Field operations weekly report, 2009 February 8-14

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 8-14, 2009
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 February 14th, RFC Brooks Varnell, his K-9, Rock, and RFC Byron Young assisted at Pine Log WMA on a managed hog hunt. They patrolled the area throughout the day and checked numerous hunters. The hunters reported that very few hogs had been seen throughout the hunt.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On February 14th, Ranger Brad Hamby and RFC Roger McConkey received a complaint that someone was trying to sell a raccoon at the Trade Day in Chattooga Co. The rangers arrived on scene, located and confiscated the raccoon. The raccoon will be tested for rabies.
COBB COUNTY On February 8th, Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from a fisherman on the Chattahoochee River in Cobb County. He was floating and fishing in the area of Sandy Point. The fisherman witnessed nine subjects fishing in the delayed harvest section of the river using worms, hand lines, and a cast net. Sgt. Barr contacted RFC Bart Hendrix and RFC James Psillis who were closer to the area. The Rangers responded and located the nine subjects. This section of the Chattahoochee River does not allow the use of any type bait but artificial lures and all fish must be returned to the water during the "delayed harvest" time of year. The rangers found that the nine men were using worms for bait, did not possess a non-resident fishing license or non-resident trout license, and had caught and kept 4 trout. All nine were charged with fishing violations in the State Court of Cobb County.
FULTON COUNTY On February 16th, Ranger Psillis completed a Hunter Education Course in North Fulton County, and also completed another Hunter Education Course in South Fulton County on February 17th. A total of 43 students were certified in Hunter Education from the two courses.
MURRAY COUNTY On February 14th, RFC Eddie Tompkins, Cpl. James Keener, Wildlife Tech Larry Ethridge, and USFS Officer Jane Wright worked a detail on Sumac Creek shooting range on Cohutta WMA. The detail was to address problems with persons not following range rules and vandalizing property. Two citations and warnings were issued for violation of shooting range rules.
PAULDING COUNTY On February 7th, RFC Chad Cox was working on Paulding Forest WMA and located some fresh motorcycle tracks. He decided to wait and see if the motorcycle would come back. Approximately 30 minutes later RFC Cox was able to apprehend the subject on the motorcycle. He was charged with illegal use of ATV on WMA.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
UNION COUNTY On February 13th, at 1:30 pm RFC Kevin Dyer was on routine patrol when Union County 911 dispatched a one-vehicle accident on Gum Log Road and stated that the driver had fled the scene on foot. RFC Dyer patrolled the roads in the area of the accident and dispatch stated that the car was reported stolen from a resident a half-mile east of the accident. After receiving information that the driver of the car was seen in the area of where the car was stolen from RFC Dyer met SGT Chad Deyton with the Union County Sheriffs Office at the resident and started to search the woods behind the resident. RFC Dyer saw a person walking in the woods and asked the subject to stop as he identified his self as a Conservation Ranger. The person started running and crossed a fence and ran into a field where RFC Dyer apprehended him. After securing the suspect he was turned over to Union County Investigator Parks.
On February 13th, at 8:00 pm RFC Kevin Dyer and RFC David Webb assisted the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia State Patrol with multiple license checks through out Union County. These license checks resulted in arrest made for DUI's, driving on suspended license, open containers, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and three subjects from Tennessee were caught for hitting mail boxes with bats and sledge hammers. They stated they had hit mailboxes in Cleveland TN, and Murray County GA.
WHITE COUNTY On February 8th, RFC Anne Alexander assisted the US Forest Service on a road check off Russell Scenic Highway. During the road check, one arrest was made for DUI (drugs), possession of controlled substance (marijuana & acid). 12 other contacts were made, including: seat belt violations, open container, driving without a motorcycle license, driving without a license, and expired tag violations.
FORSYTH COUNTY On February 10th 12th, Sgt. Lee Brown participated in the Operation Wilderness Survival Course at Sweetwater Creek State Park with fifteen other rangers.
GWINNETT COUNTY On February 10th, Sgt. Lee Brown met with reporters from Fox 5 in Atlanta and gave them and interview about an ongoing forgery and stolen PWC case. The DNR Marine Theft Unit is working this case with assistance from Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Eric Sanders and the other members of Sgt. Brown's work unit.

On February 14th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling the Chattahoochee River for boating and fishing activity. They checked several boats and fisherman throughout the day. Violations for fishing without a license, fishing without a trout license, fishing or possessing illegal bait in an artificial only zone, and operating a vessel with expired registration were documented. Also, the rangers issued a written warning for a subject that illegal burning.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On February 13th, Capt. Thomas Barnard and RFC Brian Adams assisted GSP and the McDuffie SO with the apprehension of a bank robbery suspect. The suspect was tracked by GPS from the Augusta Georgia Bank robbery scene. He was captured in a roadblock on Interstate 20.
JEFFERSON COUNTY On February 14th, RFC Matherly and Billips responded to a complaint of hunting without permission. After arriving on scene, the Rangers found that there were 10 subjects hunting on the complainant's property along with four other pieces of property. After making contact with the other landowners, the Rangers learned that the ten subjects were not to be hunting on any of the property. All ten subjects were found and interviewed. After gathering all information the Rangers found that two of the subjects were from Jefferson County and the other eight were from Wisconsin and Tennessee. The two local subjects admitting to telling the others that they had permission to be on the property. Citations for hunting without permission were issued to the 2 local subjects and warnings for hunting without permission were issued to the non-resident hunters. One subject from Tennessee was issued a citation for hunting without a license.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On February 14th, RFC Robert Timmerman taught a Hunters Safety Class for the Columbia County 4-H Club. 18 students were certified in hunter education. Cpl. Brian Hobbins issued citations to two subjects on February 15th, at the McDuffie PFA for fishing without a WMA stamp/license.
WARREN COUNTY RFC Brian Adams apprehended two subjects on February 12th, for unlawful dumping of waste off of Ranger Rd.
ELBERT COUNTY On February 8th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins assisted Elbert SO in the capture of 4 ATV riding subjects that were being chased by the traffic unit from the SO.

GREENE COUNTY Cpl. Derrell Worth hosted a youth squirrel hunt on February 14th, at the local Georgia Power Parks on Lake Oconee. Twelve children participated in the hunt along with their fathers. Sgt. Matt Garthright, Cpl. David Allen, RFC Richard Tanner, and RFC Ricky Boles assisted with supervising the hunt. Every child got to shoot at a squirrel and several were able to harvest their first squirrel.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
SEMINOLE COUNTY On February 13th, RFC Tony Cox investigated a complaint of illegal gill nets being used in the Fish Pond Drain area of Lake Seminole. The officer located two nets in the area and initiated an investigation, which led to a subject being charged with commercial fishing in closed waters along with the illegal net being confiscated.
SUMTER COUNTY On January 22nd, Cpl. Tommy Lawrence received a complaint of unlawful dumping from a landowner. Cpl. Lawrence's interviews with five subjects associated with the incident led to charges of unlawful dumping of a high and aggravated nature being made against two of the subjects.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
WARE COUNTY On February 14th, RFC Brad Cox received a citizen complaint about an in progress hunting without permission and hunting out of season call on Dixie Union Road. The complainant observed two individuals in his field with shotguns walking toward a large group of hen turkeys. The complainant drove out into the field and confronted the two individuals. When RFC Cox arrived on the scene he met with the complainant and the two violators that were 16 and 14 years of age. The juvenile's story was that they had gotten their vehicle stuck in the ditch on Dixie Union Road and were taking a shortcut through the field back to their residence. They were carrying their shotguns because they did not want to leave them in the vehicle. Neither shotgun was loaded; however the boys had shells in their pocket. Both denied having any desire to poach a turkey. No charges were filed due to the ages of the boys, the fact that no turkey had been taken, and their vehicle actually was stuck in the ditch on Dixie Union Road. RFC Cox pulled the boys vehicle out of the ditch and they were warned to get permission from the landowner before crossing private property.
Later that morning while checking for boating and fishing activity along the Satilla River, RFC Cox checked a boat and two fishermen at the Jamestown Landing. A violation of operating a vessel with improper PFD was documented.

LOWNDES COUNTY On February 8th, Cpl. Greg Moody and Ranger Keith McDonald patrolled for fishing and boating activity on the Withlacoochee River. One citation was issued for operating a vessel without PFD's and one written warning was issued for fishing without a license.
BULLOCH COUNTY On February 8th, Cpl. Eddie Akins and RFC Debbie Brannen patrolled on the Ogeechee River, upstream of Steel Bridge. The work efforts resulted in no boats or violations being detected.
On February 10th, Cpl. Dave Sims received a complaint about a turkey being killed out of season. With information received from the complainant, Cpl. Sims and RFC Debbie Brannen were able to locate the subject's vehicle and driver. The investigation revealed that a seventeen year old along with a friend were driving around the Westside area and saw turkeys in a field. The driver fired a .22 caliber rifle, killing one of the turkeys. The driver then ran into the field, retrieved the dead bird and drove from the area. Taking into consideration the hunters age and cooperation the following enforcement action was taken: Citations were issued for hunting out of season and hunting without permission. He also received written warnings for hunting from a public road, hunting from a vehicle, hunting turkey with an illegal weapon and possession of illegally taken wildlife. No charges were filed against the passenger of the vehicle.
On February 14th, Cpl. Sims and Ranger Brandon Pierce responded to a complaint of hunting without permission in and around the William's Landing community. The rangers located two unlicensed hunters shooting squirrels with an air rifle. The hunters were issued citations for hunting without a license and issued warnings for hunting without permission.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On February 10th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and RFC Debbie Brannen searched a creek off of the Savannah River for a possible drowning victim that had been reported. The entire area was searched and no items or anything was found.
On February 15th, Ranger Brandon Pierce checked special license holders. This resulted in no violations being documented.
APPLING COUNTY On February 13th, Cpl. Jimmy Williams checked Carters Bight Landing on the Altamaha River regarding a complaint of operating vessels at night without lights. No activity was observed.
On February 15th, Cpl. Jimmy Williams checked Lake Mayers and Deens Landing in Appling County for boating activity. A total of 5 boats were inspected with no violations observed.

Ranger Chase Altman was patrolling Lake Mayers on Feb. 10th for fishing activity. Several boats were checked and one warning was written for operating a vessel with expired registration. The owner was given instructions on how to re-register the boat along with the printed out form for completion.
On Feb. 11th, while working a night hunting complaint, Ranger Altman assisted the Appling S.O. with a search for a missing juvenile on Red Oak Road.
TREUTLEN COUNTY On February 10th and 11th, RFC Danielle Partin conducted 8 IE programs at the Treutlen County Elementary School on Georgia's Fur Bearing Animals and a Career as a DNR Conservation Ranger for 4-H day for 130 students and 2 teachers.
On February 12th, Cpl. Jon Barnard conducted 6 IE programs at the Treutlen County Elementary School on Georgia's Fur Bearing Animals for 4-H day for 106 students and 12 teachers
On February 12th, RFC Danielle Partin was subpoenaed to be a witness in a Federal Court case in Augusta Georgia.
TOOMBS COUNTY On February 8th, Cpl. Jon Barnard patrolled the boat landing areas of Cobb Creek Dead River and Highway 1 landing on the Altamaha River. Five boats were inspected and 9 fishing licenses checked. Two warnings were issued of which one was for insufficient PFD's and one for operating vessel at night without lights.
On February 9th, Cpl. Jon Barnard conducted a Handgun in the Home IE program for the Toombs County Teachers Alpha Beta Kie Teachers Sorority for 9 adults.
On February 10th, Cpl. Jon Barnard and RFC Barry Britt conducted an IE program and K9 Demo for 18 students and 2 adults for the 5th grade Science Club at Sally D. Meadows Elementary School in Vidalia.
JENKINS COUNTY On February 9th, Cpl. Don Dasher was working trapping. When the trapper showed up to check one of his traps, it was found to not be tagged and the trapper did not have written permission. He was cited for both violations.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On February 10th, Cpl. Cindy Miller responded to a complaint of possible night hunting on the Richmond Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Cpl. Miller waited at a truck parked on the WMA and ended up checking two raccoon hunters. One of the individuals was cited for hunting without a license and hunting without a WMA license.

LONG COUNTY On February 14th, while checking Morgan Lake off the Altamaha River, Cpl. Bobby White cited two suspects for fishing without permission, one suspect for fishing without a license, and one suspect for fishing without a non-resident license.
CAMDEN COUNTY On February 12th, Sgt. Bob Lynn, Cpl. Chris Hodge, and RFC Craig Smith worked a complaint in Camden County in reference to possible illegal trapping activity. No violations were detected that day.
On February 14th, Cpl. Chris Hodge received a call about a hunting accident that happened on a hunting club off of Hwy 40. Once Cpl. Hodge responded to the incident and learned that one person had been shot in the left buttock with a 22-caliber rifle and had been taken to the local hospital for treatment. The incident is currently under investigation by Cpl. Hodge and DNR Law Enforcement's Critical Incident Response Team.
GLYNN COUNTY On February 9th, Sgt. Bob Lynn and Cpl. Jesse Cook conducted on offshore patrol checking fishermen at "F" Reef and shrimp trawlers trawling in the St. Simons Channel. No violations were noted.