Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section Field Operations Weekly Report September 7-13, 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 September 8th, RFC Byron Young received a call about an abandoned boat floating on Lake Allatoona near the I-75 Bridge. He responded and found a 23-foot run-a-bout boat with no occupants. He ran the registration and contacted the owner of the vessel. The boat had been stolen from another part of the lake the day before. The boat was returned to the owner. DNR rangers are investigating the incident. On September 12th, Sgt. Mike Barr was on foot-patrol in an area off Stamp Creek Road. He was following a stream and found a live raccoon in a round cage know as a "roll cage" which are used for training dogs. Sgt. Barr took pictures of the cage and tracks around the cage. On September 13th, Sgt. Barr returned to the area to find the cage had been moved. He went to the nearest house and spoke with the owner. The homeowner admitted his son who lived across the street was engaged in trapping. Sgt. Barr spoke with the son who also admitted to trapping and holding wildlife. Sgt. Barr released the raccoon and gave written warnings for trapping out of season and holding wildlife without a permit. CHEROKEE COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. James Keener responded to a complaint in reference to shots being fired from ATVs in the area of a power line on a hunting club on the Pickens/Cherokee County line. Cpl. Keener met several hunting club members on the property and followed them to the area where other hunting club members had found four subjects on ATVs. After searching and disarming the four subjects, which had three handguns, all four individuals were issued citations for operating an ATV on lands of another without permission. FULTON COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Bart Hendrix was patrolling Fulton County with Ranger James Psillis. They came upon a truck parked along the road at Providence Road and Birmingham Highway. The rangers stopped to investigate and noticed two bags of corn in the bed of the truck. RFC Hendrix searched the area of woods on foot while Ranger Psillis stayed with the truck. A few minutes later, two men came back to the truck. Ranger Psillis spoke with the men who stated they were just out scouting. They had no weapons. They also advised that they had run into another deer hunter in a tree stand over three piles of corn. The men identified the area and the rangers located the hunter still in the tree stand with a bow. The hunter admitted placing the corn in the area and was cited for hunting big game over bait. GILMER COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. James Keener, Ranger Cody Jones, and Sgt. John VanLandingham made contact with a bear hunter. The hunter was hunting in an area that was baited with corn as well as a molasses and a corn block. The hunter was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait. On September 13th, Sgt. John VanLandingham and Wildlife Technician Larry Etheridge cited two hunters for hunting big game over bait. One of the hunters also received a citation and a warning for license violations. PICKENS COUNTY On September 7th, Cpl. James Keener and Ranger Cody Jones made contact with three individuals dove hunting. The field was baited with cracked corn. The three men were charged with hunting over bait, and one subject was charged with a license violation. Nine dove were confiscated. On September 10th, Cpl. James Keener and Ranger Cody Jones responded to a campground in reference to a call of someone being assaulted. Cpl. Keener and Ranger Jones were the first officers on scene. The rangers rendered aid to the man who had been assaulted and searched the area for the assailants. On September 13th, Cpl. James Keener and Ranger Cody Jones attended the Public Safety Awareness Day Event in Pickens County. This event displayed patrol and emergency vehicles from numerous agencies including local fire, EMS, law enforcement, and public service agencies, as well as multiple patrol vehicles and a helicopter from the GA State Patrol. Cpl. Keener displayed his patrol truck, issued ATV, as well as literature, regulations, and other handouts that were Department related. Cpl. Keener was awarded 1st place (by public vote) for the favorite patrol vehicle. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) DEKALB COUNTY On September 11th, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an Online Hunter Education Class at the Dekalb County Park and Recreation Department in Tucker. Cpl. Sanders certified 19 students during this class. On September 13th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and Sgt. Lee Brown checked several stands baited for deer without any success. Later in the morning Cpl. Sanders received a call about hunting without permission on the City of Atlanta Swat Team training tract. The rangers caught one subject hunting that had previously been caught by Cpl. Sanders in the past. The subject was charged with hunting without permission and warned for hunting without a big game license and hunting without a primitive weapons license. DAWSON COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. Jason Roberson and Wildlife Technician IV Mark Turner were checking baited deer stands. They were checking an area that Cpl. Roberson had previously located a baited stand. They saw a vehicle parked in a different location from the bait. Upon further investigation, two subjects were found. One had a bow and the other was dressed in camo and didn't have a bow. Cpl. Roberson found a blind that was baited with apples and corn. The subject without a bow stated that he wasn't hunting. Cpl. Roberson and Wildlife Technician IV Turner found a 12guage shotgun loaded with buckshot and the subject admitted that it was his. Both subjects were charged with hunting big game over bait and the other subject was charged with hunting with an illegal weapon and hunting without a big game or primitive weapons license. FORSYTH COUNTY On September 10th, Sgt. Lee Brown conducted an I & E program to Ms. Thompson's fifth grade class at Matt Elementary about DNR's response to Hurricane Katrina. The class had been studying the state of Louisiana and about hurricanes. GWINNETT COUNTY On September 10th, RFC Mark Stephens conducted a program on `Waterfowl Laws" to the sportsman group at Hebron Baptist Church. On September 11th, RFC Mark Stephens setup the Laser Shot system at the Snellville First Baptist Church's Wild Game Supper. This was the second year of DNR's participation at this event. LUMPKIN COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Mitchell Crump was checking several stands that were baited for deer. RFC Crump caught two subjects and both were charged with hunting big game over bait. Later that day RFC Crump assisted Lumpkin County emergency personal and the US Forest Service with the evacuation of an injured four wheeler operator. The subject's leg had been broken at the Whissenhunt ATV riding trail on the US Forest Service property. WHITE COUNTY On September 11th, RFC Mitchell Crump taught an Online Hunter Education Class. RFC Crump certified 14 people during this class. FRANKLIN COUNTY On September 9th, Sgt Stan Elrod and RFC Chris Moore recovered a stolen Honda CR250. Elrod and Moore found the motorcycle in a wooded area while looking for deer bait on a piece of private property. Three motorcycles were stolen in the area days before. The Honda was turned over to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. UNION COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Kevin Dyer got a complaint that someone had illegally shot some type of bird from the road. RFC Dyer responded and found that a landowner had shot and killed a hawk. RFC Dyer charged the subject for killing protected wildlife. HALL COUNTY On Sept. 13th & 14th, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and Sgt. Mike Burgamy patrolled Hall County on opening weekend of archery season. They checked a total of 12 hunters and issued 4 citations for hunting big game over bait. They issued warnings for hunting without primitive weapons license, failure to sign in on WMA hunt, hunting without written permission, hunting on a closed WMA, hunting without a WMA license, and littering. Region III- Thomson (East Central) MORGAN COUNTY RFC Larry Mills encountered two people hunting deer over bait, while checking deer stands on opening day of the 2008 bow season. RFC Mills had located these baited stands two days prior. Neither of the two individuals had any type of the required hunting license. The two individuals were charged with hunting big game over bait and hunting without a license. LAKE OCONEE-PUTNAM COUNTY On September 14th, Sgt. Matt Garthright and Cpl. David Allen responded to a boating incident/collision on Lake Oconee in Sugar Creek. Three people were traveling in a bass boat when their vessel struck a stump, causing damage to the underside of the vessel. Their boat began to fill up with water and eventually went down. The collision left the three people with only one option, swim and shout for help. Someone heard them and picked them up. Sgt. Garthright and Cpl. Allen helped the three get their boat out of the water and onto their trailer. Life jackets were used during the incident and no injuries were sustained. WILKES COUNTY On September 13th, at 6:30 pm, RFC Bob Holley and Sgt. Brian Carter were patrolling east Wilkes County for dove hunting activity when they heard a large number of gunshots coming from a clear-cut adjacent to U.S. Highway 78. RFC Holley and Sgt. Carter found several individuals shooting doves over bait. All were found in possession of illegally taken wildlife and two of the subjects were found in possession of over the bag limit. 4 citations were issued for hunting over bait, 4 were issued for possession of illegally taken wildlife, 2 were issued for taking over the bag limit and 1 was issued for unlawful enticement. 53 mourning doves were confiscated from the persons involved and the field was flagged. COLUMBIA COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin checked baited deer stands that had been located prior to the opening day of bow season. One subject was cited for hunting big game over bait as well as given warnings for hunting without a primitive weapons license and hunting without a big game license. They also checked a dove field with approximately a dozen hunters present. No violations were found on the field. The officers checked fishermen at the Riverside Park boat ramp and issued a warning to a subject for fishing without a license. Region IV- Macon (West Central) Region V- Albany (Southwest) TURNER COUNTY On September 12th, RFC Al Greer investigated a hunting accident in which a shotgun suffered a catastrophic failure, severely injuring the hunter. The accident investigation is continuing. WORTH COUNTY On September 7th, Cpl. Robbie Griner was on patrol for dove hunting when he came upon a truck occupied by two males dressed in hunting apparel. The truck was being operated in an area where Cpl. Griner had received numerous complaints about someone hunting from the road. Cpl. Griner began surveillance of the suspect vehicle and caught the occupants retrieving a dove they had just shot off the powerline. Both occupants were charged with hunting from a public road. TIFT COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked a dove shoot in south Tift County. One of the hunters on the field was found to be over-the bag limit of doves after Cpl. Daughtrey discovered birds the hunter had hidden under the hay bale he was using as a blind. BAKER COUNTY On the night of September 8th, RFC Randy Davis received a call from the Mitchell Sheriff's Office about two women possibly missing on the Flint River. A deputy sheriff had discovered their unlocked vehicle sitting at the Mitchell County boat landing. The deputy informed RFC Davis the vehicle's keys were still in the ignition and the women's purses were on the seat. With that information, RFC Davis quickly organized a search of the river, pulling officers and patrol boats in from surrounding areas. RFC Davis and RFC Brady launched their boat and searched the river south of the Mitchell landing, while Sgt. David Ruddell and RFC John Penuel searched North of the Newton Landing. The officers were hoping to discover the women stranded somewhere between the two landings; a twenty mile stretch of river. Just after midnight, after a 2- hour search, RFC Davis and RFC Brady located the two women along the bank of the Flint. Over 8 hours after their journey had begun on two pool floats, the women were transported by patrol boat to safety, where paramedics treated them for numerous bug-bites and dehydration. They were then reunited with worried family members and taken home. SEMINOLE COUNTY On September 10th, Region V Rangers attended the annual Tri-State Law Enforcement meeting at Seminole State Park, hosted this year by Officers from Alabama Game and Fish. At the meeting, Rangers received training on investigative techniques and discussed enforcement issues effecting Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) CHARLTON COUNTY On September 12th, Cpl. Gary Simmons patrolled the Satilla River from Three-R Fish Camp to the Charlton/Camden county line for alligator hunting activity. No alligator hunters were encountered. PIERCE COUNTY On September 11th, Cpl. Damon Winters was requested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to assist with locating items of evidence in a recent murder investigation. Cpl. Winters and a GBI agent used Cpl. Winter's vessel to retrieve several items thrown off a river bridge. After all evidence was collected, one arrest was made in the investigation. The suspect is currently being held without bond. BEN HILL COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. John Stokes checked baited stands and issued one citation for hunting big game over bait. On September 14th, Cpl. Stokes checked baited stands and issued one citation for hunting hogs over bait. WILCOX COUNTY On September 13th, while on patrol for archery hunters RFC Mike Kicklighter issued a warning for hunting big game over bait. On September 14th, RFC Kicklighter was on routine patrol for dove hunts and archery hunters when he located an out of state hunter hunting big game without a license. The non-resident hunter was issued a citation and a warning. On Sept 14th, Cpl. John Stokes and Sgt. David Reckley patrolled for dove hunting and checked baited stands. Citations were issued for hunting with unplugged gun, hunting without license, and hunting big game over bait. COOK COUNTY On September 7th, Cpl. Morty Wood checked a dove shoot in Cook County. Individuals were cited for hunting snipe out of season, hunting without hunter safety certification and hunting without a license. ATKINSON COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Tim Hutto checked an area baited for deer and located one subject from Florida hunting over whole kernel corn. The hunter was cited for hunting big game over bait and the baiting law for Georgia was thoroughly explained. BERRIEN COUNTY On September 9th, RFC Tim Hutto received a complaint that someone had dumped a large quantity of cooking oil under a bridge over the Alapaha River. On September 11th, after locating and interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence at the scene, he located the violator and was able to obtain a confession. The individual was cited for unlawful dumping of waste greater than 500 lbs or 100 cubic ft. EMANUEL COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Jamey O'Brien was patrolling the Twin City area of Emanuel County when he checked two dove hunters hunting in a clear-cut. RFC O'Brien found the clear-cut baited with cracked corn. Both hunters were charged with hunting over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife with one of the hunters receiving an additional citation for hunting with an unplugged shotgun. Eight dove were confiscated. TOOMBS COUNTY On September 26th, Cpl. Jon Barnard received a landowner complaint about hunting without permission. The landowner advised Cpl. Barnard that his son had caught the hunter last year on the property and warned him not to come back onto the land. Upon investigation, Cpl. Barnard found that the hunter in question was not the same person who was warned previously. Cpl. Barnard issued the hunter a written warning for hunting without permission. On September 13th, Cpl. Jon Barnard was following up a complaint received earlier in the week about hunters hunting dove on property adjacent to complainant's dove field and crossing onto his property to retrieve downed birds. Cpl Barnard located a truck parked on the adjacent hunting club and noticed two sets of boot prints in the sand leading away from the truck. Cpl. Barnard used his DNR K-9 Coal to track the hunters. K-9 Coal tracked one hunter about mile and located the hunter hunting in a ladder stand with a bow. There was a feeder in a tree about 20 yards from the stand baited with whole kernel corn. Cpl. Barnard issued the hunter citations for hunting big game over bait, hunting without a primitive weapons license and a warning for hunting without a big game license. K-9 Coal tracked the second hunter approximately mile to the property line adjacent to the dove field where the hunter was found deer hunting along the property line with a crossbow. The hunter admitted he had picked up a dove on complainant's property but didn't cross the property line again after being confronted by the landowner. Verbal guidance was given about retrieving downed game without landowner permission. TELFAIR COUNTY On September 13th, RFC James McLaughlin and RFC Barry Britt checked a dove field south of McRae on Hwy 341. Three individuals were cited for having over the daily bag limit of birds and one was issued a warning for having an unplugged gun. BULLOCH COUNTY While patrolling in Bulloch County on the morning of September 7th, Cpl. Eddie Akins located one dove shoot. Upon investigation of the field where the hunters were shooting it was determined that the field was baited. There were two hunters on the field and both hunters were charged with hunting over bait. One of the hunters was also charged with hunting with an unplugged shotgun and no license. Seven doves were confiscated from the two individuals. EFFINGHAM COUNTY On the evening of September 13th, RFC Debbie Brannen and Sgt. William Vickers carried out a boat patrol of the Savannah River from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM. A total of 5 alligator hunters were checked with no violations detected. One of the hunters had taken an 11ft alligator. The operator of a jet ski was cited for operation of a jet ski after hours of darkness and operation of a vessel without sufficient lifejackets. His passenger on the jet ski did not have a lifejacket. Because the operator did not have any identification he was arrested and turned over to the Effingham County Sheriff's Office. On September 9th, an armored car-jacking suspect from South Carolina fled on foot from a GSP trooper after a car chase. DNR-LE was requested to respond to the scene and search the Savannah River shoreline for the suspect and to help prevent his escape from the area. Sgt. William Vickers, Cpl. Don Dasher, RFC Clint Jarriel, and RGR Brandon Pierce responded to the scene, but the search was called off before the officers could launched their boats. EVANS COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Debbie Brannen patrolled the county for archery deer hunting activity. One citation was written for hunting big game over bait. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) LIBERTY COUNTY On September 11th, Cpl. Jay Morgan called Cpl. Cindy Miller and told her he heard shooting behind his house. Cpl. Miller responded to an area near Cpl. Morgan's house to listen since he was off. Cpl. Miller finally located a dove shoot and directed Ranger Randy Tinley to her location for assistance in checking hunters. Upon further inspection of the area, Cpl. Miller determined the area was baited and nine hunters were cited for hunting over bait. BRYAN COUNTY On September 13th, RFC Isaac Strickland and Cpl. Cindy Miller checked a hunting club in South Bryan for bow hunters. Cpl. Miller had located some bait in the club earlier and asked RFC Strickland to assist her checking hunters. Six hunters were cited for hunting over bait. In addition, three of the six hunters were also cited for hunting without a primitive weapons license. GLYNN COUNTY On September 13th, Cpl. Jesse Cook was conducting a night deer hunting patrol in Glynn County when he heard 6 shots coming from just up the dirt road from his location. A short time later, Cpl. Cook observed a vehicles headlights approaching. After the vehicle passed, Cpl. Cook initiated a traffic stop and encountered 4 individuals in the back of the truck and the driver. A semi-automatic pistol was secured from one of the individuals and a second pistol was located inside the truck. The individuals admitted to shooting at a rabbit. The subjects were cited for various violations. CAMDEN COUNTY On the morning of September 13th, Cpl. Chris Hodge and RFC Craig Smith were working a night hunting complaint in Camden County. Around 2 A.M., the officers observed a vehicle in the area coming in their direction. As the vehicle got closer, the officers noticed that the vehicle was coming to the area in which they had parked their patrol vehicles in a field. As the vehicle approached, RFC Smith approached the driver's side of the vehicle. The driver was removed from the vehicle because all three occupants were drinking beer. The driver then admitted to RFC Smith that he was in possession of some illegal drugs. A female in the vehicle also had outstanding warrants from another county. The driver was arrested for possession of methamphetamines and the female was also arrested for outstanding warrants. All drug charges were turned over to the Camden County Sheriff's Office Drug Enforcement Team. CHATHAM COUNTY On September 7th, Corporal Bill Bryson and Ranger Justin Heyward found four bags of trash on Burkhalter Rd. Inside the bags were approximately 200 names, addresses and social security numbers from a major cable provider. The individual responsible for disposing of the bags was issued a citation for illegal dumping. On September 13th, Corporal Curtis Wright and Ranger Justin Heyward issued two individuals citations for hunting deer over bait in Pooler. WAYNE COUNTY On September 10th, RFC Randy Aspinwall responded to two overdue boaters on the Altamaha River after their families became worried when they did not return at dark. After putting his boat in at Pig farm county boat landing. He found the subjects up river safe and ok. On September 12th, RFC Randy Aspinwall, caught a subject bow hunting for deer out of season. While checking the area with the hunter, corn was found a few yards from the stand. The subject was written citations for hunting big game out of season and hunting big game over bait. On September 12th, Sgt. D.V. Grantham and Cpl. Bobby White were working a night hunting complaint in the Screven area. While staked-out on the fields around 10:40 pm, a pickup truck approached one of the fields, shined a spotlight across the field and shot one time at a deer. The pickup continued on and shined another part of the field. Upon stopping the pickup there were 5 male subjects inside. All subjects were charged with hunting deer at night with the aid of a light. On September 13th, while on patrol checking hunting clubs, Cpl. Bobby White issued two citations for hunting big game over bait. On September 13th, RFC Randy Aspinwall, was checking a dove shoot when he checked a subject with 22 doves. The subject was written a citation for taking over the bag limit.