Field operations weekly report, 2010 June 13-19

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report June 13-19, 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 RFC Byron Young was patrolling Lake Allatoona by boat in the mouth of Illinois Creek on June 13th. He witnessed a jet-ski come within 100 feet of a boat adrift in the water. He stopped the boat and immediately noticed the operator had a strong odor of alcohol. Ranger Young asked the operator if he had consumed any alcohol and he stated "none". Ranger Young questioned again if he had any alcohol and the operator stated "well, just a few, maybe 9 or 10". Ranger Young checked the operator through field sobriety exercises and discovered the operator was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and transported to the Bartow County Jail.
On June 13th, Cpl. Chip Cox and Sgt. Mike Barr responded to an emergency call at Bethany Bridge on Lake Allatoona. A swimmer dove off a pontoon boat head first and sharply impacted an object under the water. The swimmer was stabilized and taken by ambulance to the Cartersville Medical Center for treatment or neck and back injuries.
On June 13th, Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Chip Cox were patrolling Lake Allatoona by boat near the CSX railroad tracks. They witnessed a man jump off the railroad track bridge and into the lake with several other people already in the water. The Rangers advised the group of the dangers of jumping off the tracks and the CSX train regulations for being on railroad tracks on a bridge over the water. The Rangers also notified CSX Police division for follow-up with the jumpers.
On June 17th, RFC Byron Young responded to an emergency call of a 32-foot party cruiser that had capsized on Lake Allatoona near the Bartow Carver beach. The rental boat had 9 people on board of which 3 were children. The party pontoon had a fixed roof and swimming platform. A very strong storm passed through the area with high winds and flipped the boat upside down. All passengers were able to get their life jackets on and went into the water. A passerby saw the troubled boat and called 911. Emergency crews were unable to get to the boat due to the large amount of downed trees in the roadways around the lake. RFC Young was first to arrive by water and witnessed all 9 people clinging to the upside-down vessel. RFC Bart Hendrix assisted him in getting all parties safely back to Park Marine rental dock. The boat was pulled close to shore and marked so other boats wouldn't hit the vessel until it could be removed from the area.

CHEROKEE COUNTY RFC Byron Young and Cpl. Chip Cox were patrolling Lake Allatoona on June 13th, in the area of Little River in Cherokee County. They received a call for the Cherokee County 911 center regarding a boating incident. They went up river and upon arrival, found a 22foot wake board/ski boat that had lost control and went up a steep bank and approximately 20 feet into the woods. The operator was traveling at high speed and had to quickly turn to miss an oncoming boat around a sharp turn. The operator hit the boat's wake and it threw him out of the operator's chair and into the floor of the boat. The ski boat was still at full throttle when it hit the shore and ended up in the woods. Surprisingly, other than a few minor injuries, no one was seriously hurt.
COBB COUNTY On June 13th, RFC Brooks Varnell and his K-9 Rock were patrolling Lake Allatoona by boat with a DNR Intern. Ranger Varnell overheard radio traffic from Bartow County that there had been a boating incident in Cobb County and they were requesting medical assistance including preparing for a life-flight. Ranger Varnell met medical personnel and together they assisted a girl who was a passenger on a ski boat that had impacted a rock under water. She had been thrown into the windshield of the boat. She had sustained possible neck, back, and head injuries. It was determined that a life-flight was not needed and Ranger Varnell assisted in getting the girl back to the Block House Boat Ramp and she was transported to the Cartersville Medical Center for treatment.
FANNIN COUNTY On June 19th, Cpl. James Keener and RFC Cody Jones patrolled Blue Ridge Lake in Fannin County. The officers issued citations, warnings and verbal guidance to 10 boaters for violations concerning registration, PFDs, fishing license, rules of the road, and more.
MURRAY COUNTY On June 14th, RFC Eddie Tompkins was patrolling Rock Creek when he observed a vehicle parked in the middle of the designated trout stream. When RFC Tompkins approached the owner she was very nervous. In a search of the vehicle RFC Tompkins located a small amount of marijuana. The female subject was issued a citation for possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
FORSYTH COUNTY On June 9th, Sgt. Lee Brown met with the employees of Port Royal Marina. These employees work in the rental store and at the gas docks. Sgt. Brown presented them with safety information to be used in the safety meeting with persons renting boats from the marina. This was a very successful meeting and will be an annual event before each boating season.

On June 14th Sgt. Lee Brown traveled to Tifton for the Natural Resource Conservation Workshop on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College. During the workshop Sgt. Brown participated in the Career Night on Monday, set up the Laser Shot for the students to use with the assistance of Cpl Susan Morris on Tuesday night. On Wednesday Sgt Brown coordinated the DNR role at the Field Day, which was held Paradise PFA. On this day rangers set a shotgun station and an archery station. Rangers from Regions 4, 5 and 6 assisted with the shotgun and archery station. A Fisheries Biologist and fisheries technicians assisted with the fishing activities. Wildlife Technicians and biologist from Regions 5 and 6 prepared the meal for all that were in attendance at this event.
HALL COUNTY On June 12th, Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Eric Sanders, RFC Eric Isom responded to a boat that was sinking on Lake Lanier in the Cocktail Cove area. Once on the scene the rangers found that the boat had already sunk and the two persons onboard were safe. The rangers assisted with getting the subjects back to shore and a safe ride home. The next day the boat was salvaged by a towing service on Lake Lanier.
On June 13th, Sgt. Lee Brown received a call from one of the Forsyth County Deputies working Lake Lanier about a boating accident in which the boat dropped off the injured person and left Tidwell Park. The rangers with the assistance of Hall and Forsyth County Deputies were able to locate the boat. Cpl. Eric Sanders interviewed the operator of the boat and this case is still under investigation.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On June 14th RFC Mitchell Crump assisted with the Lumpkin County Junior Deputy Camp. He used the Laser Shot and Fishing Simulator on this day.
On June 15th, RFC Mitchell Crump with the assistance from RFC Anne Alexander and Wildlife Technicians David Shattuck and Eric Wood took the students to the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office shooting range. The participants at the camp were able to shoot 22 caliber rifles on this day of the camp.
FRANKLIN COUNTY On June 19th, Cpl Craig Fulghum was patrolling Lake Hartwell. He stopped a vessel near the Gumlog Bridge with an expired registration. After smelling alcohol and screening the driver, it was determined that the driver was operating under the influence. Fulghum charged the subject with operating a vessel under the influence and operating with an expired registration.

WHITE COUNTY On June 16th, RFC Anne Alexander was called out to assist the White County Fire Department with a river rescue operation on the Chattahoochee River. A male subject had dove into the river head first, striking a large rock. Four rescue personnel including RFC Alexander boarded a rescue raft, paddled downstream about a mile, attended to the patient who was conscious and alert, placed him on a backboard, boarded him onto the vessel and continued downstream to meet with a life flight helicopter. The patient had a large contusion on the back of his head and did not have any feeling from his chest down.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
RICHMOND COUNTY On June 19th, shortly after 5 pm, DNR Rangers Cpl Ben Payne and Cpl Micheal Crawley observed a black male breaking into cars parked at a Recreation Parking Lot in Augusta, GA. When the officers confronted the suspect he jumped into a vehicle and attempted to run over Cpl Micheal Crawley. Cpl Crawley fired his duty weapon and a vehicle pursuit ensued. After a brief chase the suspect wrecked the vehicle. He was seen by officers fleeing on foot into a wooded area. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Several cars in the parking area had broken side glass and damage to the dashboards. Items stolen were recovered from the suspect's car. The incident is still under investigation by the Richmond County CID unit.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On June 17th, Sgt Doyte Chaffin, Cpl Ryan Swain, Cpl Brian Hobbins, Rfc Leroy Ficklin, and Rfc Brian Adams attended Swift Water Rescue Training at Mistletoe State Park.
On June 17th, Rfc Bobby Timmerman performed a HIN inspection in Grovetown.
On June 19th, Rfc Bobby Timmerman and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin cited several subjects for failure to obey regulatory markers in the Lake Springs area of Clarks Hill Lake.
On June 20th, Cpl Ryan Swain and Sgt Doyte Chaffin cited several subjects for violation of the 100-foot law on PWC's in Keg Creek.
WALTON COUNTY On Wednesday June 16th, Rfc. Niki Spencer responded to a trapping without permission complaint. The landowner stated that her dog was caught in a trap that was placed on her property. After investigating the incident, and contacting the adjoining landowners and the trapper, it was determined that the traps were not on the subjects property and the adjoining landowner did not want to press charges against the trapper. Rfc. Spencer questioned the trapper about the traps and found that he was trapping coyotes.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)

BIBB COUNTY On the night of June 13th, RFC Kevin Joyce and Sgt. Tony Fox responded to the Ocmulgee River below Macon in reference to seven individuals who had become stranded after attempting to float the river down to Highway 96 in Houston County. Due to shallow water conditions it took rescuers nearly five hours to recover all seven people.
JASPER COUNTY On June 18th, RFC Keith Page and RFC Billy Bryant were patrolling Jackson Lake for boating safety violations. At about 10:30 pm Page and Bryant were sitting stationary in the big water when a boat passed by within 100 feet and well above idle speed. The Rangers then decided to stop the vessel. The operator of the vessel was later found to be under the influence after failing several field sobriety exercises. Page and Bryant placed the man under arrest and turned him over to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office. He was charged with operating a vessel under the influence and operating a vessel within 100 ft of an object above idle speed.
On June 19th, CPL Tony Wynne and RFC Billy Bryant were patrolling Jackson Lake for fishing activity and boating safety concerns. Around 10:00 pm the Rangers were patrolling a no wake area just below Bear Creek Marina. The Rangers stopped a vessel operating well after dark with no stern light. The operator of the vessel was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and transported to the Jasper County jail.
UPSON COUNTY On June 19th, while on routine patrol of Sprewell Bluff State Park, Cpl. Susan Morris observed several people at a picnic table drinking out of red plastic cups in the public use area of the park. One person kept looking around and guarding his cup, holding it close to his person. Cpl. Morris walked up and started a conversation with the persons. She told them that there was a problem with people drinking alcohol in the public use areas of the park and asked if she could look in their cups. They said sure, go ahead and when she did, she found beer in the cup of the person that was being so protective of his cup. He was issued a citation for consumption of alcohol on a state park.
During the week of June 13th-17th, Cpl. Susan Morris, Sgt. Lee Brown and Sgt. Ezra Wyche with other DNR personnel from the different DNR divisions attended the 49th annual Nature Resources Conservation Workshop held at ABAC College in Tifton, GA. This workshop is conducted by the Nature Resources Conservation Services division of the USDA. The GA Dept. of Natural Resources, the GA Forestry Commission and others help the NRCS with a workshop for students 9th thru 12th grades in all counties of Georgia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The workshop teaches students about our natural resources and our impact and use of those resources. The workshop consists of the students taking classes, evening programs and a field day where they spend the day doing archery, skeet shooting, fishing and forestry activities. At the end of the week the students take exams and the top scores win scholarships to different colleges - the top prize is a $6000 scholarship the University of Georgia.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On June 13th, Sgt. Rick Sellars and RFC Tony Cox conducted a boat patrol on the Flint River. During a vessel inspection, it was determined that the operator was impaired. He was arrested and charged with operating a vessel under the influence.
On June 14th, Sgt. Rick Sellars, RFC Tony Cox and RFC Jeff Phillips responded to a drowning incident on Spring Creek. The body of the victim was recovered and turned over to the coroner for autopsy.
On June 19th, Sgt. Rick Sellars and Cpl. Mike Binion conducted a boat patrol on the Flint River. During the patrol Cpl. Binion observed a vessel that appeared to be overloaded, further investigation found the operator exhibiting signs of impairment. After failing sobriety exercises, the operator was arrested for operating a vessel under the influence and underage consumption.
The officers encountered and stopped another vessel later this same night for operating without proper lights. This operator was also found to be intoxicated, he was arrested and charged for operating a vessel under the influence.
SUMTER COUNTY Cpl. Tommy Lawrence participated in the Conservation Workshop at Abraham Baldwin College where he spoke about career opportunities with the DNR Law Enforcement Section.
CRISP COUNTY While conducting a boating patrol on Lake Blackshear, RFC Clint Martin and RFC Harold Hill encountered a PWC being operated at night with three people on board. The operator was cited for operating a PWC at night.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On June 14th, RFC Ben Roberts conducted a boating safety program for a youth fishing event.
On June 17th, RFC Ben Roberts conducted a boating safety program for the Southwest Georgia Sportsman Club.
On June 16th-17th, RFC Ben Roberts and RFC Randy James conducted a Hunter Education Program for a youth group attending Camp Kirksey.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
APPLING COUNTY On the 16th, RFC Chase Altman conducted an I/E for the Appling County Citizens Academy on the operations of a Conservation Ranger.
TOOMBS COUNTY On June 19th, Cpl Jon Barnard and RFC Danielle Partin patrolled the Altamaha River from Us No 1 to Morris Landing inspecting 5 boats and 7 fishing licenses; they issued two warnings for boating safety violations.
EMANUEL COUNTY On June 16th, Cpl. Jon Barnard and RFC Clint Jarriel responded to a drowning in a private pond in Emanuel County. The rangers assisted in the recovery of a 23 year old drowning victim, who drowned while swimming.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On June 19th, Cpl. Eddie Akins patrolled Abercorn Creek and the Savannah River upstream and downstream of Abercorn Creek for boating and fishing activity. This resulted in eleven boats and five fishing license being checked. One violation for towing a skier without an observer or mirror was documented.
EVANS COUNTY On June 19th, RFC Debbie Brannen met with a complainant in reference to people fishing in a pond. Ranger Brannen met with the complainant and located an individual fishing in the pond. One violation was addressed for fishing without permission. Later the same day, RFC Brannen patrolled the Evans County Public Fishing area. Several licenses were checked and two violations were noted for fishing on a P.F.A. without a WMA license and illegal parking.
ECHOLS COUNTY On June 18th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree & RFC Jason Shipes patrolled the Alapaha River at Statenville landing for boating & fishing activity. Two fishermen were checked and one could not produce a valid license. RFC Shipes issued the subject a written warning.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CAMDEN COUNTY On June 13th, Cpl Chris Hodge was on patrol at the Meeting Street boat landing in St Marys. While checking vessels returning to the landing, Cpl Hodge encountered a subject operating a vessel on North River. Upon completion of a boating safety inspection, Cpl Hodge discovered that the operator had drunk several beers while on the water. Upon completing field sobriety tests, the subject was placed under arrest and transported to the Camden County Sheriff's Office for boating under the influence of alcohol.

CHATHAM COUNTY On June 13th, RFC Buster Cooper and Sgt. Tim Vincent went on a Search and Rescue mission in the Ossabaw Sound area near Piney Island. A boat had capsized stranding six people a one dog. Towboat US and Sea Tow assisted DNR.
GLYNN COUNTY On June 16th, Cpl. Chris Ridley and Sgt. John Harwell received a call from a citizen that their aluminum jon boat had been stolen. Sgt. Harwell told the citizen that they would check into it. The two officers then went to a local scrap metal yard and located where a person had sold the boat for scrap metal. After gathering the information on the suspect the officers located the suspect and arrested him for theft by receiving stolen property.