Creek off the St. Marys River. The incident resulted in 3 of the 4 subjects being thrown from the vessel. One passenger was transported by helicopter to Shands Trauma Unit in Jacksonville, Florida with severe injuries. The operator of the vessel was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence. The incident is still under investigation.
GLYNN COUNTY On 02/10/08 at approximately 8:00 pm Cpl. Ron Harris and Cpl. Jimmy Finn received a call of a disabled boat somewhere in Lewis's Creek on the Altamaha River. While preparing to launch their boat Cpl. Harris was able to make contact with one of the occupants of the boat who stated that they had five people onboard; three adults and two children. Also, that they where somewhere near Poppell's Bluff. Cpl. Harris and Cpl. Finn then launched their boat, at which time they engaged the motor and lost the lower unit on the patrol boat's motor, after getting the disabled patrol boat back on the trailer Cpl Harris and Cpl Finn then had to take the disabled boat back to their boat house and get another patrol boat so they could continue their response. After getting the other patrol boat and launching it Cpl. Harris and Cpl. Finn began their search of the area. After a short search the disabled boat was located and the people where loaded onto the patrol boat and transported back to Champney Boat Ramp. Once back at the boat ramp Cpl. Harris and Cpl. Finn waited with the people until family arrived to pick them up.
On 02/16/08 Cpl. Ron Harris and RFC Mark Carson worked with the Georgia State Patrol and Glynn County Police Department to provide traffic control and security for the annual Southeast Georgia Health Systems Bridge Run, which is a mini marathon over and back across the Sydney Lanier Bridge. This year over 600 runners and walkers participated in the event.

On 02/19/08 and 02/20/08 Cpl. Ron Harris, Cpl. Bill Bryson, RFC. Craig Smith and RFC. Isaac Strickland, who are all members of the State of Georgia Counter Terrorism Task Force, went to two days of training at Lake Blackshear in Cordele, Georgia. This training was the first opportunity to have the whole task force together in one place at one time. The Task Force is made up of Officers from DNR, GSP and GBI. This unit is designed to responded to any type of terrorist event anywhere in the State of Georgia. Officer's assigned to the Task Force receive specialized training in a variety of tactics along with specialized tactical gear to help them complete their missions.