Field operations weekly report, 2008 August 16-23

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report August 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)
BARTOW COUNTY On August 21st, Cpl. Chip Cox taught a hunter education class in Bartow County at the Civic Center. Cpl. Cox certified 40 students.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On August 21st, RFC Bart Hendrix was patrolling the area of Little River on Lake Allatoona by truck. He received a complaint of persons acting crazy on personal watercrafts (PWCs) near the Little River Bar and Grill. He responded and found two PWCs at the gas docks that fit the description. He checked the boating safety equipment of vessels. He noticed that one PWC did not have a registration, yet was not new. The female operator stated that her brother had just obtained the PWC. After further questioning, RFC Hendrix became suspicious that he may not be receiving valid information. He obtained identification from both operators and the hull identification numbers from both vessels. He further explained the boating safety laws and gave verbal guidance on the proper operation of PWCs. Later that evening, he asked the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department to check the hull ID numbers through Georgia's Crime Information Center (GCIC). One PWC came back as stolen out of Miami, Florida. DNR Officers are investigating.
GILMER COUNTY On August 23rd, RFC Eddie Tompkins and Ranger Brad Hamby patrolled Carters Lake. They issued 3 citations, 2 warnings, and on several occasions provided verbal guidance.
PAULDING COUNTY On August 21st, RFC Chad Cox, with the assistance of volunteer instructors, completed a 10-hour hunter education course in Dallas. They certified 46 students. The course covered wildlife conservation and firearm/tree stand safety. This class is required for anyone wanting to hunt in Georgia, born on or after January 1st, 1961, and has attained the age of 16.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On August 23rd, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, RFC Eddie Tompkins, Ranger Brad Hamby, and Wildlife Tech Mark Moyer completed a litter detail on Chestnut Mountain Shooting Range. The officers issued 1 citation, 2 warnings, and on several occasions provided verbal guidance.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DEKALB COUNTY On August 21st, Cpl. Eric Sanders assisted at the State Operations Center in preparation for the possibility of Tropical Storm Fay to impact the residents of the State of Georgia. The storm stayed in the State of Florida and he was relieved after lunch on this day.
FORSYTH COUNTY On August 20th, Sgt. Lee Brown received a call from Ranger Garrison, who was not on duty, about a drowning that had occurred at West Bank Park on Lake Lanier. Sgt. Brown coordinated with the Forsyth Sheriff's Office, Forsyth Fire Department Dive Team and the Army Corp of Engineer. The Forsyth County Fire Department Dive Team located the body of the Hispanic male.
On August 21st, Ranger Pamela Garrison conducted a Hunter Education Online Test and Review at the Coal Mountain Community Building. Ranger Garrison certified 21 students.
HALL COUNTY On August 17th, Cpl. Jason Roberson and RFC Mark Stephens were patrolling Lake Lanier South of Cocktail Cove. The rangers were checking a boat for the required safety equipment and registration when they determined that the operator might be under the influence of alcohol. After asking the operator to step into their boat and conducting field sobriety exercises the subject was placed under arrest for boating under the influence of alcohol. He was transported to the DNR Intox facility at Aqualand Marina were he failed the state administered test of his breath. The subject was transported by a Hall County Deputy to the Hall County Jail.
GWINNETT COUNTY On August 17th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and RFC Eric Isom were taking their boat out at Abbott's Boat ramp after completing an on-water patrol of the Chattahoochee River. While securing the boat the rangers observed a vehicle drive into the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Cpl. Sanders was able to talk with the driver of the vehicle and determine that he was driving on a suspended license. The City of Duluth Police Department was contacted for assistance. The officers with the Duluth Police Department arrested the subject for driving on a suspended license.
On August 22nd, RFC Mark Stephens conducted a Hunter Education Online Test and Review at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. RFC Stephens certified 24 students during this class.
On August 23rd, RFC Mark Stephens assisted with a Hunter Education class being taught by volunteer instructors at the Family Church in Sugar Hill. There were approximately 40 students in attendance.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
RICHMOND COUNTY On August 23rd, Cpl. Ben Payne performed a hull identification inspection in south Richmond County. Payne also patrolled the Augusta chalk mine area for ATV activity and checked fishing licenses at the Lock and Dam. Cpl. Ben Payne and RFC Grant Matherly worked a night hunting complaint in Richmond County.
LINCOLN COUNTY On August 21st, Cpl. Ryan Swain taught 1 hunter safety course at the Lincoln County Clubhouse. He certified 3 students.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On August 22nd, RFC Bobby Timmerman and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin attempted to assign a hull identification number to a personal watercraft in Harlem. The officer's investigation found that both the primary and secondary hull identification numbers had been intentionally removed. The PWC was confiscated and taken to the Columbia County Sheriffs impound lot for further investigation. The officers believe the vessel to be stolen and are currently conducting an investigation with Law Enforcement authorities from Columbia County Richmond County and South Carolina DNR.
ELBERT COUNTY On August 20th, Corporal Greg Colson investigated a possible stolen vessel on Lake Russell. The investigation is ongoing.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
PIKE COUNTY On August 10th, Sgt. Russ Ramsey and RFC Travis Sweat patrolled the newly opened Still Branch Reservoir off Hwy 18 in Pike County Ga. After checking several vessels for compliance of boating, creel and license laws, eight violations were documented that included operating vessel w/o pfd's, no fishing license, and fishing w/o permission.
On August 16th, Cpl Wanda Roberts and RFC Travis Sweat patrolled Still Branch Reservoir in Pike County off Hwy 18. The two rangers were checking for fishing activity and creel limits. Fifteen vessels were checked and five violations were noted. The violations included fishing w/o a license, operating vessel w/o registration, and operating vessel w/o PFD's.
HENRY COUNTY On August 15th, Sgt. Russ Ramsey attended a joint Gang Intelligence Meeting in Henry County, sponsored by Henry County PD, with several of the surrounding law enforcement agency's concerning gang activity in the area.

PEACH COUNTY On August 19th, Ranger Kevin Joyce, Technician Greg Wade, and Sgt. Tony Fox assisted the Peach County Sheriff's Office in attempting to locate a subject who had fled from local authorities. The search area was heavily wooded and officers were unable to locate the suspect.
TROUP COUNTY On August 17th, Cpl Jim Bradfield worked on West Point Lake checking boating activity. The boating traffic was very light that day and only a few boaters were checked.
On August 18th, Cpl Jim Bradfield received a complaint that a resident in LaGrange had a five-foot alligator in a pen in their backyard. Cpl Bradfield interviewed a female subject at this residence and looked at the animal, which she claimed was a caiman. The female subject indicated that she and her husband brought the caiman here when they moved here from Tennessee the previous week. Cpl Bradfield verified that the subjects did not have a permit for the caiman and made arrangements for the caiman to be turned over to a DNR permitted subject.
On August 20th, Cpl Jim Bradfield conducted a boating safety information and education program for a men's group at Courts of Praise church in LaGrange. Several men in this church have planned a boating trip down the Chattahoochee River from Columbus GA to Florida.
On August 21st, Cpl Jim Bradfield returned to the residence in LaGrange where the caiman was being held. This LaGrange resident voluntarily released the caiman to Cpl. Jim Bradfield, Cpl. Brent Railey, and a DNR permitted wild animal exhibitor. This permit holder will use the caiman in wildlife education shows. Because of his cooperation, a warning was issued to the LaGrange resident for possession of a wild animal without a permit. Animal Planet TV was on location and filmed this event for an upcoming documentary on reptiles.
Later that evening Cpl. Bradfield conducted an information and education program for the Troup County Sportsman's Club. Current hunting laws and other related items were discussed at the meeting.
BUTTS COUNTY On August 23rd, while patrolling river landings on the Ocmulgee River, RFC Billy Bryant and RFC Keith Page noticed a white car parked below Lloyd Shoals Dam. RFC Bryant noticed in the driver's seat a pair of pliers and a Colt 45 bottle cap. Two men were located a short distance from the vehicle fishing. One of the men did not have a fishing license and there was no Colt 45 bottle around either. One of the gentlemen had a white foam cup with a top and straw beside him. RFC Bryant asked the man what he was drinking, and the man told him it was some cold drink. RFC Bryant asked the man to take the top off the cup and saw inside a foamy yellow colored liquid. RFC Bryant told the man it looked like Colt 45; the man said it was. RFC Bryant asked the man to show him

the bottle. The man retrieved a Colt 45 can from the woods behind him. The gentleman became increasingly nervous as long as the Rangers were talking to him and kept patting his hand at his right pocket and turning his right side away from RFC Bryant. RFC Bryant asked the man if he could search him and consented. While executing the search RFC Bryant discovered a misdemeanor amount of marijuana in the man's right front pants pocket. The subject was issued citations for violating the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, fishing without license, and issued a warning for littering since he got the can out of the woods. The bottle was never found.
On August 24th, while patrolling Jackson Lake, RFC's Bryant and Page noticed a plume of black smoke coming from the shoreline across from Water's Bridge. Once the fire was located the Rangers walked up the hill and discovered a yard umbrella, some fiberglass insulation, and copper wire in the fire. The homeowner, who was tending the fire, was issued a citation for illegal burning.
On August 24th, RFC Keith Page was inspecting a vehicle parked on the banks of the Ocmulgee River in Butts County. While looking through the window of the truck RFC Page noticed a small amount of marijuana lying on the seat. RFC Page waited for the owner of the truck to return. After about 3 hours the owner returned and a search of truck revealed more marijuana. The owner of the truck was charged with a violation of Georgia's Controlled Substance Act.
On August 25th, RFC Page and RFC Bryant noticed a vessel traveling south on Lake Jackson. The vessel had two children that appeared to be under 10 years old that did not have on their life jackets. After stopping the vessel, RFC Page noticed that the operator had been drinking. Because he failed field sobriety and his blood alcohol content was 0.162g, the operator was arrested and charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, child endangerment, and allowing an underage person to ride onboard without wearing a personal floatation device.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
REGIONWIDE RESPONSE TO TROPICAL STORM FAY On August 23rd, as tropical storm Fay tracked northwest from Florida toward Georgia, Rangers of the Department of Natural Resources were prepared to provide emergency assistance to counties affected by the storm. On Saturday night Sergeant Rick Sellars and Corporal Mike Binion used a boat to rescue five individuals whose vehicles were washed from the roadway and into a raging, flood-swollen creek. Rangers also responded to a drowning incident, evacuated residents from flooded homes, assisted state emergency management personnel and performed traffic control functions.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
WARE COUNTY On August 22nd, RFC Brad Cox assisted Ware County deputies investigating a complaint of wire burning on Albany Avenue in Waresboro. RFC Cox ultimately charged three individuals with unlawful burning of waste.
On August 23rd, RFC Brad Cox received a call that a vehicle had became stuck as the driver attempted to drive around a locked gate on Dixon WMA. RFC Cox responded to the area and located a vehicle stuck on an open WMA road. The driver was operating a "low rider" two wheel-drive truck and had became stuck on the WMA road due to the excessive rainfall from Tropical Storm Fay. RFC Cox assisted the driver with getting his vehicle to firmer ground.
BULLOCH COUNTY On August 17th, RFC Debbie Brannen, Cpl. Eddie Akins, and Sgt. William Vickers checked landings along the Ogeechee River for activity. One warning was written for operating a vessel with insufficient lifejackets.
TOOMBS COUNTY On August 19th & 21st, Cpl. Jon Barnard conducted a Hunter Education Class at Southeastern Tech with 9 students attending.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
LONG COUNTY On August 19th, Cpl Bobby White was called out to assists the Long County Sheriff's Office with look for two missing ATV riders.
WAYNE COUNTY On August 20th and 21st, Sgt. DV Grantham attended 16 hours of customer service training provided by DNR at Little Ocmulgee State Park.
On August 23rd, Sgt DV Grantham assisted with Grand Slam Fishing Tournament on the Altamaha River in Wayne County.