Field operations weekly report, 2009 August 2-8

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report August 2-8, 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)
DOUGLAS COUNTY On August 8th, RFC Chad Cox and Wildlife Tech. Daniel Grey patrolled Sweetwater Creek State Park. They were able to check several fishing licenses and also answer questions regarding the new license system.
FANNIN COUNTY On August 8th, RFC Eddie Tompkins and Ranger Cody Jones were patrolling Lake Blue Ridge. During their patrols the officers issued 5 warnings and 1 citation for PFD and registration violations.
GILMER COUNTY On the evening and late night of August 8th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and RFC Eddie Tompkins patrolled Carters Lake during a bass tournament. The officers addressed issues with lights, safety equipment, and registration.
MURRAY COUNTY On August 9th, RFC Eddie Tompkins received a call about the location of a man with felony warrants. RFC Tompkins traveled to the location and found the subject and placed him under arrest.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FORSYTH COUNTY On August 8th, Cpl. Jason Roberson and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling Lake Lanier. The rangers checked numerous boats throughout the day documenting several boating violations. On one of the boat checks a subject was arrested for BUI, possession of drug related objects (marijuana pipe), insufficient PFD's and operating vessel without registration.
On August 8th, at around 1:00 a.m. RFC Mark Stephens responded to a boating incident on Lake Lanier. A vessel had run aground and the operator was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. This incident is still under investigation.
GWINNETT COUNTY On August 7th, RFC Mark Stephens conducted an Online Hunter Education Course at the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. During this course at total 17 students were certified in hunter education.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On August 4th, Cpl. Eric Sanders taped a TV program to be shown on Rockdale Cable Channel 23 on dove hunting. This program was conducted with the assistance from Don McGowan a wildlife biologist with the Game Management Section.

On August 4th, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an Online Hunter Education Course at Johnson Park in Conyers. During this course a total of 36 students were certified in hunter education.
On August 6th, Cpl. Eric Sanders taped a TV program to be shown on Rockdale Cable Channel 23 on archery hunting for deer and preparing for the upcoming deer season.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
CLARKE COUNTY On August 8th, Ranger First Class Nick Jenkins caught 3 subjects fishing without permission on a complaint in Clarke County. They were charged with fishing without permission and fishing without a license.
RICHMOND COUNTY On August 8th, Cpl. Ben Payne and RFC Grant Matherly patrolled the Savannah River. They made contact with several boats in the no wake zone at the 5th Street Marina. In the late afternoon and at night they worked a concert adjacent to the river in downtown Augusta. A few citations were issued and verbal guidance was given to several boat operators during the course of the evening.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On August 7th, RFC Brian Adams was participating in a stakeout with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office at a location where he had discovered someone growing marijuana. While at the location two subjects arrived at the marijuana patch and began to water it. RFC Adams and narcotics officers from CCSO apprehended the suspects and placed them under arrest for growing marijuana. In addition to the marijuana, a Dodge Durango that was being used was seized. Search warrants were executed on three residences. Eight guns were seized at one residence owned by one of the subjects who was a convicted felon. A third subject was arrested during the execution of one of the search warrants for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
GREENE COUNTY - LAKE OCONEE On August 2nd, Cpl. Derrell Worth responded to a boating incident on Lake Oconee in Richland Creek area. A moving boat struck an underwater structure causing extensive damage to drive unit, prop and foot. No one was hurt due to the accident. Cpl. Worth investigated the accident and a report was completed.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On August 11th, Cpl Jim Bradfield assisted the Governors Task Force, for drug suppression in Troup County. One area was located with nine marijuana plants. This area was located just inside Harris County on an Island in the river. The plants were pulled up and two shovels were confiscated as well.

TROUP COUNTY On August 1st, Cpl. Brent Railey and Sgt Randy Hackley patrolled West Point Lake. They checked several boats and issued citations and warnings for various boating violations including operating a PWC after hours, violation of the 100' rule and operating a vessel without lights during hours of darkness.
On August 7th, Cpl Bradfield attended an ALS (administrative license suspension) hearing. The defendant's privileges to operate a boat had been suspended for BUI on July 4th. The defendant withdrew his request for the hearing after agreeing to a plea agreement.
MERIWETHER COUNTY On Thursday August 13th Cpl Jim Bradfield received a complaint from an informant who told the officer the location of several marijuana plants in rural Meriwether County. Cpl Bradfield met with a member of the Meriwether County Drug Task Force to locate and pull up the plants. There were nine plants at this location ranging in height from five feet tall to two feet tall.
LAKE SINCLAIR While patrolling Lake Sinclair with the Putnam Co. Sheriff's Office, Sgt. Bo Kelly assisted Putnam Co. Deputy Harry Luke with a BUI on August 10th. Later that same night, Deputy Luke assisted Sgt. Kelly with another BUI. Over the weekend Rangers made several contacts with boaters for various boating safety infractions.
JASPER COUNTY While patrolling Jackson Lake during the afternoon of August 8th, RFC Billy Bryant and RFC Keith Page noticed a boat operating on plane coming down the lake in the Alcovy River south of Bear Creek Marina. The boat was passing no more than 30 feet off the docks. The Rangers stopped the vessel to discuss the 100 ft. law with the operator. During the stop the Rangers noticed the operator had been drinking. After field sobriety exercises the operator of the vessel was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol. The subject was transported to the Jasper County jail.
While patrolling Jackson Lake the night of August 8th, RFC Billy Bryant and RFC Keith Page observed a vessel operating above idle speed through a no wake zone. The Rangers stopped the vessel and determined the operator of the vessel had been drinking. Field sobriety exercises proved the operator to be impaired. The operator was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol. The subject was transported to the Jasper County jail.
MONROE COUNTY On Thursday evening, August 6th, at 7pm Corporal Tony Wynne gave a presentation on Conservation and Wildlife Management to members of the Juliette River Club.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On August 3rd, RFC Ben Roberts conducted an investigation into a boating incident on Lake Worth. The investigation was initiated after two jet skis collided causing extensive damage to the vessels. No one was injured in the incident.
On August 9th, Cpl. Robbie Griner and RFC Ben Roberts arrested an individual for boating under the influence on Lake Worth. When Sgt. Bishop and RFC Roberts transported the individual to the Dougherty County jail his blood alcohol level was found to be more than three times the legal limit.
LEE COUNTY. On August 5th, Cpl. Robbie Griner charged four people for hunting deer at night. The charges were the result of an investigation that took several weeks to complete. The four people charged with hunting deer at night had entered a farm to hunt hogs at night. During the hunt three deer were shot and then dumped on a public dirt road. One small rack still in velvet was removed and taken home by one of the individuals.
WORTH COUNTY On August 7th, Sgt. Danny Bishop, Cpl. Robbie Griner and RFC Randy James assisted the Worth County Sheriff's Office, the Poulan Police Dept., and the SWGATEN as the mulit-agency group conducted a road check on Highway 82 in Worth County. The officers provided a mobile intoxilizer machine and assisted in checking drivers for DUI and drivers license
DECATUR COUNTY On August 8th, Sgt. Rick Sellars, Cpl. Terri Jones and Cpl. Mike Binion conducted boating safety activities during the South Georgia Showdown boat races on the Flint River. There were over 40 race boats and 300 spectators at the event.
CRISP COUNTY On August 9th, while patrolling Lake Blackshear, RFC Clint Martin and RFC Harold Hill conducted a license check of several subjects gathering mussels near the shore of the lake. Since none of the individuals possessed a fishing license, the Rangers directed that the mussels be returned to the lake. Approximately one hour later the officers observed that two of the subjects had gathered the mussels again and loaded them in a van. Since the initial verbal guidance was not followed, the two subjects were issued citations for fishing without license.

SUMTER COUNTY On August 9th, Cpl. Tommy Lawrence received a call at approximately 1:15 a.m. from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for assistance in a search and rescue operation. Three boaters on a canoe trip had not made it to their destination and it was feared they were lost on the creek. Cpl. Lawrence along with a Georgia State Patrol helicopter equipped with night vision and infrared equipment conducted a search and found the man and his two young sons at approximately 4:00 a.m. All three subjects were checked by EMS personnel and then released.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On August 9th, RFC Barry Britt patrolled Rocky Hammock Landing on the Ocmulgee River and checked one boat. The operator was charged for operating a vessel without sufficient PFD's, operating an overloaded vessel and was warned for the expired registration. The operator had nine people in a boat that had a maximum capacity of six persons. Two children under the age of 10 that were on board the vessel were wearing their life jackets.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On August 5th, Ranger Brandon Pierce assisted the Sheriff's Deputies in the recovery of a submerged vehicle and boat trailer, which apparently had some malfunctions with the brakes at a landing off of the Savannah River. Diver's had to be called out from the Effingham County Sheriff's Office to secure a cable to the vehicle. The subjects were released at the scene with no violations documented.
On August 7th, Ranger Brandon Pierce, Sgt. William Vickers, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely, Cpl. Dave Sims, and RFC Debbie Brannen assisted Jasper County, South Carolina Sheriff's Office, as well as the Effingham County Sheriff's Office in search for a murder suspect that was possibly going to swim the Savannah River to the Georgia shore. Several law enforcement boats from South Carolina DNR and Georgia DNR patrolled the river to prevent the suspect from escaping into Georgia. After two hours of searching the suspect was arrested on the South Carolina side of the river by deputies from the Hampton County Sheriff's Office.
EVANS COUNTY On August 8th, RFC Debbie Brannen and Cpl. Dave Sims checked activity on the Evans County P.F.A. Ten boats and forty licenses were checked. Violations for fishing without a WMA license on a PFA were documented.
EMANUEL COUNTY During the week of August 2-8, RFC Jamey O'Brien patrolled and checked Ohoopee Dunes Natural Areas for illegal ATV use on state property as well as illegal fishing, littering and dumping activity; no violations were detected. Harmon Park ponds were also patrolled with no activity found.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On August 4th, RFC Isaac Strickland and Ranger Randy Tinley set up a display table with DNR handout and wildlife displays, for approximately 600 persons at the National Night Out event in Richmond Hill.
LIBERTY COUNTY On August 8th, Sgt. James Shelton and Cpl. Jay Morgan conducted a boat patrol of the St. Catherine's Sound area. One person was cited for possession of undersize speckled trout and an expired boat registration. A second person was cited for possession of undersize whiting. Three boaters were cited for "trespassing on a closed area" for being on the bird-nesting area on St. Catherine's Island Bar.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On August 8th, Cpl. Billy Reed and Cpl.. Bobby White set up and operated a Hunting Simulator at Hoboken Elementary School in Hoboken. The event lasted all day and there were approximately 75 children attending the outdoor event at was hosted by several church groups.
LONG COUNTY On August 8th, Cpl. Bobby White responded to call from Long County Sheriff's office. A Long County Deputy had made a vehicle stop on 3 people and saw a dead alligator in the vehicle. Upon arrival CPL. White questioned the subjects. He was able to locate the tail of the alligator at one of the subject's residence. The alligator had been shot with a firearm. All 3 subjects were written citations for illegal possession of alligator parts.
CAMDEN CAMDEN On August 7th, Stg. Bob Lynn, RFC Mark Carson, and RFC Craig Smith attended the St. Marys Kingfish Tournament Captain's meeting in St. Marys to inform the audience of state and federal laws, including Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
On August 8th, Sgt. Bob Lynn, Cpl. Chris Hodge, RFC Mark Carson, and RFC Craig Smith worked offshore Cumberland Island checking Georgia's reefs for fishing activity. After checking areas for fishing activity, the rangers went to the St. Marys River waterfront to assist with the St. Marys Kingfish Tournament.
On August 8th, Cpl. Chris Hodge and RFC Mark Carson responded to a call of an overdue sailboat on the St. Marys River. Camden County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol was also called for assistance. Cpl. Hodge and the Marine Patrol officer searched the immediate area with no luck of finding the missing sailboat. Cpl. Hodge contacted United States Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville to request a helicopter to assist. The Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene and later located the missing sailboat and guided Cpl. Hodge, RFC Carson and Sheriff's Marine Patrol units to the location. The two people were returned safely to the St Marys waterfront.