Field operations weekly report, 2009 March 8-14

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report March 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)
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
WHITE COUNTY On March 8th, RFC Anne Alexander, RFC Chad Chambers, and Sgt. Steve Seitz patrolled the Chattahoochee River through Helen and the Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area. The officers cited 2 individuals for fishing without fishing licenses and warned them for fishing without trout licenses. The officers cited one other subject for fishing in the closed part of the river.
On March 12th, RFC Anne Alexander received information on a subject she and other Rangers' had been looking for since last December. Ranger Alexander arrested the person on a warrant and charged them for unlawful dumping of egregious waste. The subject had dumped 9 bags of garbage on a county road in White County in late November.
On March 14th, RFC Anne Alexander charged a subject for unlawful burning of egregious waste. The subject had been cleaning up some property that had recently been purchased. The subject was burning old upholstered furniture, metal objects, and other miscellaneous items that were not considered natural debris.
RABUN COUNTY On March 9th, Cpl. Derek Dillard received a call of a boat incident that occurred on Lake Rabun around 11:30 PM the previous day. The incident involved a dark gray AstroGlass bass boat that was hit from behind by a white boat with a 70 HP Johnson outboard motor. The occupants in the white boat stopped briefly and spoke to the occupants of the Astro Glass and then left the scene. The occupants in the AstroGlass boat drove themselves home and later went to the hospital for a medical evaluation of their backs. Cpl. Dillard attempted to locate the vessel that left the scene, but was unsuccessful. The incident is still under investigation and charges are pending on both vessel operators.
DAWSON COUNTY On March 10th, Sgt. Lee Brown was patrolling the Delayed Harvest Stream (an artificial only stream which also has other regulations) at Steele Bridge on Dawson Forest WMA. Sgt. Brown observed two subjects fishing. The first subject that Sgt. Brown checked was a 16 year old who didn't possess fishing or a trout license and was fishing with worms. The other subject was an adult who didn't possess a trout license and was also fishing with worms. The 16 year old was given verbal guidance and the adult was issued warnings for fishing without a trout license and fishing with worms in a Delayed Harvest Stream.

FORSYTH COUNTY On March 10th and 12th, RFC Pamela Shelton conducted a 10 hour Hunter Education Course at the Coal Mountain Community Building. During the course a total of 13 students were certified in Hunter Education Class.
On March 10th, Cpl. Jason Roberson attended the Sawnee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation Banquet. Cpl. Roberson set up the Fishing Simulator for all the attendee's enjoyment.
GWINNETT COUNTY On March 8th, RFC Mark Stephens answered a complaint at Freemans Lake in reference to fishing without permission. RFC Stephens observed two subjects fishing and issued written warnings. Also on this date, RFC Stephens issued a female subject a citation for possession of marijuana.
On March 10th, Sgt. Lee Brown answered a complaint of fishing without permission at Freeman's Lake. Upon arriving Sgt. Brown observed two subjects fishing. Both subjects were issued citations for fishing without permission.
On March 12th, Sgt. Lee Brown answered a complaint of subjects fishing without permission at Freemans Lake again. On this day Sgt. Brown observed five subjects fishing. All five subjects were issued citations for fishing without permission.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
CLARKE COUNTY On March 8th, RFC Phillip Nelson was checking fishing without permission complaints in Clarke County. At Barnett Shoals, RFC Nelson caught 2 subjects on the property and charged each with fishing without a license and fishing without permission.
JOHNSON COUNTY On March 8th, RFC's Jeff Billips and Grant Matherly were patrolling Jefferson County when they received a call in reference to a boating incident in Johnson County. Upon arrival, they were told that two boats had collided on the Oconee River just above the Johnson County boat ramp. One operator had sustained a head injury after losing control of his boat when his seat had broken. The boat impacted the other boat then hit the riverbank. The operator of the impacted boat loaded the injured operator into his boat and contacted EMS. Both operators were transported to a local hospital for treatment o injuries. The incident is under investigation by the DNR Critical Incident Reconstruction Team.
LINCOLN COUNTY On March 12th, Cpl Ryan Swain apprehended one subject hunting turkeys out of season while on foot patrol in Northern Lincoln County.

COLUMBIA COUNTY On March 14th, RFC Robert Timmerman taught a Boating Safety Class to six public safety officials in Evans.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
STEWART COUNTY On March 8th, Cpl. Steve Robinson assisted Stewart County emergency services with locating and evacuating the severely injured victim of an ATV accident at a remote hunting club.
CLAY COUNTY Sgt. Butch Potter, Cpl. B.J. Foster, RFC Bob Holley and Ranger Jack Stripling attended a meeting of state and federal law enforcement and emergency agencies to discuss issues pertaining to the management of Lake Walter F. George.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TELFAIR COUNTY On March 7th, RFC McLaughlin was patrolling Jacksonville landing and noticed a boat violating the 100 ft rule. After talking to the occupants, McLaughlin noticed a strong smell of alcohol on the operator. After doing field sobriety exercises, it was determined that the operator was under the influence. The operator was placed under arrest and transported to the Telfair County jail.
On March 7th, RFC McLaughlin apprehended two individuals that were digging artifacts near Jacksonville. These subjects had been digging in the area for over a year and without permission when caught. One of the subjects had been on the property earlier and was caught on the video surveillance collecting artifacts.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On March 8th, RFC James McLaughlin noticed a car weaving on the roadway. The car was also traveling in the opposite lane in on-coming traffic. McLaughlin notified Jeff Davis County 911 and had them send a Hazlehurst Police unit to his location. RFC McLaughlin stopped the vehicle and it was determined that the operator was under the influence of a controlled substance. The case was turned over to Hazlehurst PD.

ECHOLS COUNTY On March 12th, Sgt Patrick Dupree assisted Echols Sheriff's Department with surveillance of a suspected drug dealer's residence. A search of the residence followed with two individuals being charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also, one of the two arrested was wanted in Lowndes County on an outstanding theft warrant.
On March 14th, RFC Brad Cox and Sgt Patrick Dupree conducted a concentrated boating safety patrol on the Alapaha River from Statenville landing upstream to Cranford Shoals and downstream to the Florida Line. Nine boats and 14 sportsmen were checked resulting in five violations of boating and fishing laws. A stolen vehicle tag was also recovered on a vehicle parked in the boat ramp parking lot resulting in the arrest of the offender. An Echols Sheriff's deputy assisted with the stolen vehicle tag incident.
On March 14th RFC Tim Hutto checked for boating and fishing violations on the Alapaha River. Several fishermen were checked and two warnings were issued for fishing without a license.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On March 6th, Ranger Brandon Pierce checked landings on the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers. The patrol resulted in seven boats being checked and several fishing licenses. No violations were found.
On March 7th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and Sgt. William Vickers patrolled the Ogeechee River. This patrol resulted in twenty boats and thirty-five licenses being checked. Several violations were documented, these included fishing without a license and no registration on boat.
On March 8th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins checked special license holders. Several permits were inspected and no violations were found.
On March 14th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins checked a hog hunt for the Savannah Wildlife Refuge at a landing on the Savannah River. This check resulted in twenty boats, forty hunting licenses, and several fishing licenses being checked. Two violations were documented of hunting without a license and verbal guidance was given.
On March 15th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins continued the check of the hog hunt on the Savannah Wildlife Refuge. Fourteen boats and six hunting licenses were checked. No violations were documented.
On March 16th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins responded to a call of an abandoned boat on the Savannah River above Tuckaseeking Landing. The boat was washed up against a tree in the river and many items in the boat indicated that the boat was used regularly. After a brief investigation the owner of the boat was found. He stated the boat must have gotten untied from the dock.

EVANS COUNTY On March 11th, RFC Debbie Brannen and Cpl. Eddie Akins checked the Evans Public Fishing Area resulting in one citation for fishing without a license and a citation for fishing without a WMA license. Two warnings were issued for fishing without a WMA license and one warning for fishing without a license.
On March 14th and 15th, RFC Debbie Brannen, Cpl. Dave Sims and Steve Mincey presented the laser shot program at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Claxton.
On March 13th, Cpl. Dave Sims patrolled the local creeks and the Canoochee River accesses for fishing and boating activity. Several fishermen and boats were checked resulting in (1) fishing without a license violation.
On March 13th, Cpl. Dave Sims responded to an illegal alligator kill complaint at a private pond. Though the investigation is ongoing, to date one person was found in violation for unlawful possession of alligator products for possessing approximately 4 lbs. of alligator tail meat and a portion of hide, which was confiscated. The search for the shooter is ongoing.
On March 14th, Cpl. Dave Sims patrolled the Canoochee River accesses for fishing and boating activity. Though activity was low, one citation was issued for fishing without a license.
COFFEE COUNTY On March 2nd, numerous Region VI Law Enforcement rangers assisted GSP, GBI, and Coffee County S. O. with a raid on convenient stores in Douglas due to illegal gambling practices. Sixteen businesses were involved.
BERRIEN COUNTY On March 7th, Cpl. Greg Moody patrolled Paradise Public Fishing Area. He issued several citations and gave verbal guidance to fishermen who were experiencing difficulty obtaining license.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CHATHAM COUNTY On March 8th, Ranger Justin Heyward arrested an individual for working crab traps of another without written permission. The crab traps belonged to a commercial crabber. The individual was transported to the Chatham County jail.
WAYNE COUNTY On March 8th, RFC Randy Aspinwall checked the Little Satilla Wildlife Management Area for subjects operating all terrain vehicles illegally. He located one suspect and cited him for illegal use of an ATV on a WMA. He also patrolled Lake Grace and cited two suspects for fishing without a license.

GLYNN COUNTY March 8th, RFC Mark Carson and Cpl. Jesse Cook patrolled offshore of St. Simons Island to F reef. While on patrol RFC Carson boarded a boat at F reef and found 17 undersized Black Sea Bass. The captain of the boat was cited for the violation. A federal case package was completed and turned over to a special agent with NOAA.
March 13th, RFC Mark Carson worked an illegal dumping complaint in Glynn County. After a week of investigation, a suspect was found and cited for unlawful dumping of waste.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On March 8th, Sgt. Harwell and Cpl. Finn patrolled the Altamaha River. They checked 14 boats for proper safety equipment and fishing licenses. One subject was cited for not having life jackets on board his vessel and another cited was issued for fishing without a license.
On March 14th, Sgt. Harwell and Ranger Fuller were patrolling the Altamaha River checking shad fishermen. One vessel checked had several beer cans in the bottom of the vessel, along with the operator having a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. The subject failed all field sobrieties and was placed under arrest for Boating Under the Influence.