Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section Field Operations Weekly Report March 23-29, 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) CATOOSA COUNTY On March 29th, Ranger McConkey responded to a call from the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office. The Catoosa County Fire Department was on location with an illegal burn. The Ranger responded and found the subject was burning several tires, some car parts, several other metal structures, lumber, and household trash. The subject was cited with a violation of the waste control law by burning. CHATTOOGA COUNTY On March 29th, Ranger McConkey and Corporal Gentry checked a hunting club in Chattooga County for violations of hunting turkey over bait. The two Rangers had already patrolled the area looking for bait due to a complaint received earlier in the week. Four feeders full of corn and a couple of areas where corn had been scattered on the ground were found. When the Rangers arrived they could hear the subjects calling at two locations on the property. The Rangers split up to apprehend the subjects. Two citations were written for hunting turkey over bait. On March 29th, Ranger McConkey and Corporal Gentry heard a call over the radio for a Chattooga County Deputy to respond to a location were a turkey had been shot on private property. The Deputy asked over the radio if there was a DNR officer close to the area. The two Rangers responded to the complaint and found the landowner waiting with a large turkey that had been shot in his field. The owner stated that he probably ran the subject off, considering he was unlocking his gate to enter the property when the turkey was shot. He quickly made it down to the turkey, which was still moving, but could not find the poacher. The Rangers were able to find were the subject had shot the turkey from by finding the shot shell wad and peppering from the shot on a piece of farm equipment. The Rangers then went to a few houses close by to see if anyone had seen anything that morning. The case is still under investigation. FANNIN COUNTY On March 24th, Sgt. John VanLandingham and Cpl. James Keener were patrolling on US Forest Service property and came upon a vehicle sitting along side the road. The officers stopped to check the occupant's welfare. While speaking with the passengers it was determined that one of them was in possession of marijuana. The suspect was issued a citation for Violation of Georgia's Controlled Substance Act, possession of marijuana less than one ounce. FLOYD COUNTY On March 25th, RFC Ben Cunningham and Cpl. Shawn Elmore assisted the Calhoun Fisheries Management biologists on the Coosa River. The officers and biologists were using the Fisheries electro-shocking boats to collect female White Bass and male Striped Bass that were sent to the Richmond Hill fish hatchery. The white bass will be used as brood fish for the state's Hybrid Stocking Program. GILMER COUNTY On March 28th, Sgt John VanLandingham located a vehicle parked adjacent to a tract of property where he had received complaints from the landowner about hunters entering the property without permission. Sgt. VanLandingham searched the property and located a subject turkey hunting. The suspect was charged with hunting on lands of another without permission. WALKER COUNTY On March 30th, Sgt. Jeff Galloway and Cpl. Tommy Gentry responded to a called for assistance from Walker SO to help with a large fire at a carpet mill in LaFayette, The fire started when a machine caught fire and soon spread to a large section of the plant. Fire departments from surrounding counties and Tennessee responded to the scene. Sgt. Galloway and Cpl. Gentry assisted the county with evacuation of residents near the scene and assisted with traffic control. Cpl. Gentry also contacted EPD and remained on the scene until his assistance was no longer needed. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) DAWSON COUNTY On March 27, Sgt. Lee Brown and Ranger Pamela Garrison were patrolling trout streams in Dawson County. They were patrolling the Delayed Harvest part of the Amicalola River at Steele Bridge when they caught one subject fishing above the bridge, which is a closed trout stream. Later in the afternoon they were patrolling off of Hwy 136 and caught another subject fishing in a closed trout stream. LUMPKIN COUNTY On March 28, RFC Mitchell Crump the newly assigned Lumpkin County Ranger and Wildlife Technician Frank Manning were patrolling for fishing violations prior to trout season. They encountered five subjects fishing without permission in a year round trout stream. On March 28, Cpl. Eric Sanders, RFC Mitchell Crump, RFC Anne Alexander, RFC Kevin Dyer, Wildlife Technicians Frank Manning and David Shattuck were on the Chestatee WMA at Dick's Creek setting up a detail with the U. S. Forest Service. Prior to setting up, the Rangers encounter two subjects fishing in Dicks' Creek, which was closed to trout fishing. Both of these subjects were charged with fishing in closed trout waters. On March 29, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling Dockery Lake on Chestatee WMA for trout fisherman. Several fishermen were checked on the bank. The Rangers noticed a canoe that had been fishing was on the shore. The Rangers checked the two subjects that were in the canoe. They were asked if they had caught anything and they replied, "Yes" but they didn't know how many. It was determined that they were both over the daily limit for trout. The subjects also had no lifejackets in the canoe. GWINNETT COUNTY On March 29, Cpl. Sanders was traveling home from assisting Cpl. Jason Roberson with the opening day of trout season. Cpl. Sanders noticed two vehicles that almost collided with each other on Ronald Reagan Parkway in Gwinnett County. He noticed that the operator of the blue vehicle extend his right arm toward the driver of the other vehicle. Cpl. Sanders saw a pistol pointed at the driver. The operator with the pistol pointed the pistol at his own head while driving down the road. Cpl. Sanders called Snellville PD and Lawrenceville PD for back up on the felony stop. The subject was arrested without incident and turned over to the local agencies. Region III- Thomson (East Central) LINCOLN COUNTY On March 23rd, Cpl. Ryan Swain was checking the entrance of a baited club for vehicle activity when he noticed an overturned rock. Other than the overturned rock there where no other noticeable tracks. Cpl. Swain decided to investigate the property and check the baited areas. Upon inspection of the property Cpl. Swain located a person turkey hunting over bait. Cpl. Swain also found that the person had used a bicycle to gain entrance to the club. The subject said that the bicycle left very little sign for a Ranger to find and follow. The person was cited for hunting turkeys over bait and released. Later that same day Cpl. Ryan Swain and RFC Bobby Timmerman were on patrol for hunting activity when they observed a car parked in a wooded area near Clarks Hill Lake. RFC Timmerman and Cpl. Swain approached the vehicle and observed a person smoking a blue in color glass pipe. RFC Timmerman and Cpl. Swain detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. Both subjects were instructed to exit the vehicle and were identified by the officers. Marijuana was observed in plain view along with the blue pipe loaded with a burnt green substance. Also found in the vehicle were three marijuana blunts, marijuana grinder and a plastic bag containing several marijuana buds. Both subjects were charged with possession of marijuana less than an ounce. RICHMOND COUNTY On March 29th, Sgt. Max Boswell, Cpl. Ben Payne, Cpl. Michael Crawley, RFC Grant Matherly and RFC Jeff Billips participated in the annual Cooking for Kids Event. The officers provided an information booth along with a large patrol boat, Region III's K-9 Tar and the new Fishing Simulator. The officers placed third in the cooking competition with their famous catfish stew, alligator and deer steak wraps. Region IV- Macon (West Central) HARRIS COUNTY On March 21st, RFC Mitch Oliver attended the annual career day at Harris County Carver Middle School. RFC Oliver presented the duties and job responsibilities of a Georgia Conservation Ranger to the students in the 8th grade class. On Saturday, March 22nd, RFC Mitch Oliver assisted RFC Shawn Clark with checking two hunting clubs that bait had been located on. RFC Oliver located a vehicle parked along one of the club roads, which led to the bait. RFC Oliver approached the food plot and observed decoys and a pop-up blind in the edge of the woods. The two hunter's license and shotguns were checked and they were each issued citations for hunting big game over bait. TROUP COUNTY On the afternoon of March 23rd, Cpl. Jim Bradfield checked a baited area for hunters on Stewart Rd. This area was a small food plot that had been baited with birdseed and whole corn. After checking the immediate area around the bait, Cpl. Bradfield followed a fresh set of ATV tracks down a second road into the property. The ATV tracks led to another food plot some distance away where Cpl. Bradfield located two turkey hunters in a tent blind. There was no bait in this area and the hunters were properly licensed. The hunters indicated that another subject hunted the area that was baited. On afternoon, March 23rd, Cpl. Bradfield was checked an area for turkey hunting activity around Dallas Mill Rd. After checking this area Cpl. Bradfield came across three subjects who had been riding ATV's on the county road. The ATV's and the three subjects were all concealed inside a metal culvert pipe under the road. The subjects claimed that they were washing the ATV's in the creek that runs through the pipe but the ATV' were still covered with mud. Cpl. Bradfield notified the Troup County Sheriff's office because on the damage the ATV's had caused to the road and right-of-way. A Sheriff's Deputy responded and took a report and advised the three subjects not to ride the ATV' on the public road anymore. HOUSTON COUNTY On March 26, Sgt. Tony Fox responded to a complaint regarding a dead Canada goose found floating in the complainant's private pond. Subsequent investigation revealed the goose died from a lead pellet fired from an air rifle. The case is currently under investigation. PULASKI COUNTY On March 29, RFC Tim Butler received a complaint regarding three individuals fishing in a private pond without permission. The pond owner had previously filed an affidavit to prosecute anyone found fishing in the pond without permission. RFC Butler responded and witnessed three subjects fishing from the bank of the pond. All three subjects were issued citations for fishing without permission. JASPER COUNTY On the morning of March 29, RFC Billy Bryant and USFS Ranger Chris Upton were patrolling a piece of private property near the Oconee National Forest where turkey bait had been previously discovered. Two non-resident hunters were found hunting turkey on the property. One of the hunters was hesitant to come out of the blind when approached by officers. Once finally out of the blind, Bryant went into the blind as Upton talked to the hunter, to investigate, and located an electronic turkey-calling device. The subject had no hunting license and a resident big game license. Citations were issued for hunting big game over bait, non-resident hunting without a license, non-resident hunting without big game license, and hunting with an electronic / illegal device. Later that same morning while patrolling another baited area, Upton and Bryant located a food plot with cracked corn spread throughout it. A hunter was found a short distance away and was charged with hunting big game over bait. CLAYTON COUNTY On March 23, opening weekend of turkey season, RFC Godbee and RFC Travis Sweat checked several baited areas for illegal turkey hunting activity in Clayton and Spalding Counties. The two rangers were able to locate and issue citations to three subjects for hunting turkeys over bait, one warning and one citation for hunting hogs over bait, two warnings for hunting without license and one warning for hunting without big game license. MERIWETHER COUNTY On March 23, Sergeant Russ Ramsey and Corporal Keith Waddell located a stolen vehicle out of Decatur, Georgia off Wilbur Keith Road in Meriwether County while on patrol for turkey hunting activity opening weekend of turkey season. Utilizing the fishing simulator on March 28, Corporal Wanda Roberts and Corporal Keith Waddell conducted a Hunter Development Program for one hundred and fifty of the Greenville Baptist Church's congregation in Meriwether County. HENRY COUNTY On March 29, Sergeant Russ Ramsey and Corporal Wanda Roberts presented a Hunter Development Program with the laser shot for seventy-five members of Bethany Baptist Church in Henry County. Region V- Albany (Southwest) CRISP COUNTY On March 23, 21 Rangers from Regions IV, V, and VI assisted the Cordele Police Department, Crisp County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia State Patrol with security patrols at the Cordele Easter celebration. The Rangers worked closely with Cordele Police Officers providing ATV patrols to maintain crowd control and ensure the safety of the participants of the event. SCHLEY COUNTY On March 23, Cpl. Tommy Lawrence was patrolling for turkey hunting activity in Schley County when he noticed a truck occupied by two males dressed in camouflage backing out of a wooded area. Cpl. Lawrence stopped to talk with the two hunters, and during their conversation Cpl. Lawrence smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Both subjects admitted to hunting turkeys and neither had purchased a big game license. Following on the odor of marijuana, Cpl. Lawrence obtained permission to search the vehicle and found the remains of two marijuana cigarettes that had been smoked. Both subjects were placed under arrest and transported to Schley County Sheriff's Office for hunting without a big-game license and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. WEBSTER COUNTY On the morning of March 28, Sgt. Butch Potter patrolled west Webster County for turkey hunting. Several hunters were checked and two citations issued for non-resident hunting without a license and non-resident hunting without a big game license. One written warning was given for hunting with an unplugged gun. STEWART COUNTY On the morning of March 29, Cpl. Steve Robinson discovered three teenagers hunting turkeys over bait. None of them were licensed and their guns were unplugged. They also had a .308 caliber rifle in their possession. Cpl. Robinson gave the teens verbal warnings for their infractions. The hunter's father was found nearby and charged with non-resident hunting without a license, non-resident hunting without a big game license and hunting with an unplugged gun. On the night of March 29, Cpl. Robinson and Sgt. Potter patrolled Lake Walter F. George for fishing and boating activity. One boater was cited for operating a vessel without lifejackets. Another boat operator was issued a citation for allowing an underage child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a lifejacket, and a warning for operating a vessel at night without lights. EARLY COUNTY On March 23, Cpl Terri Jones responded to a boating incident on the Chattahoochee River in Early County. The victim of the incident was picked up by members of the Houston Co. Alabama Rescue Unit and transported by vessel to the Gordon , AL boat landing where he was transported by Life Flight to Flowers Hospital in Dothan. Cpl. Jones met with rescue personnel at the scene and then traveled to Dothan to interview the witnesses. The victim was in surgery at the time and could not be interviewed. This incident is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this point. SEMINOLE COUNTY On March 27, Sgt. Rick Sellars and Cpl. Mike Binion responded to a call for assistance from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to search along the Chattahoochee River for a male subject that had fled into the woods. This incident began as a traffic stop by an Alabama State Patrol Officer. After stopping briefly, the suspect fled and was chased from Houston County, Alabama into Jackson County, Florida and then into Seminole County, Georgia. He tried to evade a roadblock by turning into a field. He was pursued through the field, where he hit and damaged two patrol cars before running on foot. He was eventually captured while trying to hitch a ride on another road in the vicinity. He is currently facing charges in all 3 states. LEE COUNTY On March 25, Ranger Randy James issued a citation for illegally dumping of waste in Lee County. The citation followed a brief investigation into the dumping of carpet, a truck bed-liner, and construction material under a bridge. Ranger James located the site while patrolling the Muckalee Creek area for fishing activity earlier in the week, and after inspecting the site Ranger James was able to find out the identity of the individual responsible. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) PIERCE COUNTY On March 23, Cpl. Damon Winters received a call in reference to hunting without permission. At the scene, Cpl. Winters set up surveillance on the suspect's vehicle. Cpl. Winters contacted Cpl. Gary Simmons for assistance with DNR K-9 Jake. Cpl. Simmons arrived and used Jake to track the suspects. The suspects revealed themselves as the K-9 got close to their location. Both subjects were identified and charged with hunting without permission along with hunting license violations. ECHOLS COUNTY On March 29, Cpl. Damon Winters & Sgt. Patrick Dupree were checking areas baited for turkeys near Mayday. At one location they discovered that someone was hunting one of the baited sites. Several gobbling toms were approaching the hunter when the officers interrupted the hunt. The hunter was charged with hunting big game over bait. CLINCH COUNTY On March 29, Cpl. Damon Winters & Sgt. Patrick Dupree were checking a property with several baited sites near Dupont. Four individuals were encountered turkey hunting on the property. A subsequent investigation resulted in a warning for unlawful enticement of game being issued to a separate individual responsible for baiting the property. The four hunters were given verbal guidance and advised that it would be wise to conduct a prehunt scout of any unfamiliar areas for the presence of bait before actually hunting the property. WARE COUNTY On March 29, RFC Brad Cox, W/L Tech III Ken Martin, and Cpl. Damon Winters participated in an "Outdoor Extravaganza" at the Second Baptist Church in Waycross. Brad, Ken and Damon operated the Laser Shot system and scored wild turkeys for the "Big Tom" contest. There were approximately 800 people in attendance throughout the day. WHEELER COUNTY On March 29, RFC Rodney Horne and Cpl. Johnny Ashe checked several baited areas for any hunting activity. While checking an area off Sweetwater road, they discovered a vehicle and began tracking the subjects. Sgt. Keith Byers and Cpl. Larry Dean assisted in the search and the two hunters were found hunting and were within 90 yards of a visible feeder. The feeder had corn in it and corn was scattered on the ground. The hunters had been calling turkeys and were using decoys. Both were issued citations for hunting over bait and one was cited for using an unplugged shotgun. EFFINGHAM COUNTY On March 29, Sgt. William Vickers and Cpl. Eddie Akins patrolled the Ogeechee River above U.S. Hwy 80. Several boats were checked for safety equipment and the occupants were checked for fishing licenses. One boat operator was asked to submit to a field sobriety exercise after the officers noticed he had been drinking. After the field sobriety exercise, it was determined that the operator was not under the influence. He was however issued a citation for allowing a juvenile less than 10 years of age to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a personal flotation device. On the morning of March 29th Sgt. William Vickers and Cpl. Eddie Akins checked a turkey hunter near the Ogeechee River. The hunter's hunting license and big game license were both expired. He was issued two warnings. On the morning of March 30, Sgt. William Vickers and Cpl. Eddie Akins checked a baited area for turkey hunting activity. Two turkey hunters were located. One hunter was hunting in an area that did not have any bait nearby and the other was found hunting approximately 100 yards from the area with bait. The hunter near the bait was issued a warning for hunting big game over bait. Both hunters were advised to remove all bait and wait ten days before hunting in the area again. EVANS COUNTY On March 29, RFC Debbie Brannen patrolled the Canoochee River. One vessel was checked that had no registration and the individual was given a written warning. On March 30, RFC Debbie Brannen was checking the Evans P.F.A. and found one subject fishing without a WMA license. A written warning was issued to that fisherman. ATKINSON COUNTY On March 25, Sgt. David Nugent received a complaint from an anonymous caller reporting the killing of a hen turkey by two individuals. The complaint was given to RFC Tim Hutto for investigation. RFC Hutto's investigation revealed that one of the individuals involved worked at a local feed and seed store. While interviewing this individual (a 16 year old juvenile), RFC Hutto found the hen "fan" lying on a feed sack at the store. The juvenile was fully cooperative and gave Hutto the name of the other individual that was involved. This person, an adult, admitted to the violation during his interview and was subsequently issued a citation for hunting out of season. The juvenile received a written warning for possession of illegally taken wildlife. MONTGOMERY COUNTY On March 26th, Corporal Jon Barnard and RFC Danielle Partin conducted a boating safety patrol along the Oconee River. During the day, the officers checked eight boats, 19 fishing licenses and wrote three citations and one warning. WILCOX COUNTY On the morning of March 29, RFC Mike Kicklighter patrolled hunting property in northern Wilcox County known to have turkey bait on it. While there, Kicklighter located a turkey blind with two Houston county men hunting over cracked corn. One of the hunters had a shotgun and the other was using archery equipment. Both men were charged with hunting big game over bait. After leaving the property, RFC Kicklighter went to the adjacent property and there found two Wilcox county men hunting turkeys over a feeder with peanuts in it. They were charged for hunting big game over bait and one of the men was given a verbal warning for not having his hunting license on his person. BEN HILL COUNTY On March 30, Cpl John Allen Stokes went to a hunting club that was known to bait game animals. He located a parked vehicle and began looking for the hunter. He found an automatic feeder with a blind and turkey sign around it, but no hunter. He backed off from the feeder and waited for a while to see if it would be hunted that day. When he heard a shot at the feeder, he moved in and found the hunter with a dead turkey, who had shot the bird while it fed under the feeder. The hunter had approached the baited area from the direction Cpl. Stokes could not monitor and was able to get to the baited site undetected. The subject was charged with hunting big game over bait and the turkey was confiscated. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) CHATHAM COUNTY On March 26, Sergeant Tim Vincent, Corporal Bill Bryson and Ranger Buster Cooper while on routine Boating Safety patrol in Chatham County attempted to stop a 175-foot motor yacht that had come dangerously close to an anchored fisherman in a small aluminum boat. The motor yacht was coming back from the Bahamas and failed to stop after the Rangers displayed the patrol boats blue lights and siren. The Rangers were able to board the motor yacht while it was underway and the Captain of the motor yacht was cited for "Failure to Stop Vessel". Also a vessel that was attempting to distract and interfere with the boarding was issued a citation for "Interference with Performance of a Rangers Duties." The Rangers remained on board the motor yacht and it was taken to a docking facility where the United States Customs and Border Protection and the United States Coast Guard also boarded the motor yacht. The United States Custom and Border Protection issued a federal citation for violations found during their boarding. GLYNN COUNTY On March 4-25, RFC Mark Carson attended the Maine Law Enforcement Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. This was an intense 19-day school to teach advanced principles of operating in a marine environment in a Law Enforcement capacity. Some of the topics of instruction presented during this school were identifying Aids to Navigation, plotting, rules of the road, vessel pursuits, vessel boarding's, GPS and Radar operation, and operating vessels at night. CAMDEN COUNTY On March 27 and 28, Cpl Chris Hodge, RFC Mark Carson, and Sgt Bob Lynn assisted the United States Coast Guard and Navy Criminal Investigative Service with providing security for Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay for the re-commissioning ceremony of the USS Georgia. Cpl Hodge and RFC Carson provided security by boat Thursday night as well as during the day on Friday, while Sgt Lynn was stationed inside the Command Post located at the event site. On March 28, while on patrol on the inter coastal water way at Kings Bay Navel Base, Cpl Chris Hodge and RFC Mark Carson received a call from the Camden County Sheriff's Office about persons in the water and their boat sinking in the St Mary's River. The Rangers arrived on scene and rescued 2 men. The Camden County SO Marine unit assisted with their boat and was able to salvage it. Both men were okay and were taken back to the boat landing. Their boat was salvaged by the Sheriff's office and was taken to the same landing. JEA PATROLS On March 27, Cpl. Ron Harris conducted a Joint Enforcement Patrol offshore of St. Simons Island checking boats fishing at the "whiting hole". Cpl. Harris checked several boats resulting in one citation being issued for no lifejackets, one citation for a nonresident fishing without a license, and one warning for fishing without a license. Cpl. Harris then patrolled out to F reef where he checked 3 more boats resulting in no violations. On March 29, Cpl. Ron Harris, Cpl. Jesse Cook, RFC Mark Carson and Sgt. John Harwell conducted a Joint Enforcement Patrol offshore of Brunswick. The officers patrolled out 26 miles offshore checking several offshore reefs. While checking boats at F reef the officers checked a boat and found them to be in possession of 24 undersize Black Sea bass, and 2 undersize weakfish. The captain of the vessel was issued a federal citation for possession of undersize fish. The fish were confiscated and logged into evidence. During the same patrol, officers checked a boat at the SFC reef, which had caught and kept a red drum while at SFC. The captain of the vessel was issued a federal warning for possession of a prohibited harvest species. The officers then checked a boat at G reef, which had caught and kept a blacktip shark, without having a federal Highly Migratory Species Permit, which is required when keeping shark caught in federal waters. The captain of the vessel was issued a federal warning.