Field operations weekly report, 2008 July 13-19

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report July 13-19, 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)
BARTOW COUNTY On July 12th, RFC Byron Young, RFC Bart Hendrix, and Ranger James Psillis were on patrol at Lake Allatoona near I-75 when an individual trying to swim his PWC to the bank flagged them down. The rangers secured the passengers into their patrol vessel and towed the sinking PWC back to the boat ramp.
On July 19th, Cpl. David Phillips and RFC Byron Young patrolled the Etowah River for fishing activity and then proceeded to Lake Allatoona to work a boating incident at Park Marina involving three 21-foot pontoon boats and an 84-foot houseboat. That evening RFC Bart Hendrix and Ranger James Psillis patrolled Lake Allatoona. Later that night, the officers answered a boating complaint and issued two citations.
On July 20th, Cpl. David Phillips and RFC Byron Young patrolled Lake Allatoona and issued three citations for boating violations and made two BUI arrests.
FANNIN COUNTY On July 19th, Sgt John VanLandingham, Cpl. James Keener, Ranger Cody Jones, and US Forest Service Officer Mike Tipton worked a detail on the Toccoa River. The officers issued 11 citations and 7 warnings, including six violations of Georgia's open container law, five lifejacket violations, three traffic violations, two underage possession of alcohol, one possession of marijuana less than one ounce, and one littering.
On July 19th, Sgt. John VanLandingham, Cpl. James Keener, and Ranger Cody Jones assisted the Fannin County Sheriff's Office with the search and apprehension of two suspects that had committed an armed robbery of a restaurant in Fannin County.
FULTON COUNTY On July 19th, a young man was injured and air lifted to Atlanta Medical Center due to a boating incident on Lake Sinclair. Sgt. Bo Kelly requested that Ranger James Psillis and RFC Bart Hendrix go to the hospital and interview the victim.
MURRAY COUNTY On July 14th, RFC Eddie Tompkins was in Chatsworth on Hwy 411 when he observed a passenger car enter the highway without yielding to oncoming traffic and running another vehicle off the roadway. As the vehicle continued south on Hwy 411 the driver was unable to maintain his lane. RFC Tompkins activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle. The driver refused field sobriety and was placed under arrest for DUI. At the Detention Center the suspect submitted to a breath test. The suspect had a BAC of .223. The driver was charged with DUI, driving while license are suspended, and violation of the Georgia open container law.

WHITFIELD COUNTY On July 16th, RFC Eddie Tompkins and an officer from the US Forest Service completed an education program at Cross Point Christian Academy in Dalton. Students were instructed on fire safety, littering laws, and careers in DNR and USFS.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FORSYTH COUNTY On July 15th, Ranger Pamela Garrison presented programs to the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Junior Park Ranger Program. The programs presented were on Water Safety, Gun Safety and Animal Food Webs.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On July 19th, at around 11:55 p.m. Cpl. Eric Sanders received a call of a possible drowning on Sunrise Lake owned by Rockdale County. Cpl. Sanders arrived on the scene and with the assistance from the DeKalb County Police Department's helicopter the victim was observed from the air. The Rockdale County Dive Team recovered the body.
WHITE COUNTY On July 17th, RFC Anne Alexander received a complaint off of Town Creek Rd., stating a deer stand was placed on the complainant`s property without permission. They said that a deer stand had corn and salt placed around it. RFC Alexander received another call at approximately 12:40 p.m. the next day stating that there was activity at the deer stand. RFC Alexander and RFC Mitchell Crump responded to the complaint. No one was in the stand when the rangers checked it. After looking around the property, one male subject and his son were walking towards the rangers in the woods. After investigating, the male subject was charged for littering and advised that the deer stand was not on his land. The male subject was wanted out of Banks County. The subject was transported to Banks County Detention Center. The Rangers' assisted DFACS with placement of the subject's children.
RABUN COUNTY On July 19th, Cpl. Buddy Lovell and RFC Anne Alexander observed a vessel on Lake Burton of which the occupants appeared to be smoking marijuana. As the rangers approached the vessel they smelled an odor of burning marijuana. The rangers stopped the vessel and performed a safety check. During the stop the rangers smelled an odor of alcoholic beverages. RFC Alexander then had the operator perform field sobriety tests, which he failed. The male subject was transported to the Rabun Co. Detention Center for additional testing which he refused. The subject was charged for operating a vessel under the influence.

UNION COUNTY On July 13th, at approximately 12:00a.m., RFC Kevin Dyer assisted the Union County Sheriff's Office with the investigation of shots being fired in the area of Deaver Road. RFC Dyer and a Union County Deputy searched the area and did not locate anyone. After receiving information that afternoon that a house had been shot in a subdivision close to the area where the shots had been fired earlier that morning, the officers returned to the area in the daylight and located multiple shell casings. Union County Investigators collected the evidence and opened an investigation.
On July 18th, at approximately 3:00 a.m., RFC Kevin Dyer assisted Union County Sheriff's Office and SWAT team in serving arrest warrants and search warrants on two separate locations in Union County. Three subjects were arrested and several marijuana plants, guns, and illegal drugs were confiscated.
On July 18th, United States Forest Service Law Enforcement (USFS) Officer Jason Arrowood and RFC Kevin Dyer patrolled 26 miles on ATV's in the Chattahoochee National Forest looking for Game and Fish violations and USFS violations. Two citations were issued for USFS violations.
On July 19th, at approximately 12:00 a.m., Sgt. Steve Seitz received a call from Towns County Deputy Sheriff Mike Davis stating he had a vehicle stopped that contained 2 rifles, spotlights, and a dead rabbit. Sgt. Seitz arrived on the scene and discovered 1 adult and 4 juvenile occupants of the vehicle. Sgt. Seitz interviewed the adult and determined the group was out hunting coyotes on a private farm in Union County when they shot the rabbit from the vehicle. The adult was charged for hunting rabbits out of season, hunting rabbits at night, hunting w/o a license, and hunting from a motor vehicle. The juveniles were turned over to one of their parents who came out to pick them up at the scene.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
RICHMOND COUNTY Cpl. Ben Payne and his work section worked the 23rd Annual Southern Nationals drag boat races on the Savannah River in Augusta Ga. 15,000 people showed up for the event. The event was held with no problems and with no accidents reported.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On July 18th, RFC Jeff Phillips was conducting a license and creel check on Spring Creek when he discovered a subject in possession of a controlled substance. The individual was arrested and turned over to the Decatur County Sheriff's Office.
On July 19th, RFC Tony Cox and RFC Jeff Phillips stopped a vessel for violating a " No Wake" zone on the Flint River. The vessel operator was found to be impaired and was charged with operating a vessel under the influence, child endangerment, and failure to obey regulatory marker.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On July 18th, RFC Ben Roberts observed a passenger in a car throw something out the window. As he stopped the vehicle the passenger fled on foot. Further investigation revealed that the driver of the car had no insurance, his driver's license was suspended, and he was in possession of a controlled substance. The Albany Police Department is continuing the investigation and litter and obstruction charges are pending on the passenger.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On July 19th and 20th, Sgt William Vickers, Cpl. Eddie Akins, and Ranger Brandon Cox carried out boating safety patrols on the Savannah River. During the patrols, citations and warnings were issued for operation of vessel without life jackets and failure to register vessel. The officers also passed out several sheets of "Georgia Boating Laws and Information" to the vessel operators.
EVANS COUNTY On July 18th, RFC Brannen checked fishing activity on the Canoochee River. Two citations were written for fishing without licenses.
On July 20th, RFC Brannen checked fishing and boating activity on the Evans Public Fishing Area. One warning was issued for driving around a closed gate and fishing without a license. Three citations were written for fishing without a wildlife management area license.
APPLING COUNTY On July 19th, Cpl. Jimmy Williams and Ranger Chase Altman performed a high visibility boating safety patrol at Lake Mayers. Several boats were inspected and the officers detected a few minor issues, such as improper placement of registration decals and noncontrasting numbers. These were corrected with verbal guidance.

WILCOX COUNTY On July 19th, RFC Mike Kicklighter checked for creel limit violations at Statham Shoals boat landing. While there, a subject was issued a warning for fishing without a license. There were no creel limit violations detected that day.
LANIER COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Tim Hutto received a complaint from an individual stating that two male subjects were seen shooting from the road. The complainant stated that after the subjects shot, he walked into the woods with his dog and found blood. The complainant was able to give RFC Hutto a tag number and a description of the vehicle. On July 14th, RFC Hutto finished the investigation with the results of one .22 magnum rifle being seized and two subjects being charged with hunting from a public road and hunting from a vehicle.
CHARLTON COUNTY On July 19th, Cpl. Gary Simmons responded to a call for assistance to search for overdue boaters on the St. Mary's River. Two male fishermen were due back at Trader's Hill Landing by midnight. The wives had arrived to pick them up, but the fishermen had not returned. At 4:00 AM, one of the wives called 911 for assistance. Cpl. Simmons was dispatched to the scene and began searching for the two fishermen. Cpl. Simmons located them about seven miles downstream from the Trader's Hill Landing and assisted them back to the boat ramp safely.
LOWNDES COUNTY On July 16th, Ranger Keith McDonald, RFC Tim Hutto and Cpl. Morty Wood initiated a road hunting/night deer hunting detail following a complaint from a concerned citizen. Before dark, RFC McDonald was watching deer feed in the field being observed. He heard shots coming from the wood line and the deer ran away. Shortly thereafter, McDonald saw an individual running across the field. This subject circled through the woods and was picked up by an accomplice on the highway, where they were both stopped, arrested and charged with hunting out of season and hunting without permission. A short time later, McDonald observed a different vehicle shining the same field. These subjects were also stopped, and after being interviewed, were subsequently charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, hunting big game from a public road and hunting without permission.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On July 13th, Ranger Randy Tinley and Cpl. Cindy Miller worked a compliant near the Ft. McAllister Boat Ramp on the Ogeechee River for violations of boats causing wakes near docks. Six subjects were cited for operating a vessel above idle speed within 100 foot of a dock.
On July 19th, Sgt. James Shelton and Cpl. Cindy Miller worked a compliant near the Ft. McAllister Boat Ramp on the Ogeechee River for violations of boats causing wakes near

docks. No violations of the 100-foot law were observed but a commercial crabber was checked and cited for possession of undersized crabs.
GLYNN COUNTY On July 19th, Sgt. John Harwell gave a boating safety information and education program at I-95 Toyota/Scion's Public Safety Day. Approximately 50 adults and children were given various handouts and shown how to properly wear a life jacket.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On July 20th, Sgt. John Harwell received a call from a sportsman fishing at Butler Island WMA stating that a man was using a cast net in the Butler Island Ponds. While en route to Butler Island Sgt. Harwell received a call from Wildlife Technician Wayne Hubbard stating he needed assistance from McIntosh County Sheriff's Department at Butler Island. When Sgt. Harwell arrived on scene, two Darien Police Department officers were on scene as well as one deputy from McIntosh County. There were approximately 12 men fishing around the pond, one with a cast net. Several of the subjects had not been cooperative with Wildlife Technician Hubbard and the local officers. One man was arrested for over the limit of croaker and fishing by illegal methods. Several were given verbal warnings and picked up litter they had discarded around the pond.
WAYNE COUNTY On July 13th, Cpl. Bobby White and Sgt. D. V. Grantham worked boating safety patrol at Lake Grace. They wrote 4 citations for 100-foot violations and towing skier without an observer.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On July 18th, at approx. 11:00 pm, Cpl. Billy Reed and Sgt. D. V. Grantham responded to a call of a missing boater on the Satilla river. After searching up and down the river with the help of the Brantley County Rescue Unit, the missing boater was located unharmed at around 1:15 am.