Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section Field Operations Weekly Report July 27-August 2, 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) COBB COUNTY On August 1st, RFC Brooks Varnell and his new K-9 dog "Rock" graduated from a 10week training course at the GA Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, GA. The new K-9 will be utilized in all Region I law enforcement counties. The main duties of the K-9 will be officer protection, wildlife detection, tracking, and location of items such as weapons or articles used in wildlife crimes. RFC Varnell is an experienced K-9 officer and formerly utilized another dog very successfully in South Georgia. FLOYD COUNTY On July 31st, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Ranger Brad Hamby were checking fishing license along John's Creek on John's Mountain WMA. While checking one of the fishermen, Cpl. Elmore noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from a 19-year-old fisherman. Cpl. Elmore and Ranger Hamby located a six-pack of Budweiser, an unknown quantity of marijuana and 11 Xanex pills in the Resaca man's truck. He was arrested and charged with underage possession of alcohol, VGCSA-less than 1 oz of marijuana, and VGCSA-possession of Xanex. The Georgia State Patrol transported him to the Floyd County jail. On August 1st, Sgt. Jeff Galloway, Cpl. Tommy Gentry, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, RFC Ben Cunningham, and Ranger Brad Hamby worked along John's Creek looking for fishermen taking over the daily creel limit. Two Calhoun men were charged with possession of over the daily creel limit and five trout were confiscated. FULTON COUNTY On July 31st, Cpl. Dave Phillips, Cpl. Chip Cox, Cpl. Eric Brown, and RFC Chad Cox attended the Georgia Wildlife Federation's Buckarama at the Atlanta Expo Center. Rangers at the event ran the Laser Shot Shooting Simulator and answered questions from the public on various topics. PICKENS COUNTY On July 28th, Cpl. James Keener and Ranger Cody Jones took 17 warrants for two subjects in reference to an investigation that was started on July 10th. On July 10th, Pickens County 911 contacted Cpl. Keener in reference to a deer that had been shot from the road. Game Management Technician Mitch Yeargin was contacted by Cpl. Keener and responded to the scene where he made contact with a male and female suspect. Cpl. Keener and Ranger Jones responded from Murray County. When Cpl. Keener and Ranger Jones arrived on scene, both suspects were questioned and admitted to shooting the buck in velvet from the road and vehicle. Contact was made with the suspects before they had time to retrieve the deer. A search of the suspect's vehicle revealed fresh blood. Both suspects were questioned further and admitted to shooting another deer earlier that same day. The investigation was concluded on July 27th, which resulted in the detection of 29 hunting violations, including: the illegal taking of a doe deer on July 7th and a doe and buck on July 10th, with three people involved. Warrants were taken for numerous charges including multiple counts of hunting without permission, possession of illegally taken wildlife, hunting out of season, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a motor vehicle. Several warnings were also issued. On July 28th, Cpl. James Keener and Ranger Cody Jones made a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling in excess of 100 miles an hour on Hwy 515 in Pickens County. A Pickens County sheriff's deputy was called to the scene where he arrested the suspect for reckless driving. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) FORSYTH COUNTY On July 31st, Ranger Pamela Garrison participated in a Wild Kingdom Day Camp with Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department. Ranger Garrison set up the fishing simulator for over 30 kids. DAWSON COUNTY On July 31st, Cpl. Jason Roberson was patrolling Dawson Forest WMA at the Lindsey Ford Access to the Amicalola River. He received a complaint of a camper that was intoxicated and wandering from campsite to campsite. Upon further investigation the subject was found asleep in his tent. Cpl. Roberson talked with the subject. After a check with the Dawson County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Roberson was told that the subject had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Pickens County. The subject was arrested on the warrant and turned over to the Dawson County Sheriff's Office. RABUN COUNTY From July 27th, through the 29th Cpl. Derek Dillard, Cpl. Buddy Lovell, and Sgt. Steve Seitz assisted the Rabun County EMS search Lake Burton for the drowning victim's body that had been down since July 20th. Edwin Grant from North Carolina DNR brought his Cadaver Dog to the lake and located a spot of interest. This spot of interest was marked with a buoy so EMS personnel could concentrate their dragging and Sonar use around this point. The Sonar located an object that was believed to be the body and then the Forsyth Co. and Cherokee Co Dive teams were called to dive to this spot. At approximately 4:00 PM on July 29th, Mark Aycock from the Forsyth Co. Dive Team recovered the drowning victim's body. TOWNS COUNTY On July 27th, RFC David Webb and Sgt. Steve Seitz were patrolling Lake Chatuge when they observed a pontoon boat towing a person on a tube who was not wearing a PFD (life jacket). The officers stopped the vessel and conducted a safety check. While they were performing the safety check, the officers located 2 marijuana cigarettes wrapped in aluminum foil and 1 other marijuana cigarette in a small pill bottle. The 53-year-old skier, who was from Florida, claimed the marijuana belonged to him. The skier was arrested and transported to the Towns County jail where he was charged with: VGCSA (possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce) and skiing w/o wearing a PFD. Region III- Thomson (East Central) GREENE COUNTY/LAKE OCONEE While patrolling Lake Oconee on August 2nd, RFC Larry Mills and Ranger Ricky Boles observed a vessel operating with improper lights. Upon stopping the vessel they found that the operator was under the influence. After conducting field sobriety tests, the operator was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested for BUI. Region IV- Macon (West Central) JASPER COUNTY On August 1st and 2nd, Corporal Bill Goodson and Corporal Tony Wynne patrolled Lake Jackson by boat and corrected several boating violations including two people towing skiers with jet skis without using observers. On August 3rd, RFC Keith Page and Cpl. Tony Wynne encountered 2 men operating jet skis on Lake Jackson in Jasper County at 9:02 PM. Because jet skis must be off the water at sunset (8:35 PM), the two men were stopped. One of the 2 men was found to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested and taken to the Jasper County jail. The man performed poorly on field sobriety exercises. PUTNAM COUNTY On the evening of August 1st, at approximately 1000 p.m. Ranger Josh Copelan and RFC Chad Welch were patrolling Lake Sinclair near the area known as the junction in Putnam County. Ranger Copelan and RFC Welch observed a pontoon that was violating the rules of the road by not giving the right away. RFC Welch and Ranger Copelan stopped the boat and identified the operator. The operator had a mixed drink in his hand and admitted to drinking several drinks throughout the day. The officers performed field sobriety on the operator and he was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was taken into custody and was transported to the Putnam County Jail. On the evening of August 2, at around 9:00 p.m., Ranger Josh Copelan and Corporal Bubba Stanford were patrolling Lake Sinclair near the Hwy 441 Bridge. The officers observed a ski boat without navigational lights traveling under the bridge and stopped the boat for the violation. The officers indentified the operator and explained to him about the lights. The floor of the boat was covered in beer cans and the operator said that he had been drinking during the day. The officers performed field sobriety on the operator and determined him to be under the influence of alcohol. The operator was placed under arrest and was transported to the Putnam County Jail. BALDWIN COUNTY On the evening of August 2, at around 8:30 p.m. Sgt. Bo Kelly and RFC Chad Welch were patrolling Lake Sinclair near Island Creek when they observed a pontoon boat operating with docking lights on. The officers stopped the pontoon for the violation and conducted a boating safety check. Further investigation revealed that the operator was under the influence of alcohol and was taken into custody and transported to the Baldwin County Jail. Region V- Albany (Southwest) BAKER COUNTY On August 2nd, RFC Randy Davis was conducting a boating safety patrol on the Flint River when he encountered a small overloaded boat. While discussing the issue with the operator, it was determined that the operator was impaired. After failing sobriety exercises he was arrested for boating under the influence, child endangerment, operating an overloaded vessel and operating with insufficient lifejackets. THOMAS COUNTY On July 29th, RFC David Brady received a complaint from a landowner about subjects fishing without permission. Upon arrival, RFC Brady made contact with the three violators and conducted an investigation, after which one of the men was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and fishing without permission. The other two subjects were charged with fishing without permission and released. CRISP COUNTY On July 27th, while patrolling Lake Blackshear, several fishermen who reported that they had observed two individuals place a gill net in a nearby cove contacted RFC Harold Hill. RFC Hill and RFC Clint Martin then located and interviewed the individuals identified as placing the net. Based on information gathered in the interview, RFC Martin was able to find and retrieve the gill net. Both men were issued citations for the illegal use of a gill net. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) EFFINGHAM COUNTY On August 4th, the Effingham Sheriff's Office contacted DNR in reference to a couple overdue from a Savannah River boating trip that began the day before. Sgt. William Vickers and Ranger Brandon Pierce responded to the scene at Ebenezer Landing. Before the officers arrived, the couple retuned to the landing and told the deputy they had planned to spend the night on a sandbar. They returned to the landing as planned and departed for their home. EVANS COUNTY On August 2nd, RFC Debbie Brannen checked fishing and boating activity on the Evans County Public Fishing Area. Two citations were written for fishing without license, two citations for fishing without WMA license, and two warnings for fishing without WMA license on PFA were issued. LOWNDES COUNTY On July 24th, Ranger Keith McDonald and Cpl. Morty Wood were contacted by Lowndes County Code Enforcement to assist with the investigation of illegal dumping of raw sewage. The owner of a septic tank/portable toilet commercial business was reported pumping raw sewage onto his property. Following an investigation by the officers, a felony warrant for unlawful dumping of waste was taken. E.P.D. was contacted and is assisting in the prosecution. ATKINSON COUNTY On July 29th, RFC Tim Hutto received a complaint that an individual was seen dumping a large quantity of trash and debris near a rural dirt road. The complainant was able to give him the name of the subject and a description of his vehicle. Upon investigation, Hutto located the area and found several loads of insulation and other household materials. The subject was found later that day, and upon interview, admitted to the violations. He was arrested and charged with unlawful dumping of waste greater than 500 lbs or 100 cu ft. LANIER COUNTY On August 2nd, RFC Tim Hutto and Ranger Keith McDonald received a call that three juveniles were lost on the Alapaha River. The officers responded, accompanied by Lanier County EMS, deputies, and the Department of Corrections K-9 unit. The three juveniles were found after dark and returned safely to their families. CLINCH COUNTY On August 1st, RFC Tim Hutto and Ranger Keith McDonald investigated an anonymous complaint of a person practicing taxidermy without a license. The officers located the business in Dupont. Following an inspection of the wildlife and paperwork the owner was issued a warning for failure to tag wildlife. COFFEE COUNTY On July 31st, Sgt. David Reckley answered an unlawful dumping complaint on Whippoorwill Road near Nichols. A name was found in the trash with several addresses for that person. RFC Tim Hutto checked the address that was believed to be the most recent and found the person had moved a couple of weeks prior. The investigation is continuing. APPLING COUNTY On August 3rd, Ranger Chase Altman, RFC Mike Kicklighter, Cpl. Jimmy Williams and Sgt. David Reckley, had a concentrated patrol on Lake Mayers. Several boats were inspected with only minor violations. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) LIBERTY COUNTY On July 30th, Ranger Randy Tinley and Cpl. Cindy Miller patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area. One individual was cited for operating a vessel with insufficient life jackets. GLYNN COUNTY On July 31st, RFC Isaac Strickland graduated from a four week advanced marine law enforcement training program. Staff from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center taught this class and the curriculum included navigation, tactical waterborne training as well as high-speed boat operation. On June 25th, Cpl. Ron Harris graduated from the two-week Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Instructor School. On July 31st thru August 2nd, Sgt. John Harwell, Capt. Stephen Adams, Sgt. Bob Lynn, Cpl. Ron Harris, RFC Mark Carson, and RFC Craig Smith worked the Golden Isles Kingfish Classic. This is a two-day offshore fishing event held out of Brunswick. This year there were 175 boats participating in the two-day event. Verbal guidance was given to several boats for no wake violations. On August 2nd, Sgt. Bob Lynn, RFC Mark Carson, and RFC Craig Smith had the fishing simulator on display at Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island. Numerous kids and adults were given the opportunity to catch virtual fish. CAMDEN COUNTY On July 27th, Cpl. Chris Hodge and RFC Mark Carson responded to a possible drowning at a County Park in St Mary's. Upon arriving, Cpl. Hodge learned that a 21-year-old black male was missing in the lake. Sgt. Chris Sears from the Camden County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol used their side scan sonar to locate the victim within 10 minutes of arriving at the scene. Cpl. Hodge and Sgt. Sears were able to recover the victim from the lake.