Field operations weekly report, 2008 February 3-9

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 3-9, 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 February 5th, Sgt John VanLandingham encountered two subjects that had entered into a fenced area marked with No Trespassing signs on TVA property along the Toccoa River to fish. The subjects were arrested for criminal trespass and fishing without a license.
GILMER COUNTY On February 7th, Sgt John VanLandingham obtained an arrest warrant on a suspect for influencing a witness. The suspect had been in jail on charges of hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle, and making false statements since January 8th, and is still incarcerated pending a probation revocation hearing. The new charge stemmed from a phone call that the suspect made from jail, where he contacted a witness to the original charges and attempted to force this witness to lie to law enforcement about the incident.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On February 5th and 6th, RFC Eddie Tompkins attended a Marijuana Examiner course in Forsyth, Georgia. This course will allow RFC Tompkins to test potential marijuana samples seized by Conservation Rangers and to testify in court as to whether the samples seized are actually marijuana and the weight of the samples seized. This is in an effort to reduce the workload of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's crime laboratories.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HART COUNTY On February 9, RFC Josh Chambers and Sgt. Stan Elrod worked a complaint on the Hart County Wildlife Management Area in reference to horseback riding. RFC Chambers had received four complaints in the past two weeks from hunters about horses riding in food plots causing damage and disturbing their small game hunting. This WMA has specified areas for dog training and the horses were interfering. RFC Chambers issued one citation for illegal horseback riding on a WMA. RFC Chambers warned this same subject two weeks ago for riding on the WMA.
HALL COUNTY On February 5, 2008 Corporal Adam Loudermilk received information that a bobcat had been killed illegally in Hancock County. After investigating and working with other Rangers near the area, it was determined that the bobcat had been mounted and was at a home in Hall County. On the 9th Corporal Loudermilk and RFC Mitchell Crump went to the home in Hall and questioned the subject about the bobcat. The subject stated that he had killed the bobcat while deer hunting. He also stated that he killed it with a .308, which is an illegal weapon. The subject was charged with possession of illegally taken

wildlife and warned for hunting with an illegal weapon. The bobcat mount was also taken and held as evidence.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
MORGAN COUNTY Ranger Rick Boles received a citizen complaint concerning a coyote caught in a leg hold trap. While investigating the complaint, Ranger Boles discovered 5 more traps, all of which were untagged. Boles began his surveillance of the area in the early morning hours of the next day. At three o'clock that afternoon Boles heard an ATV approaching the area. Boles observed a subject tending the traps that he had discovered the prior evening. The subject was cited for failure to inspect traps within a 24-hour period and failure to affix a stamped identification tag to the traps.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
TROUP/HEARD COUNTY On February 9, 2008, members of Sgt. Randy Hackley's work section worked a detail on West Point Lake specifically looking for people keeping over the limit of crappie. They met in LaGrange and while they were getting the details straight on their assigned locations, a burglary occurred nearby. RFC Jeremy Bolen and K-9 Officer "Griz" went to the scene, along with Sgt. Randy Hackley. The rear door to the house had been broken out and several items were taken from the house including guns and jewelry. "Griz" was able to track the suspects into the woods behind the house and two guns were recovered after they had apparently been stashed or thrown away by the thieves. "Griz" tracked them through the woods but lost the scent and was unable to continue on the track. It is unlikely that one or both of the guns recovered would have been found without the assistance of "Griz" and RFC Bolen. Cpl. Brent Railey and RFC Shawn Clark assisted in the search by patrolling the area looking at known access points to the property the thieves could have used.
The officers then went to several boat ramps in Troup County and Heard County and checked several dozen boats and fishermen. While they did not find anyone over the limit of fish, they made several cases and warnings for things such as fishing without a license, expired registration, etc. Sgt. Randy Hackley, Cpl. Brent Railey, Cpl. Jim Bradfield, RFC Shawn Clark and RFC Jeremy Bolen, as well as K-9 officer "Griz" participated in the detail.
HENRY COUNTY On February 3, 2008 RFC Travis Sweat and Sergeant Russ Ramsey conducted a patrol of the Upper Towaliga Reservoir in Henry County by boat for compliance of boating safety, trespassing and creel limit laws. Approximately 15 vessels and 30 fishermen were inspected. Two warnings were issued for fishing without license and operating vessel without registration.

HOUSTON COUNTY On February 9, 2008 Cpl Wanda Roberts participated in the 2nd Annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Fun-Shoot, which was held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. There were 300 participants from schools around the state. Assisting with the competition were WRD personnel from Game Management, Fisheries Management and Law Enforcement as well as numerous volunteers.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
COLQUITT COUNTY Cpl. Jason Shipes responded to a complaint on Joe Griffin Road in reference to a littering complaint. Upon arrival Cpl. Shipes located a significant amount of household garbage and discarded computer equipment. Following a lengthy investigation and interviews with several subjects, Cpl. Shipes was able to identify the violator who was interviewed and charged for the illegal dumping.
Cpl. Jason Shipes responded to a complaint on Perryman Road in reference to possible hunting without permission. Cpl. Shipes determined that the hunters did have permission to hunt on the property, however, citations were issued for several license violations that were discovered during the investigation.
STEWART COUNTY Sgt. Butch Potter and Cpl. Steve Robinson conducted surveillance operations to address complaints of illegal activities on the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. During the patrols an individual was arrested for violation of the Georgia controlled substance act.
THOMAS COUNTY RFC Mike Binion assisted with a benefit lunch for the family of Chad Griffin, a Thomas County deputy who received a spinal cord injury in a line of duty vehicle accident. Deputy Griffin is currently receiving treatment at the Shepherd Center Critical Care Hospital in Atlanta.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
APPLING/BACON COUNTIES On Friday February 8, 2008 Corporal Jimmy Williams along with personnel from game management completed commercial fox pen inspections. During these inspections only minor technical issues were discovered. These were addressed on site with no further corrections necessary. Cooperation from these stakeholders was excellent and all issues were resolved.
IRWIN COUNTY On Saturday February 9, RFC Joe Hilton and Sgt David Reckley investigated a hunting incident. While quail hunting an 11 year old male shot a 41 year old male in the lower left leg. The victim was treated at Tift General Medical Center and was found to have 52 shot pellets in his left leg and 4 in his right, all below the knee.

WARE COUNTY On February 3 at 0057 hrs, RFC Brad Cox was contacted by Ware County Emergency Operations Center in reference to possible night deer hunting activity in Tannerville. The complainant heard a rifle shot, looked out his window and saw a light in his field. He dressed, contacted his brother in law and proceeded to the field. Upon arrival they located an unoccupied van parked off the roadway. RFC Cox arrived and found the engine of the van still warm. A rifle was in the front seat along with a spotlight. RFC Cox contacted Cpl Gary Simmons and requested K9 Jake be brought to the scene. Due to scent contamination of the scene by the complainants K9 Jake was unable to pick up the trail of the violator. RFC Cox and Cpl Simmons decided to leave the area and set up on each end of the road and wait the violator out. Around 0400 hrs RFC Cox observed the violator vehicle pass his location. RFC Cox stopped the vehicle assisted by Cpl Simmons. The driver admitted to shooting at a deer. The driver and his 13-year-old son were escorted to the Ware County Sheriff's Department. The driver was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle. The 13year-old boy was not charged.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On 02/09/08 Cpl. Cindy Miller checked a commercial shellfish picking area where two individuals were picking oysters. Cpl. Miller checked for the appropriate licenses. One of the individuals was written a warning for not having a pickers permit for the area.
CAMDEN COUNTY On 02/04/08, RFC Craig Smith responded to a night search and rescue from a distressed boater who was lost in the fog. RFC Smith located the vessel with the people still onboard. He was successful in returning the vessel and people back to their port of landing.
On 02/09/08, Cpl. Chris Hodge investigated a boating accident with one injury that occurred on February 8. Cpl. Hodge is continuing to investigate the accident at this time.
02/08/08 and 02/09/08 Region VII Rangers assisted the Non-Game Conservation Section with their annual fundraiser, Weekend for Wildlife, on Sea Island. Rangers provided transportation for 128 people on five trips using 20 boats, while other rangers assisted in other activities and logistics for the event. The weekend event, which was the 20th annual, raised over one million dollars for the Wildlife Resources Division, Non-Game Conservation Section.