Field operations weekly report, 2010 July 4-10

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report July 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 After midnight on July 4th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and RFC Bart Hendrix were patrolling Lake Allatoona in the area of Bartow Carver Park. They witnessed a pontoon boat without proper navigational lights. After stopping the boat, they noticed that the operator had a strong odor of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet. Cpl. Elmore checked the operator with field exercises, but halfway through, the operator said "you might as well take me to jail". The operator was charged with boating under the influence of alcohol and transported to the Bartow County Jail.
On July 4th, Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Chip Cox were patrolling Lake Allatoona in the area of Bethany Bridge. They stopped a jet-ski that was going through the no wake zone under power and without a current registration. The operator was from Brazil and when asked about the registration, stated it was in his truck. When the Rangers offered to wait until he got it out his truck, he stated his keys were with friends on an island on the lake. Another boat then showed up with his friends. It also did not have a current registration. The operator of that vessel also stated the registration was in the truck. The Rangers allowed the operators to get their registrations, which turned out to be a "bill of sale". No attempt had been made to register either boat. The operator of the jet-ski was charged with "failure to obey regulatory markers" and the operator of the boat was charged with "operating a vessel without a registration".
On July 5th, the Calhoun Region Office received a call from an employee of Cushing Park on Lake Allatoona. One of their members had located a jet-ski floating in the middle of the lake without the owner/operator. Later in the day, Sgt. Mike Barr received a call from a person camping at Sweetwater campsite. He stated he had pulled his two jet-skis on shore the evening before and that one was missing. He thought someone might have stolen the jet-ski. Sgt. Barr found out the operator's lanyard (boat key) had been placed under the seat. Sgt. Barr was able to direct the man to the found jet-ski at Cushing Park. It was the missing jet-ski and the operator's lanyard was still under the seat. Wakes and waves probably lodged the boat loose from shore.
CARROLL COUNTY On July, July 10th, Cpl. Eric Brown received a call from a retired Ranger about some litter on a dirt road in Villa Rica. Cpl. Brown along with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office located and photographed the litter. Several items from a local bank and medical records were found in the litter. Cpl. Brown was able to locate the subject who was cited for littering.

COBB COUNTY On July 5th, Sgt. Mike Barr and Cpl. Chip Cox patrolled Lake Allatoona by boat in Cobb County at the Acworth Beach Fireworks Show. The show started around 9:45pm and lasted until around 10:30pm. Over one thousand boats were in the area to watch the fireworks. After the show, all boats started back towards the I-75 Bridge, the Blockhouse Boat Ramp, and other areas on the lake. As they went by, Sgt. Barr and Cpl. Cox were making sure all boats had their navigational lights on and working. They noticed a ski boat without a stern light that was pulling an inflatable tube with several girls on the tube. They stopped the ski boat and the operator stated that he was just pulling the girls to shore. The Rangers had the occupants get in the boat and then gave the boat a chemical light to use until they could return to shore.
FANNIN COUNTY On July 4th, Cpl. James Keener and RFC Cody Jones patrolled Lake Blue Ridge. The officers issued five citations and warnings for boating violations including operating without PFDs, registration, and Personal Water Craft violations.
On July 4th, Sgt. John VanLandingham responded to the area of Wilscott Cemetery on Lake Blue Ridge to assist US Forest Service officers Mike Tipton and Paul Robinson with a report of a missing juvenile. After the juvenile was located the officers checked two subjects who had been fishing when the officer first arrived. The two subjects appeared very nervous while speaking with the officers. It was discovered that one of the subjects was in possession of marijuana and the second subject was in possession of marijuana, a large amount of methamphetamine, and a small handgun. One of the subjects was cited for possession of marijuana less than one ounce and released; the second subject was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana less than one ounce, Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.
On July 4th, Sgt. VanLandingham and US Forest Service Officer Mike Tipton were patrolling around Lake Blue Ridge. The officers came upon two ATVs operating on a public road on US Forest Service property. The ATVs were being operated at a high rate of speed and recklessly. The officers were able to get the ATVs stopped and it was discovered that one of the operators was under the influence of alcohol. The subject was arrested and charged with DUI alcohol, and operating an unregistered ATV on a public road. The second subject was cited by the US Forest Service for operating an ATV on a US Forest Service Road.

MURRAY COUNTY On July 9th, Sgt. John VanLandingham, Cpl. Casey Jones, RFC Eddie Tompkins, and RFC Cody Jones conducted a license checkpoint on Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. The officers arrested two subjects charged with driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana less than one ounce and Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of Klonopin. The officers also issued two additional citations for possession of marijuana less than one ounce and Violation of the Georgia Open Container Law.
On July 10th, RFC Cody Jones and RFC Eddie Tompkins were checking fisherman on Rock Creek when they approached two subjects sitting on the creeks edge smoking marijuana. Both subjects were issued a citation for possession of marijuana less than one ounce. One of the subjects had an arrest warrant through Murray County. He was arrested and transported to the Murray County Detention Center.
On July 10th, Rangers from the Law Enforcement Section, Game Management Section and US Forest Service worked a detail on Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. The officers issued 22 citations for various violations that included possession of marijuana, fishing without license, possession of illegally taken trout, littering, Violation of Georgia's Open Container Law, and public indecency.
WHITFIELD COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Cody Jones and RFC Eddie Tompkins observed a male subject walking along Conasauga River drinking a beer. When the subject saw the officers he threw the can into the woods and jumped into the river and began to swim. The subject was cited for littering.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On July 9th, Cpl. Julian Wilkins, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, Sgt. Doyte Chafin, and Sgt. Brian Carter conducted a search for a missing boater that was reported on the upper end of Clark Hill Lake. The subject was found at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning in South Carolina. The missing subjects had motor problems and had drifted into South Carolina.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On Wednesday July 7th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin responded to a possible drowning at Lake Springs Park at Clarks Hill Lake. Officers searched for several hours in an attempt to locate the missing swimmer. The body of the subject was recovered early on Thursday morning.

LINCOLN COUNTY On July 9th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins received a call from SOC in regard to a missing boater in the Hester's Ferry area of Clarks Hill Lake. Cpl. Hobbins, Cpl. Julian Wilkins, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, and Sgt. Brian Carter responded to the area to search for the missing subjects. After an extensive search the subjects were located around 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The boat had become disabled and they were caught in a storm and blown to shore. Both subjects were safely reunited with their families.
On July 10th,RFC Phillip Nelson, Cpl. Greg Colson, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, and Sgt. Doyte Chaffin provided boating safety enforcement at the Thunder Over Thurmond fireworks show in the Elijah Clark area of Clarks Hill Lake. Officers issued several citations and warnings for various boating safety violations as well as arresting one subject for BUI and Child Endangerment.
BURKE COUNTY On the evening of July 10, at approximately 11:00 pm Cpl. Crawley was working a complaint of illegal digging of American Indian Artifacts on private property along Briar Creek in Burke County. While Cpl. Crawley was observing a RV from the side of the road way that was set up on the complainant's property, he noticed a flash light coming down the drive way of the adjacent property. Cpl. Crawley turned on the lights of his vehicle and began to drive down the road away from the area. As he passed the driveway, a subject shined his flashlight on Cpl. Crawley's vehicle and fired three shots from a rifle at Cpl. Crawley. Crawely drove until he was approximately three miles from the scene and requested back up.
After Sgt. Padgett, Sgt. Chaffin, Cpl. Hobbins, Cpl. McNeely, Cpl. Payne, RFC Matherly with DNR LE, three Burke County Sheriff' s Deputies, and two Georgia State Patrol officers came to Cpl. Crawley's location they returned to the scene. The officers made entrance to the area and secured the subject that had fired the shots at Cpl. Crawley.
The suspect was located shortly afterwards at this RV, which was found to be stolen from South Carolina, and admitted to shooting at Cpl Crawley. He was also found to be in possession of illegally taken Native-American artifacts and was manufacturing methamphetamine.
The suspect was arrested and charged with the following: aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, manufacturing meth, possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, unlawful dumping of hazardous waste, excavating a site without permission, and possession of stolen property

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BUTTS COUNTY On July 4th at approximately 1:45 am, while patrolling Jackson Lake, RFC Wil Smith and RFC Billy Bryant observed a boat traveling without a stern light visible. They identified the operator and stopped the vessel. The occupants began moving around and the operator switched positions with another individual. RFC Smith called the operator over and smelled a strong odor of alcohol. After performing a Field Sobriety screening, the operator was arrested for operating vessel under the influence of alcohol and cited for operating a vessel with improper lights.
On July 4th RFC Keith Page and Sgt. Tim Kendrick arrested two subjects for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol on Jackson Lake. One of the subject's blood alcohol content was .237 grams while the other's was .131g.
JASPER COUNTY While patrolling Jackson Lake on July 4th after the fireworks displays, RFC Billy Bryant and RFC Wil Smith observed a pontoon boat traveling through the lake traffic at a high rate of speed and with improper lights. The Rangers stopped the vessel and after a brief investigation determined the operator was under the influence of alcohol. The boat operator was arrested and transported to the county jail where he was charged with operating a vessel with improper lights and operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol.
MERIWETHER COUNTY On July 10th Sgt. Brent Railey, Cpl. Wanda Roberts, RFC Kevin Godbee, RFC Travis Sweat and Wildlife Technician Mike Crumbley patrolled Pigeon Creek WMA on the Flint River due to recurrent problems with alcohol and ATV use on the area. During a concentrated patrol on the property the rangers issued five citations and five written warnings for illegal use of an ATV on a WMA and illegal consumption of alcohol on a WMA. Several verbal warnings were also issued for illegal camping on the WMA and alcohol violations.
PULASKI COUNTY On July 7th RFC Tim Butler received a complaint of a boat floating down the Ocmulgee River with fishing poles sticking out and no one inside it. After launching a river patrol boat the officer searched for the reported vessel but was unable to locate it.
On July 8th RFC Butler received a call for assistance from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office (SO). The SO had received a complaint of shots fired near the high bluff on the Ocmulgee River and responding deputies had located a boat on the river near the location. When the deputy asked the boater to pull to the bank the boater refused to comply. RFC Butler launched his riverboat and, with assistance from a deputy, soon located the boat in question. The man in the boat, who was later determined to be 75

years of age, was instructed to return to the boat landing in Hawkinsville where deputies were waiting. He was later verbally warned and released.
PUTNAM COUNTY On the afternoon of July 4th Cpl. Stan Semmler and Sgt. Bo Kelly were patrolling Lake Sinclair near Twin Bridges when they stopped a boat for a boating violation. Further investigation led to the operator being arrested for boating under the influence.
On the afternoon of July 10th Cpl. John Harkins and Cpl. Bubba Stanford were patrolling the area of Putnam Beach on Lake Sinclair when they observed several juveniles and an adult fishing from a rubber raft in a cove. There was only one life jacket in their possession and the adult did not have a fishing license. A citation was issued for the fishing license and a warning was given for the life jacket violation.
On the evening of July 10th RFC Josh Copelan and Cpl. Stan Semmler were patrolling the area of Goat Island on Lake Sinclair. Approximately 20 minutes after sunset, the officers stopped a jet ski for operating after hours and discovered that its two occupants were not wearing life jackets. Citations for the offenses were issued to the operator.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
LEE COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Ben Roberts and RFC Randy James responded to a citizen complaint of 4 boats operating above idle speed on portions of the Kinchafoonee Creek where idle speed is mandatory. The Rangers located 3 of the boats and each operator was cited for violating the 100' law.
DECATUR COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Tony Cox arrested a subject on the Flint River for operating a vessel after his boating privileges had been suspended. The operator had been arrested in June for operating a vessel under the influence.
CLAY COUNTY On the afternoon of July 4th, RFC Jim Atchley, RFC Bob Holley and Sgt. Butch Potter responded to a boat incident on Lake George. A 19-foot bass boat collided with a 16-foot aluminum fishing boat resulting in an injury to an occupant of the aluminum boat. The operator of the bass boat was cited for failure to follow rules of the road. The injured boater was transported by EMS to the hospital for treatment.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
CHARLTON COUNTY On July 4th, RFC Jason Shipes and Sgt. Patrick Dupree were conducting boat and safety patrols on the St. Mary's River. Several vessels were checked during this patrol. Most violations were corrected with verbal guidance with one citation being issued for insufficient PFD's.

On July 6th, RFC Jason Shipes patrolled the St. Mary's River in the area of Traders Hill to US 1 Bridge. RFC Shipes issued one written warning for fishing without a license. No boating violations were documented.
On July 10th, RFC Jason Shipes and Cpl. Damon Winters checked for boating and fishing activity in the area of the St. Mary's River from US 1 to Camp Pinckney. The Burnt Fort landing area on the Satilla was also checked with no violations observed.
WARE COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Jason Shipes checked the area of Hwy 84 Bridge on the Satilla River for any boating or fishing activity. No violations were found at this location.
PIERCE COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Jason Shipes and Cpl. Damon Winters patrolled the Satilla River in the area of Hwy 301 Bridge, FFA Camp Landing and the Little River for boating and fishing activity. No violations were noted during this patrol.
ATKINSON COUNTY On the morning of July 11th, RFC Tim Hutto patrolled areas along the Satilla River for boating and fishing violations. One citation was issued for operating a vessel without coast guard approved pfd's. Several other fishermen were checked and only minor violations were detected and received verbal warnings.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On Saturday, June 10th, RFC Britt patrolled the Altamaha and Ocmulgee Rivers by boat and checked several boat and fishing licenses. No violations were detected.
COFFEE COUNTY On the 10th, RFC Hilton patrolled the Ocmulgee River Landings in Ben Hill and Coffee County. This patrol resulted in several warnings being issued for fishing without a license and operating a vessel during the hours of darkness without lights.
On the 11th, RFC Hilton patrolled the Ocmulgee River Landings in Ben Hill and Coffee County for boating safety. The patrol resulted in several warnings being issued for fishing without a license and allowing an underage child to ride in a vessel without a PFD.
BULLOCH COUNTY On July 11th Cpl. Dave Sims patrolled along the Ogeechee River checking bank fishermen as well as the public and private landings for fishing and boating activity. Cpl. Sims checked several fishermen and two boats. Two violations of fishing without a license were documented.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY On July 10th, RFC Brandon Pierce and Cpl. Eddie Akins patrolled river landings on both the Ogeechee and Savannah River landings for boating safety and fishing activity. A total of four boats and six fishing licenses were inspected. One violation of operating a vessel without lights during hours of darkness was documented.
One July 11th, RFC Brandon Pierce patrolled river landings along the Savannah River for boating safety and fishing activity. A total of six boats were checked. No violations were documented but verbal guidance was given on the boating laws of Georgia and on how to obtain a registration.
SCREVEN COUNTY On July 10th, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely and Cpl. David Sims patrolled the Savannah River from Dicks Lookout to Blue Springs. Numerous boats and fisherman were checked. Groups attempting to travel down the river on swimming pool floats were taken off the water. The officers apprehended two male subjects near Blue Springs for taking over the daily creel limit of Blue Gill. A total of 103 Blue Gill, 43 over the limit, were confiscated and turned over to the Screven county Sheriffs Dept. Citations were issued for operating a vessel without C.G.A. PFD' s and taking over the daily creel limit.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)