Field operations weekly report, 2009 July 26-August 1

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report July 26-August 1, 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)
GILMER COUNTY On July 27th, Sgt. John VanLandingham, Cpl. Casey Jones, Cpl. James Keener, and Ranger Cody Jones were staking out a marijuana grow on Rich Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The rangers arrested one suspect who had come into the patch and watered and harvested some of the plants. The local drug task force was contacted. Agents from the Drug Task Force and DNR Rangers executed a search warrant for the suspect's residence. A total of 14 marijuana plants and an amount dried and processed marijuana was seized at the two locations.
MURRAY COUNTY On August 1st, Cpl. Casey Jones and Cpl. James Keener arrested two men for possession of marijuana and Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. The rangers were checking fishing licenses when they observed one of the individuals roll a marijuana cigarette and start smoking it with a friend. Cpl. Jones approached the subjects and made the arrest after locating the marijuana and some Xanex pills.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DAWSON COUNTY On August 1st, Sgt. Lee Brown was traveling on Dawson Forest Road towards GA Hwy 400. As Sgt. Brown was proceeding through the roundabout at the Outlet Mall a MiniVan didn't yield and almost collided with Sgt. Brown's patrol vehicle. Sgt. Brown initiated a traffic stop on the van. The driver a Hispanic male didn't have any driver's license and his two small children were not in child restraints. A Dawson County deputy arrived and arrested the driver of the van and charged him with failure to yield the rightof-way, driving without a license and two counts of children not being in a child restraint. Sgt. Brown and RFC Crump transported the mother and her two children to the Dawson County Sheriff's Office were a taxi was called to take them to Canton.
FORSYTH COUNTY On July 31st, RFC Pamela Shelton was assigned to the Buckarama at the Atlanta Expo and assisted with the DNR booth and had the Laser Shot setup for the attendees.
On August 1st, Sgt. Lee Brown, RFC Mark Stephens, RFC Eric Isom and RFC Pamela Shelton assisted the Forsyth and Gwinnett County Fire Department's Dive Teams with the recovery of elderly man that drowned in Lake Lanier.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GREENE COUNTY - LAKE OCONEE On August 1st, Sgt. Matt Garthright and RFC Richard Tanner were patrolling the Richland Creek area of Lake Oconee. The rangers had a PWC stopped and were talking to the operator about not having the safety lanyard attached. They observed another PWC travel past their stopped patrol boat. The PWC came within 20 feet of the patrol vessel at a moderate rate of speed. Sgt. Garthright realized that the demeanor of both occupants of the PWC showed intoxication. The rangers finished their first stopped and caught up to other PWC. Upon stopping the vessel it was apparent that both riders were intoxicated. RFC Tanner administered field sobriety exercises to the operator and at the completion of the exercises, placed the operator under arrest for BUI. The operator refused the state administered chemical test under the implied consent law. His vehicle driver's license was suspended for having 2 DUI arrest within five years. Sgt. Garthright operated the PWC back to the owner's dock. The operator was charged with BUI and for operating a PWC above idle speed within 100 foot of object in water.
ELBERT COUNTY On July 27th, Corporal Julian Wilkins and Ranger Nicki Spencer responded to a call on Lake Richard B. Russell in reference to a male who was injured after diving into a shallow area of a creek and being injured. Corporal Wilkins and Ranger Spencer assisted Elbert County EMS get the subject out of the water and into an ambulance. The subject was air lifted to the hospital.
On August 1st, Corporal Julian Wilkins and Corporal Greg Colson responded to a boating incident at Hwy. 368 bridge on Lake Richard B. Russell. A subject had fallen off the front of a boat and drown. The incident was determined to be in South Carolina. The officers remained on scene and assisted South Carolina DNR with the search for the subject.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
TROUP COUNTY On July 30th, Cpl. Brent Railey received information from Troup County 911 about a person or persons shooting deer at night. Cpl. Railey spoke with the complainant and went to the scene, took pictures and retrieved evidence.
On August 1st, Cpl. Brent Railey met with a landowner and his family in reference to ATV's being ridden in Flat Shoals Creek. The landowner requested the people be prosecuted by DNR or Troup County Sheriff's Office if they were caught on their property. It also came to the attention of Cpl. Railey that in the same area of Flat Shoals creek is an endangered species of plant that could be affected by ATV's in the creek. Cpl. Railey also worked on West Point Lake with Cpl. Wanda Roberts. The traffic was light due to the weather.

PUTNAM COUNTY On August 1st, Ranger First Class Chad Welch and Corporal Bubba Stanford were patrolling Lake Sinclair near Twin Bridges when they stopped a boat for expired registration. All of the occupants of the boat were under 21 years of age and the Rangers noticed beer cans in the boat. Cpl. Stanford asked the operator if he had been drinking and he said no. RFC Welch performed standardized field sobriety on the subject and he was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and he was placed under arrest and was transported to the Putnam County Jail and was charged with boating under the influence and operating a vessel without life jackets.
BALDWIN COUNTY On August 1st, Ranger First Class Chad Welch and Corporal Bubba Stanford responded to a possible drowning/ unoccupied vessel in the Rocky Creek area of Lake Sinclair. Once on the scene the Rangers noticed an unoccupied SEADOO boat traveling in circles at a high rate of speed. The Rangers had everyone nearby evacuate the immediate area until the boat finally struck a boathouse and came to rest on the bank. The operator of the boat had been ejected and had swum to a nearby boat and was located by the Rangers a short time later. RFC Josh Copelan and Cpl. Stan Semmlar arrived on the scene to assist. The operator was complaining about his ribs hurting and requested medical treatment. RFC Welch and Cpl. Stanford could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator and he admitted to drinking several beers earlier in the day. The operator was taken to the boat ramp to meet the ambulance. Cpl. Stanford and EMS personal transported the operator to the Oconee Regional Medical Center. A blood alcohol test was conducted on the operator and he was charged with operating a vessel under the influence. The operator received several broken ribs but is expected to recover completely. The boat had struck numerous docks, seawalls and boathouses causing damage. The incident is still under investigation.
On July 25th, Corporal Keith Waddell, Corporal Wanda Roberts and Wildlife Technician Nick Holbrooks worked a littering detail on Highway 18 at the Flint River Boat Ramp in Meriwether County. While working the detail, 4 subjects were arrested for possession of marijuana less than one ounce, 1 for underage drinking and disorderly conduct, 1 for littering and driving under the influence, 1 for underage drinking and 1 for outstanding warrants. All subjects were transported to Meriwether County Jail.
On July 30th, RFC Kevin Godbee was patrolling the South River at Snapping Shoals, in Henry Co., when he observed some individuals fishing illegally with a cast net. RFC Godbee then attempted to make contact with the subjects but as he came closer to them he discovered that there were approximately ten other men on the bank of the river and they were all drinking. One of the men was extremely intoxicated. RFC Godbee then contacted RFC Larry Mills of Region III to assist. Upon the arrival of RFC Mills, the officers made contact with the men. One of the men was charged with fishing w/o a license. Another was charged with taking game fish by illegal methods and warned for fishing w/o a license and fishing w/o permission.

On July 31st, Cpl. Wanda Roberts, RFC Kevin Godbee and Ranger Adam Jacobs conducted a program for a youth camp in Pike Co. Boys at the camp were able to shoot clay targets with shotguns and improve their hunting skills by shooting simulations on the Laser Shot simulator. All of the kids had a wonderful time.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On July 26th, Sgt. Rick Sellars and RFC Tony Cox responded to a boat incident with injuries on the Flint River south of Bainbridge. The incident occurred when two individuals being pulled on a tube were thrown into trees along the riverbank, causing severe back and internal injuries to one of the victims.
GRADY COUNTY On July 31st, Sgt. Rick Sellars and Cpl. Mike Binion assisted GSP officers with DUI patrols and roadblocks in Grady and Decatur Counties. Over 20 DUI arrests were made during the detail, which ended at approximately 5:30 am on Saturday morning.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LANIER COUNTY On August 1st, RFC Tim Hutto and RGR Keith McDonald patrolled the Alapaha River for boating and fishing activity. Warnings were issued for fishing without a license and operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's.
JENKINS COUNTY On July 24th, Cpl. Don Dasher was checking river landings for boating and fishing activity. At approximately 9:45 p.m. Cpl. Dasher checked a fisherman at the US Hwy 25 Bridge. The fisherman said he did not have a fishing license or any other identification on him. Cpl. Dasher arrested and transported the man to the Jenkins County Sheriff's Department where it was learned that the man was wanted for a parole violation.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On July 21st, Ranger Brandon Pierce assisted the Governor's Task Force in search of illegal narcotics within the county. No violations were documented.
On July 26th, Ranger Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins patrolled landings on both the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers for boating activity. A total of ten boats were checked and no violations were documented. Verbal guidance was given on how to obtain a boat registration.
EVANS COUNTY On August 2nd, Cpl. Dave Sims patrolled Evans County PFA. Cpl. Sims checked four vessels for safety equipment, current registration and creel limits. Fifteen persons fishing were checked for the required licenses. Cpl. Sims documented three fishing without license violations and four persons fishing without WMA license on a PFA.

LAURENS COUNTY On the 1st of August 2009, Cpl. Johnny Ashe responded to a report of a drowning on the Oconee River at the Shadyfield landing off Rock Springs Road. There were four Hispanic males swimming in the river and two of them attempted to swim across the river. On the return swim, the oldest male subject became tired and started to panic. He subsequently disappeared below the surface of the water and two of the other subjects attempted to rescue him, but without success. The body was recovered by an off duty GSP officer with the assistance of the Rock Springs rescue team.
BACON COUNTY On August 1st and 2nd, Cpl Jimmy Williams checked creeks for fishing activity and river landings for boating activity. Nine fishermen were checked and five violations were detected. Violations included fishing without a license and possession of undersize fish (largemouth bass). Four vessels were also checked and one violation written for towing a skier with a personal watercraft without an observer on board.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CAMDEN COUNTY On July 29th, RFC Craig Smith and Cpl. Chris Hodge overheard radio traffic from a Camden County deputy that he had located a stolen vehicle at a gas station off I-95. Officers Smith and Hodge responded to the location and assisted in setting up a perimeter with the other deputies. While doing so officer Hodge noticed that the suspect was trying to crawl over a barrier fence and flee towards the interstate. Officer Hodge and Smith then apprehended the suspect and turned him over to the Camden County Deputies.
On August 1st, Cpl. Jesse Cook, RFC Mark Carson received a call from Camden 911 about a possible boating accident with a missing person in the water in the St. Marys River. Rangers responded to find that a person had fallen from a boat and had not been seen since. The investigation continues along with the search for the missing person.
GLYNN COUNTY On July 30th, RFC Craig Smith responded to a call in north Glynn County in reference to a stranded vessel. Not only was the vessel unable to continue under its own power but there were approaching sever thunderstorms with intense lighting strikes and strong winds. RFC Smith was able to get the subjects on his patrol vessel and tow the small shrimp boat back to McKay River boat ramp before the storms hit the area.
On July 31st, RFC Mark Carson, Ranger Rebekah Fuller, and Cpl. Ron Harris patrolled the boating safety zones at St. Simons Island Fishing and Yacht club. They worked the Golden Isles Kingfish Tournament. Some violations were noticed and verbal guidance was given by the officers.

On August 1st, RFC Mark Carson, Sgt John Harwell, and Cpl Chris Ridley patrolled the boating safety zone at St Simons Island Fishing and Yacht club. The officers were working the Golden Isles Kingfish Tournament. A boat was stopped for violating the no wake zone. The operator of the boat was intoxicated. He was arrested for boating under the influence. His charge also disqualified his team from the Kingfish tournament.