Field operations weekly report, 2010 May 2-8

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report May 2-8, 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 May 6th, Sgt. Mike Barr, Cpl. Chip Cox, and RFC Byron Young attended DNR departmental firearms training and qualifications in Pickens County.
CHATTOOGA COUNTY On April 27th, RFC McConkey assisted the Georgia State Patrol with a chase that ended up in the woods on the Walker and Chattooga County line. The subject began the chase in Walker County on highway 27 headed south towards Chattooga County. The subject was known by the State Trooper and was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. The subject was not found on this date, but will now have other charges along with the warrant that he already had. The passenger of the vehicle was released with her car that the subject was driving.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On May 2nd, RFC Bart Hendrix received a call from the State Operations Center that a person was on Lake Allatoona in a boat and was going to commit suicide. The depressed woman had taken many pills and alcohol and was suppose to be in a red and white boat near Victoria Landing. RFC Hendrix and Cpl. Chip Cox immediately went to the area by boat. RFC James Psillis went to Victoria by truck. The rangers on the water stopped a boat matching the description of the vessel, but the girl was not aboard. Then a call came in from Cherokee County 911 that the girl had been located at a library in Woodstock and was OK. Emergency personnel assisted in getting her needed attention for her situation.
On May 2nd, Cpl. Chip Cox and RFC Bart Hendrix noticed an intoxicated group of boaters tied up in Illinois Creek. The rangers talked to the group and quickly determined that everyone aboard was highly intoxicated. Concerned that the group did not have a sober operator, Cpl. Cox operated the rental boat back to Park Marine and assisted getting the group to a safe location. A sober operator was contacted to drive the group home.
On May 2nd, Sgt. Mike Barr was leaving Lake Allatoona on Spur 20 and noticed 9 people coming out of the woods that waved him down. The group had been walking for hours lost in the woods and had gone over a large mountain. Two Bartow County Deputies joined Sgt. Barr and together they assisted the group in getting back to the parking lot near the Komatsu Dealer off Main Street near Cartersville.
DOUGLAS COUNTY On May 8th, Sgt. Mike Barr and RFC Byron Young traveled to Sweetwater Creek State Park in Douglas County to participate in the annual fishing and outdoors event sponsored by Representative Roger Bruce. Sgt. Barr and RFC Young took their DNR river patrol boat and gave a program on life jacket use, boating safety, and gave rides in the DNR patrol boat to many kids and adults who had never been on a boat before. Over 500 people attended the event.

MURRAY COUNTY On May 7th, Cpl. Casey Jones responded to a boat fire on Carters Lake. Upon arrival Cpl. Jones found the boat completely burned and assisted local rescue workers in removing the boat from the lake. The operator of the vessel received minor injuries.
On May 8th, Cpl. Casey Jones and Sgt. John VanLandingham were checking fishing license on the Carters Lake re-regulation pool where they discovered a fishermen in possession of marijuana. The fisherman was cited for Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
On May 8th, Cpl. Casey Jones and Sgt. John VanLandingham were checking fishing license on Holly Creek. They found three subjects fishing without a license and one of the subjects in possession of marijuana. Two of the subjects were cited for fishing without a license and the third for fishing without a license and Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
On May 8th, Cpl. Casey Jones and Sgt. John VanLandingham were checking fishing license on the Conasauga River where they discovered a subject in possession of marijuana. The subject was cited for Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
PICKENS COUNTY On May 8th, Cpl. James Keener was conducting surveillance on a convicted felon's residence regarding an open poaching investigation with violations dating back as far as July 2009. At approximately 7 P.M. the subject was observed walking from the residence into a wooded area while in possession of a loaded shotgun. The subject was arrested without incident. Sgt. Brian Keener was called to secure the residence while a search warrant could be obtained. The subject was taken to the Pickens County Detention Center and arrest warrants were taken on twelve felony and misdemeanor violations. The subject was on probation in multiple court jurisdictions at the time of arrest.
WALKER COUNTY On May 8th, Sgt. Jeff Galloway and Cpl. Tommy Gentry assisted with 2nd annual Walker Co Stocking Full of Love Fishing Rodeo. The rodeo was held at the Gordon Lee Farm in Chickamauga. There were 92 participants that caught 98 pounds of fish. The Stocking Full of Love helps provide Christmas for families in Walker Co area.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On May 8th, RFC Niki Spencer and Cpl. Julian Wilkins along with the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers and South Carolina DNR conducted a youth fishing derby on Lake Richard B. Russell.
On May 8th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins responded to a drowning near Bobby Brown State Park in Elbert County. Cpl. Wilkins along with the Elbert county EMS responded. The subject was found floating in the Broad River. The incident is still under investigation.
On May 8th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins responded to a boating incident at Elbert ramp on Lake Richard B. Russell. A local fishing tournament was taking off and the victim was idling out when another vessel struck him. Three subjects were injured in the incident. The incident is still under investigation.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On May 5th, Sgt Doyte Chaffin, Cpl Ryan Swain, and Cpl Brian Hobbins conducted firearms training for retired rangers and re-qualification make-ups for Region III Rangers at Columbia County Sheriff's Range.
On May 8th, Sgt Doyte Chaffin and Cpl Brian Hobbins attended a law enforcement appreciation event at Augusta Harley Davidson in Martinez. The two Rangers also conducted a HIN inspection in Evans.
On May 9th, Sgt Doyte Chaffin and Cpl Ryan Swain conducted a concentrated patrol of the Savannah River below Clarks Hill Dam. Several verbal warnings for boating violations were addressed.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On May 7th, Capt. Thomas Barnard, Sgt Doyte Chaffin, Sgt Mark Padgett, and Rfc. Brian Adams assisted Fisheries Tech III, Vernon Baldwin with a drowning and body recovery at McDuffie PFA in Dearing.
NEWTON COUNTY On May 4th, Cpl Ryan Swain, Rfc Leroy Ficklen, and Rfc Robert Timmerman attended a meeting with Commissioner Clark at Charlie Elliott in Newborn.
GLASCOCK COUNTY May 4th-7th, RFC Brian Adams held his annual kids fishing event in Gibson.

GREENE COUNTY On the night of Saturday May 8th, RFC Ricky Boles responded to a stranded boater call on Lake Oconee. At around 2200 hours RFC Boles received a citizen complaint stating that their boat was stranded and that they needed help getting back home. RFC Boles responded and assisted getting everyone on board back home safely. There were several adults and children on board the boat.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BIBB COUNTY In the early morning hours of May 2nd, RFC Kevin Joyce responded to the Ocmulgee River in reference to a report of four lost hunters. Assisted by a US Fish and Wildlife Service officer, Joyce launched a patrol boat and began searching the riverbank. The four hunters were eventually located on Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and were transported safely back to their vehicles.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
GRADY COUNTY On May 6th, Cpl. Mike Binion presented an educational program to the Kiwanis Club in Cairo. The topic of the program was the mission and capabilities of the DNR K-9 Units.
DECATUR COUNTY On May 7th, RFC Tony Cox presented two educational programs to the second and fourth grade classes at Jones Wheat Elementary School in Bainbridge. The topic of the programs was the life history of alligators and their ecological and economic importance to the region.
On May 8th, RFC Tony Cox and RFC Jeff Phillips assisted the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce with their River-Town Festival. The Rangers conducted boating safety/emergency response patrols along the Flint River during the racing exhibitions.
On May 8th, RFC Tony Cox conducted a night patrol of several boat landings on Spring Creek. At approximately 9 PM he observed a vessel operating without running lights, after stopping the vessel he found the operator intoxicated. The operator was arrested and charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol.
CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY On May 8th, Cpl. Steve Robinson was conducting a patrol in the area around River Bend Boat landing when he observed an individual having difficulty operating a vessel. Further investigation and field sobriety exercises revealed the operator to be intoxicated, at which time he was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence.

SUMTER COUNTY Cpl Tommy Lawrence and RFC Clint Martin attended a career day fair at Perry Middle School. The officers discussed with students career possibilities with the agency and explained the job duties and responsibilities of the Law Enforcement Section.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On May 2nd, RFC Barry Britt worked a minor boating incident on the Ocmulgee River.
On May 7th, RFC Barry Britt attended Farm/City Day on the Sellers Farm and presented 8 boating safety and fishing programs to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders from Jeff Davis Middle School.
LAURENS COUNTY On April 29th, RFC Rodney Horne and Sgt Keith Byers responded to a call of a subject who appeared to be shot, lying on the ground at the Beaverdam WMA firing range. The GBI and Laurens County investigators were called to the scene where it was determined that the subject had committed suicide at the scene. The case is still under investigation by the GBI.
DODGE COUNTY On May 8th, Cpl Johnny Ashe assisted the Dodge S/O and Eastman PD with an escaped subject from the Eastman YDC. The subject was located, arrested by Deputy Patterson and Cpl Ashe. He was found to be carrying a sock filled with broken glass.
LOWNDES COUNTY On May 4th, RFC Keith McDonald investigated a hunting without permission complaint. An individual was interviewed and written warnings were issued for hunting without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife. A turkey beard and spurs were also confiscated.
On May 7th, RFC McDonald investigated a complaint involving an individual in possession of an alligator at his residence. After interviewing the individual, a written warning was issued for possession of an alligator. The 3 foot gator was confiscated.

CLINCH COUNTY On May 2nd, RFC Jason Shipes was patrolling the Suwannee River upstream from Fargo
to the Okefenokee Swamp. RFC Shipes located several subjects fishing at the Suwannee
River Sill. Upon checking licenses, one subject advised that he had purchased a license
but failed to produce it. RFC Shipes obtained his information and continued his patrol of
the area. The next day, RFC Shipes checked the subject's information with the license
unit and found that at the time of stop he did not have a valid license; however he had purchased a license that morning, May 3rd. RFC Shipes contacted the subject and issued
a citation for fishing without a license and a verbal warning for interference with ranger's
duties.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY On May 8th, Sgt. William Vickers responded with the Effingham Sheriff's Office to a call
concerning a snake on the back porch of a home. Upon arrival he and the deputy
discovered a 4-foot long timber rattlesnake on the screened back porch of the home. The
snake was removed by Sgt. Vickers.

CHARLTON COUNTY On May 8th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree and Cpl. Damon Winters conducted a boating safety patrol on the St. Mary's River from Trader's Hill to Coleraine due to recent complaints of 100-foot rule violations. Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission officers were also patrolling this stretch of river for similar violations. A number of boaters & fishermen were checked & two warnings were issued by Cpl. Winters for violating the 100' rule and fishing without a license.

APPLING

COUNTY

On May 5th, RFC Chase Altman and Corporal Jimmy Williams conducted four I/E

programs at the Appling County Middle School for Career Day. There were a total of 86

students who attended the four programs. Information booklets and hunter safety

magazines were also handed out to the students.

On May 8th, RFC Chase Altman patrolled the Altamaha River from Deens Landing up to the Highway 221 Bridge. Several boats were checked with one violation of operating a vessel with insufficient PFDs being observed.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)

BRYAN COUNTY On April 27th, Cpl. Phillip Scott presented two boating safety programs at Bryan County Elementary School as part of their Champs Boating Safety program.
On May 1st, Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the Ogeechee River between Morgan's Bridge and Interstate-16 Bridge. Several boaters/fishermen were checked. One person was cited for possession of open container of alcohol at a department ramp, Morgan's Bridge.

CAMDEN COUNTY On April 25th, Cpl Chris Hodge responded to a tugboat sinking in the North River near Point Peter Island. Upon arrival, Cpl Hodge met with the Camden County Marine Patrol and proceeded to the scene. Officers discovered a 68-foot tugboat had sunk in about 15 feet of water. The Environmental Protection Division of DNR responded along with the USCG to assist with containing the diesel fuel leaking from the vessel. The USCG later hired a private contractor to respond to the scene to remove the remaining diesel fuel from the vessel.
LONG COUNTY On April 30th, Sgt Bob Lynn and RFC Randy Aspinwall attended Walker Middle School's career day. The two rangers educated approximately 150 kids on the job duties and hiring process of a Conservation Ranger.
On May 1st, RFC Isaac Strickland was returning home from working the Wayne County Catfish Festival when he observed a person throw litter out of a vehicle. The person was cited for littering.