Field operations weekly report, 2010 April 4-10

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report April 4-10, 2010
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 April 6th 8th, RFC Byron Young attended a search and rescue course held at Sweetwater Creek State Park. The 3-day course covered the science and logistics of locating missing persons and techniques to be utilized during his duties as a State Conservation Officer. The course was designed from the study of missing person behavior and included many hours of practical exercises simulating finding adults and children in wilderness environments.
On April 9th, RFC Byron Young received an urgent call from Bartow County 911. A 51year-old man had left a suicide note for a family member stating that he was going to Lake Allatoona to "end it all". The note stated that he planned on being is his boat in the front of the main dam. Bartow County 911 put out a call to Cherokee County and Cobb County to also be on the lookout for the person and gave a description. RFC Young asked for assistance from a Bartow County Deputy and together they conducted a quick search of the dam area of the lake by boat and then expanded their search to other immediate areas. During the search, RFC Young received a call that the man had been located at a boat ramp in Cherokee County and was receiving help from emergency personnel.
FANNIN COUNTY On April 3rd, RFC Cody Jones patrolled the delayed harvest section on the Toccoa River. RFC Jones checked 20 fishermen and 6 boats. Four citations and warnings were issued for PFD violations and possession of trout on a delayed harvest stream.
GILMER COUNTY On April 10th, Sgt. John VanLandingham and Cpl. James Keener cited a suspect for hunting turkeys in a baited area.
GORDON COUNTY On April 2nd, Sgt. Brian Keener overheard radio traffic on Calhoun Police frequency about a possible drowning of a 16 year-old male on the Oostanaula River. Cpl Tommy Gentry and RFC Roger McConkey were working on a turkey hunting without permission complaint when Cpl. Shawn Elmore contacted them about the drowning. Gordon County E911 had contacted Cpl. Elmore. Capt. Carroll Chastain, Cpl. Gentry, Sgt. Keener, and RFC McConkey searched the river until dark with Calhoun Fire Department and Gordon County Fire Department. Sgt. Keener also contacted Georgia State Patrol Dive Team supervisor SFC Chuck Evans who also responded to the scene. The search continued until Wednesday April 7th, when the body was located by Murray County Rescue. The following officers and agencies were involved in the search and recovery: Sgt. John VanLandingham, RFC Eddie Tompkins, RFC Cody Jones, Fisheries Technician Mark Bowen, Calhoun Police Department, Georgia State Patrol Dive Team, Gordon County

EMA, ATSAR, Gordon County Fire Department, Murray County Rescue, Floyd County EMA, and Georgia Aviation Authority.
On Wednesday night April 7th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore received a call from Gordon County E911 that Gordon County Deputy Scott Shaw needed Cpl. Elmore's assistance on Love Bridge Rd. Deputy Shaw made a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle on Love Bridge Rd and discovered the three Calhoun teens had just loaded a recently killed deer. Cpl. Elmore arrived on scene and after interviewing each teenager, it was found that they had shot the deer approximately 1 hour earlier because they want some deer to cook on the grill while they camped. All three teens were charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, and hunting from a public road.
HARALSON COUNTY On April 10th, Cpl. Ricky Dempsey and RFC Chad Cox checked several locations in northeast Haralson County that was baited with corn for turkey. The rangers located three subjects hunting near the corn. Each subject was charged with hunting big game over bait.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On April 6th, Sgt. John VanLandingham and RFC Eddie Tompkins sited one subject for fishing without a license, and another was arrested for fishing without a license, driving while license is suspended, and for an outstanding probation violation warrant.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY On April 11th, at approximately 1900 hours, Sgt. Burgamy received a call from our State Operations Center in reference to some boaters who were stranded on a sand bar and out of gas. Upon calling the boaters, he discovered that there were 10 children, ranging from age 1 to teenager, and 4 adults that were stranded. Sgt. Burgamy responded by boat, located the two families, and transported all the children, along with one adult, to safety while towing one of the vessels in question. After ensuring their safety, he went back for the other boaters and vessel.
RABUN COUNTY On Sunday April 4th, while Corporals Derek Dillard and Bill Bunch were checking a bait site in the Warwoman area, they found 2 subjects hunting turkeys over bait. They were hunting within 18 steps of a pile of cracked corn. Both subjects were cited for hunting turkeys over bait.
GWINNETT COUNTY On April 4th, Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Eric Sanders and an intern were patrolling the Chattahoochee River for fisherman. They encountered violations of fishing with illegal bait, fishing without a license, fishing without a trout license and possession of illegally taken fish. Verbal guidance, written warnings and citations were issued for these infractions.

LUMPKIN COUNTY On April 4th, RFC Mitchell Crump was patrolling the Chestatee WMA at Dick's Creek for fisherman. RFC Crump checked several fisherman and encountered violations of fishing without a license and fishing without a trout license. Verbal guidance and written warnings were issued for these infractions.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
WEBSTER COUNTY On the night of April 8th, RFC Jack Stripling and Sgt Butch Potter assisted the Webster County Sheriff's Department, ATF and GBI with a search warrant for the home and property of suspects implicated in a hunting camp burglary.
While investigating a hunting without permission complaint on April 10th, Cpl Steve Robinson found and cited two non-resident hunters on adjacent property for hunting without licenses.
RANDOLPH COUNTY Working in conjunction with investigators from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, RFC Bob Holley, RFC Jim Atchley and Sgt Butch Potter investigated a complaint of an illegal drug lab being operated in a hunting camp. While no evidence of illegal drug activity was discovered, a turkey hunter was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The hunter, who was on active probation and had prior felony convictions for manufacturing and trafficking illegal drugs was found to be in possession of a shotgun and a rifle. Another occupant of the camp was tracked over three other properties and cited for collecting artifacts on lands of another without permission.
CLAY COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Jim Atchley and RFC Bob Holley conducted a boat patrol on the Chattahoochee River below Fort Gaines. Several warnings were issued for boating and fishing infractions.
MILLER COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Jeff Phillips cited a non-resident hunter for hunting turkeys without a non-resident license.
GRADY COUNTY On April 10th, Sgt. Rick Sellars cited a non-resident hunter for hunting turkeys without a non-resident license and without a big game license.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
JASPER COUNTY On the night of April 9th, RFC Billy Bryant received a call from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office in reference to a lost turkey hunter on Oconee National Forrest. The hunter was last seen in the area of Felton McMichael Road. Bryant and K-9 Drake responded to the area, and met Tech III Freddy Hays, already on scene. Bryant called and advised Sgt. Kendrick of the situation and Kendrick responded to the area as well. The Rangers tried blowing sirens and hollering from various locations around the tract of land the hunter was suspected to be in. They were unable to get a response from the hunter. Hays, Bryant, and Drake were taken to the area where the hunter was last seen and Bryant began working Drake in hopes of finding a scent. At approximately 3:50 a.m. Hays, Bryant and K-9 Drake located the hunter. The hunter was escorted out of the woods and released to his uncle.
MONROE COUNTY On April 11th, Cpl. Tony Wynne and Sgt. Tim Kendrick patrolled Lake Juliette for boating and fishing activity. One citation was issued to a boater for having only one wearable personal flotation device (PFD) even though there were three people on board the craft. Two warnings were issued to other boaters for other minor boating violations.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On April 4th through April 9th, Cpl. Jim Bradfield attended a class on managing marginal employees at Columbus State University's Law Enforcement Command College. The class was attended by 15 other Law Enforcement professionals from throughout the State and several Law Enforcement agencies were represented. This was the final class for Cpl. Bradfield in the Professional Management Program offered at CSU.
PUTNAM COUNTY On April 10th Wildlife Technician Coley Paschal, Cpl. Lynn Stanford, and Sgt. Bo Kelly worked a litter detail at the waterfalls on Murder Creek. One arrest was made for possession of marijuana and one citation was issued for littering.
TWIGGS COUNTY On April 7th Cpl. Robert Stillwell, while checking fishing licenses and creels, discovered one angler in possession of marijuana. The subject was placed into custody and turned over to the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
WEBSTER COUNTY On the night of April 8th, RFC Jack Stripling and Sgt Butch Potter assisted the Webster County Sheriff's Department, ATF and GBI with a search warrant for the home and property of suspects implicated in a hunting camp burglary.
While investigating a hunting without permission complaint on April 10th, Cpl Steve Robinson found and cited two non-resident hunters on adjacent property for hunting without licenses.
RANDOLPH COUNTY Working in conjunction with investigators from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, RFC Bob Holley, RFC Jim Atchley and Sgt Butch Potter investigated a complaint of an illegal drug lab being operated in a hunting camp. While no evidence of illegal drug activity was discovered, a turkey hunter was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The hunter, who was on active probation and had prior felony convictions for manufacturing and trafficking illegal drugs was found to be in possession of a shotgun and a rifle. Another occupant of the camp was tracked over three other properties and cited for collecting artifacts on lands of another without permission.
CLAY COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Jim Atchley and RFC Bob Holley conducted a boat patrol on the Chattahoochee River below Fort Gaines. Several warnings were issued for boating and fishing infractions.
MILLER COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Jeff Phillips cited a non-resident hunter for hunting turkeys without a non-resident license.
GRADY COUNTY On April 10th, Sgt. Rick Sellars cited a non-resident hunter for hunting turkeys without a non-resident license and without a big game license.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BACON COUNTY On April 9th, Cpl Jimmy Williams received an in progress hunting without permission complaint. Responding to the location he located a vehicle on the property, and footprints crossing the road into a field. After about an hour the owner of the vehicle arrived with his son in another vehicle. He denied any knowledge of hunting turkeys that morning instead saying the truck was broken down. They were allowed to leave. After about a two hour search Cpl Williams located the hunter's shotgun, shirt, binoculars, gloves, cap and facemask approximately one half mile away. The items were taken into evidence. The hunter called asking about his shotgun that evening. Cpl

Williams met with the hunter the next morning at the Bacon County Sheriff's Office where the hunter was charged with hunting without permission, hunting without license and hunting without a big game license.

APPLING

COUNTY

For the weekend of April 10th and 11th, RFC Chase Altman patrolled boat landings on a

high visibility patrol with verbal guidance being given to minor violations. RFC Chase

Altman and Corporal Jimmy Williams patrolled areas known to be baited for turkey on the 11th, which resulted in one subject being citied for hunting w/o a hunting license or a

big game license.

EMANUEL COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Clint Jarriel and RFC Chase Altman worked an area off Corinth Church Rd and Foskey Rd in Emanuel County for turkey hunters. Upon investigation of the property the rangers found three hunters. Citations were written for, hunting big game over bait, hunting w/o a license, nonresident hunting w/o nonresident big game license, and hunting w/ illegal weapon. Guidance was given to the hunters on how to hunt the property in a legal manner.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY On April 11th, RFC Danielle Partin patrolled Montgomery County landing for boating and fishing activity. One citation was written for fishing without a license.

EVANS COUNTY On April 10th, RFC Debbie Brannen and Sgt. William Vickers patrolled the Evans County Public Fishing area. Several boaters and fishermen were checked resulting in four violations for fishing on a P.F.A. without a WMA license was addressed.

BULLOCH COUNTY On Friday April 9th, Cpl. Eddie Akins inspected one of the taxidermists in Bulloch County. No violations were documented and all records were in order. Later that same day Cpl. Akins and Sgt. William Vickers inspected one of the fox pens in Bulloch County. No violations were documented. Record keeping and laws pertaining to fox pens were discussed with this new permit holder.
On Sunday April 11th, Sgt. William Vickers received a call from the State Operations Center concerning an anonymously reported dove shoot near the Clito community. He patrolled and listened for shots in the area. No activity was detected.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)