Field operations weekly report, 2010 June 6-12

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report June 6-12, 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 June 12th, RFC Byron Young was on patrol along the Etowah River in Bartow County. He had received complaints from landowners along Paga-Mine Road of people tearing down gates and crossing private property to fish on the Etowah River. Ranger Young found three men at the spillway dam that had floated down the river and taken out to fish below the spillway dam. Ranger Young advised the three that they were on private property and had them continue their float trip after checking their boating safety equipment.
On June 12th, Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl.Chip Cox were patrolling Lake Allatoona by truck. They were responding to complaints of jet-skis in no boating zones at several beaches along the lake. They did find multiple jet-skis entering no boating zones where people were swimming. Many of the boat operators did not speak English nor could read the signs. The Rangers gave them verbal advice and also reviewed the operator's boat registrations as they found most jet-skis were improperly registered.
COBB COUNTY On June 11th, RFC Brooks Varnell teamed up with a Bartow County SO K-9 Unit Officer Chris Day and together they patrolled Lake Allatoona by boat. While stopping a boat without lights after dark, they discovered that one of the passengers had a small amount of suspected methamphetamine. Bartow County Officer Chris Day handled the case per county procedures.
On June 12th, RFC Brooks Varnell, a DNR Intern, and RFC James Psillis assisted the National Park Service with an annual river canoe and kayak race on the Chattahoochee River. The Rangers assisted in the rapids of the river with rescues of canoes and kayaks that turned over in the rapids.
FLOYD COUNTY On June 12th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, RFC Roger McConkey, and Game Management Region Supervisor Chuck Waters participated in the 2010 Floyd County Green Wings event held at the Taylor Farm in Shannon. The officers instructed the youth on shooting archery equipment. There were approximately 150-200 kids that came through during the day.
FULTON COUNTY On June 12th, RFC's James Psillis and Brooks Varnell along with National Park Service Rangers patrolled the Chattahoochee River from Garrard's Landing to Riverside Park for the 8th annual Back to the Chattahoochee River Race and Festival. More than 250 kayaks and canoes participated in the event.

GILMER COUNTY On June 11th and 12th, RFC Cody Jones and RFC Eddie Tompkins patrolled Carters Lake. Citations, warnings, and verbal guidance were issued to boaters for violations such as improper lights, insufficient PFD's, riding the bow, and other boating safety violations.
GORDON COUNTY On June 12th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore responded to McIntyre Loop on a complaint from the landowner stating there was an unknown truck parked on his property near Salacoa Creek and he had not given anyone permission to fish or access the creek from his property. Cpl. Elmore walked the bank of the creek and located a Calhoun man and a Calhoun juvenile setting limb lines on the creek. He asked the two to meet him back at the truck with the landowner. The two were asked to leave and the adult warned for fishing without permission at the landowner's request. It was also found that there were no personal flotation devices (PFD) in the vessel and the Calhoun man was charged with operating a vessel without C.G.A. PFD's.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
MORGAN COUNTY On June 8th, RFC Billy Bryant and K-9 Drake attended the Jr. Deputy Camp in Morgan County. Attendees at the Camp were able to see training drills that demonstrated some of the K-9's capabilities. The drills included detection work and article location/ evidence recovery.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On June 12th, RFC Bobby Timmerman and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin arrested a subject for possession of marijuana at the Clarks Hill Dam near Pollards Corner.
On June 12th, RFC Bobby Timmerman and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin investigated a vessel sinking (Boat Incident) at Lakes Springs Day Area off of the Savannah River.
LAKE OCONEE On June 12th, Cpl. David Allen and RFC Richard Tanner responded to a call in reference to a boating incident on Lake Oconee. The incident involved a collision between two personal watercraft. The injured operator was transported to the hospital where it was determined that her upper leg and hip was shattered.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BIBB COUNTY On June 12th, while conducting boating safety patrol, Cpl. John Harkins and Sgt. Tony Fox encountered an individual on a PWC towing skiers without an observer. Because the operator was genuinely unaware of the regulation prohibiting the activity he was given verbal guidance and released without charge.
HARRIS COUNTY On June 12th, Sgt. Randy Hackley and RFC Jeremy Bolen were working a boat patrol on Lake Harding when the two officers noticed the operator of a jet ski not wearing her life jacket securely fastened. After speaking to the operator of the vessel, it was determined that she had been drinking alcohol. Field sobriety exercises showed that the operator of the vessel was impaired. The operator was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence.
LAMAR COUNTY On June 7th, RFC Keith Page was sent to Douglas County for a week long training class on Wilderness Search and Rescue. While staying at the Country Inn and Suite Hotel in Douglasville, RFC Keith Page encountered two men as he returned from training. The men were exiting the elevator as RFC Page was entering it. RFC Page immediately smelled marijuana. Because he was still in uniform from his training class RFC Page confronted the two men. RFC Page patted both men down and felt what appeared to be a small bag of marijuana in the right side pocket of one of the men. RFC Page asked the man to empty that pocket. When he pulled out the contents of the pocket RFC Page noticed the small bag of marijuana. The other man also had a blunt wrap package in one of his pockets that contained four hand rolled marijuana cigarettes. Both men were placed under arrest and turned over to Douglasville Police Department.
PULASKI COUNTY On June 12th RFC Tim Butler assisted the Fisheries Section with a Kids' Fishing Event at Ocmulgee PFA.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
CLAY COUNTY On June 12th, RFC Bob Holley and Sgt Butch Potter were patrolling Lake Walter F. George when they observed a personal watercraft being operated above idle speed within 100 feet of another vessel. The Rangers stopped the vessel and noticed that the operator displayed signs of impairment. After failing field sobriety exercises the operator was placed under arrest for boating under the influence.
DECATUR COUNTY On June 6th, Cpl. Mike Binion responded to a landowner complaint of a subject dumping used motor oil in his pond. The subject was issued a citation for littering.

DOUGHERTY COUNTY On June 11th, RFC Ben Roberts was conducting a foot patrol along the Flint River when he encountered two subjects smoking marijuana. One subject was charged with possession of marijuana while the other subject, a juvenile, was released to a guardian.

LEE COUNTY On June 12th, RFC Randy James and RFC Ben Roberts were conducting a boat patrol on the Kinchafoonee Creek. While on patrol they encountered a subject operating a vessel under the influence and without lifejackets. The subject was arrested and charged with operating a vessel without PFD's, boating under the influence, and obstruction.

BAKER COUNTY On June 12th, Ranger Randy Davis was patrolling the Flint River when he observed an overloaded vessel. The vessel was escorted to safety and the operator was issued warnings for operating an overloaded vessel and operating a vessel with insufficient PFD'S.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BERRIEN COUNTY On June 10th, Cpl. Morty Wood assisted the Berrien County Sheriff Office with the search for an escaped prisoner. The search continued through most of the night. The escapee was captured shortly after day break the next morning.

APPLING

COUNTY

On June 10th RFC Chase Altman conducted an Information and Education program for

the Sunshine Center in Baxley. The program covered different animal furs found in

Georgia. There were 30 people who observed the program.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY On June 8th, Cpl. Dave Sims and Intern Michael Rowan responded to a reported overturned vessel in the Savannah River below Ebenezer landing. Cpl. Sims made contact with Effingham Sheriff's Office deputies and Georgia Power Security personnel at Plant McIntosh. Investigation revealed that three persons had to swim to shore after their 13-foot fiberglass vessel sank in the Savannah River. The vessel operator stated that his two passengers were swimming alongside the drifting vessel and that both swimmers attempted to re-board the boat from the same side, which caused the boat to dip below the waterline and fill with water. All the passengers were picked up by Georgia Power Security personnel and transported to plant McIntosh. There were no injuries and the boat remains 98% submerged in the river. The operator of the boat stated he would attempt to recover the boat as soon as possible.

On June 12th, RFC Brandon Pierce responded to a call from the DNR operations center in Atlanta in reference to an individual having a seizure while camping on a river sandbar. A Good Samaritan transported the victim to a nearby landing where Effingham EMT personnel met him. It was determined that the individual had suffered an epileptic seizure. The patient was stabilized at the hospital.
Later that evening RFC Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins patrolled river landings on both the Ogeechee and Savannah Rivers. A total of twenty boats were inspected. One violation was documented concerning the operating a vessel with an unserviceable fire extinguisher. Verbal guidance was given to several other vessel operators in reference to minor boating violations.
On June 13th, RFC Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins conducted a boating safety patrol on the Ogeechee River. A total of fifteen boats and fifteen fishing license were inspected. As a result of the inspection, eight violations were documented. The violations consisted of operating a vessel with improper PFD, operating a vessel without registration, operating a vessel with unserviceable PFD, operating a vessel 100 feet of object above idle speed, and operating a vessel with expired registration. Several boats were escorted back to nearby landings due to the lack of proper safety equipment.
LOWNDES COUNTY On June 9th, Sgt. David Nugent and RFC Keith McDonald conducted a boating safety and water safety program at the Hahira Public Library.
ECHOLS COUNTY On June 8th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree conducted a boating safety program at the Echols County Public Library. Proper use of personal flotation devices and other boating safety topics were discussed. More than fifteen people, mostly children, attended the program.
LANIER COUNTY On June 9th, Sgt. David Nugent and RFC Tim Hutto taught a boating safety and water safety program at the Lakeland Library. Twelve students and four adults learned about boating/water safety and Georgia's boating laws and regulations.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On May 30th, Sgt. James Shelton and Cpl. Phillip Scott were performing a Hull Identification Number inspection on a boat that was to be registered when it was discovered that the boat owner had an outstanding arrest warrant in Bulloch County. The owner was taken into custody and turned over to Bryan County deputies for transport to Bulloch Co.

On the late afternoon of May 30th, Cpl. Phillip Scott, a Critical Incident Reconstruction Team member, responded to Tybee Island to assist Chatham County rangers with a boat accident involving a fatality. He continued with the with the investigation the next day.
On May 31st, Sgt. James Shelton, Cpl. Jay Morgan, and RFC Isaac Strickland checked boaters and fishermen at King's Ferry boat ramp on the Ogeechee River. Four boaters were cited for boat registration violations.
On June 3rd, Sgt. James Shelton and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the Ogeechee River from I-16 Bridge to Middle Landing, below Morgan's Bridge (Hwy. 204). Two persons were cited for fishing without licenses and one boater was cited for having an expired boat registration.
On June 7th, Cpl. Phillip Scott assisted Bryan County Sheriff's Dept. with the search for a missing person off of Arden Loop Rd.
On June10th, Cpl. Phillip Scott attended Swift Water Rescue training at Bullard Creek WMA near Hazelhurst.
On June 12th, Cpl. Jay Morgan received a call for assistance from RFC Chris Moore regarding a possible alligator being shot in Chatham County off Hwy. 204. Upon checking, no evidence of an alligator being shot could be found. The subject claimed that he had shot a water moccasin.
On June 12th, Cpl. Jay Morgan received a call to assist Georgia State Patrol with a car chase on I-95. Suspect being chased exited I-95 at Richmond Hill, causing an accident between two cars not involved in the chase. Cpl. Morgan assisted with traffic control at the accident scene where one person was taken to the hospital due to injuries. The chase suspect was eventually stopped and arrested by pursuing officers.
CHATHAM COUNTY On May 30th, Cpl Miller along with RFC Randy Tinley investigated a boating fatality in the Tybee Island area. Accident is still under investigation pending reports from Crime Lab.
On June 12th, RFC Chris Moore cited an individual for boating under the influence in the Skidaway River.
CAMDEN COUNTY On June 8th, RFC Mark Carson and Sgt. Doug Lewis were on saltwater patrol just off of Cumberland Island checking shrimp trawlers on opening day of the commercial shrimp season. They observed one trawler inside Georgia waters that had no commercial numbers displayed. They stopped and boarded that vessel. Upon further inspection of the shrimp trawler, the crew and captain had several violations. The violations consisted of operating a commercial fishing boat without a commercial ID number displayed, commercial trawling with illegal gear, commercial saltwater fishing without a valid

commercial license and commercial fishing without a valid commercial fishing boat license. The trawler was seized, as the owner did not have it bonded as required. All shrimp on board were confiscated and sold at fair market value.
Cpl Chris Hodge attended three days of Wilderness Search and Rescue training given by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency at Sweetwater Creek State Park. Training included lost person behavior, search techniques, man tracking, wilderness survival, and wilderness first aid.
On June 12th, Cpl Chris Hodge was on patrol at the Meeting Street boat landing in St Marys. Upon completing a boating safety inspection, Cpl Hodge suspected an operator of the vessel to be under the influence of alcohol. After completing field sobriety tests, Cpl Hodge placed the operator under arrest for boating under the influence of alcohol.
GLYNN COUNTY On June 1st, Cpl. Chris Ridley and RFC Rebekah Huson were on patrol offshore of Jekyll Island when they located a shrimp boat trawling in closed waters. The officers stopped the vessel and cited the crew for commercial fishing with power drawn nets in closed waters. The officers seized 158 pounds of shrimp valued at $782.10.
On June 5th, Cpl. Ron Harris was patrolling Jekyll Island when he checked a group of people illegally seining on St. Andrews Beach. The people had shrimp that they intended to eat, undersize crabs, undersize shark, undersize whiting, and no fishing licenses. Cpl. Harris cited the group for the above listed violations.
On June 4th, RFC Mark Carson and Wildlife Tech Ed Van Otteren removed a raccoon from a home in Brunswick resulting from a possible rabies case where a 6 year old was scratched. The raccoon is being tested for rabies. The incident is still under investigation.
LIBERTY COUNTY On June 12th, Sgt. Harwell was patrolling St. Andrew's Beach on Jekyll Island. While there he noticed a man with a mullet in his hand feeding a couple of dolphins. He was given a citation for feeding the dolphins, which is a federal violation.
LONG COUNTY On May 30, Sgt Bob Lynn and RFC Randy Aspinwall responded to a boat floating on the Altamaha River below Johnson Station Landing. It was reported that the boat was floating with no one in it and the boat had become lodged in a tree. Prior to the arrival of the two DNR rangers, a Long County Deputy, along with the assistance of a private citizen, pulled the boat back to the landing. The owner of the vessel drove up to the landing about an hour after DNR rangers arrived and stated that it must have become untied. RFC Aspinwall recognized the owner of the vessel and knew his driver's licenses were suspended. The boat owner's driver's license was checked utilizing the in-vehicle computer. It was confirmed that the person's license were suspended. The person was turned over to the Long County Sheriff's Office to be charged with driving with suspended license.

WAYNE COUNTY On June 5, RFC Randy Aspinwall responded to a call at Jaycee Landing in reference to a boat floating on the Altamaha River. Once RFC Aspinwall arrived on the scene, the owner of the boat was located by running the vessel's registration utilizing the in vehicle computer. RFC Aspinwall contacted the owner by phone. It was determined that the boat had become untied from a houseboat above Jaycee Landing and floated down river.