Field operations weekly report, 2010 August 22-28

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report August 22-28, 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)
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BIBB COUNTY On August 22nd, RFC Billy Bryant and Refuge Officer Thomas Payne gave a legal hunting seminar at Bass Pro Shops in Macon, GA.
On August 27th, Sgt. Ezra Wyche, Cpl. John Harkins, and RFC Tim Butler conducted the Lazer-Shot program at the Buckmaster's Banquet for the children in the audience.
HARRIS COUNTY During the early morning hours of August 22nd RFC Mitch Oliver responded to a call from the Harris County 911 center in regards to an ATV wreck where the operator had been knocked unconscious. RFC Oliver was on his way home from lake patrol on Lake Harding and was the first officer on the scene. Oliver provided what assistance he could before EMS arrived and treated the individual.
RFC Oliver was again returning home from lake patrol on the evening of the 22nd when the 911 center dispatched out another ATV crash on a woods road outside of Waverly Hall. RFC Oliver responded to the call to assist due to the deputies on the scene believing the ambulance would not be able to reach the injured persons because of road conditions. RFC Oliver arrived at the scene and was preparing to go back out and meet the ambulance to transport the EMT's into the area but the crew decided that they would attempt driving in on their own. The ambulance made it to the scene and two individuals were transported to the hospital.
HEARD COUNTY On August 23rd, Cpl. Jim Bradfield met with a DNR Parks associate on the State Park property in Heard County adjacent to Highway 34. A deer stand had been located on the closed Park's property and this stand was confiscated by the officer. The ladder stand was stored in the evidence room at the Heard County Sheriff's Office.
JASPER COUNTY On August 26th, RFC Billy Bryant and K-9 Drake presented a K-9 Demo for The Wildlife Society during its meeting at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. The focus of the meeting this year was Conservation Law Enforcement.

On August 27th, RFC Billy Bryant presented a Wildlife Education Program about Animals in their natural habitat to students at Washington Park Elementary School.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On August 25th, RFC Mitch Oliver and RFC Jeremy Bolen were invited by the Director of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation to attend the hunter's open house at Ft. Benning. The officers provided the fishing simulator at the event.
TROUP COUNTY On August 22nd, Cpl. Jim Bradfield worked a drowning on West Point Lake at Earl Cook Beach. Two swimmers had attempted to swim to a buoy out from this beach. One of the swimmers could not make it and went under water about 20 yards from the buoy and drowned. Troup County Sheriff's Office divers located the victim after a 45 minute search.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
GRADY COUNTY On August 22nd, Cpl. Mike Binion and RFC Jeff Phillips responded to a drowning incident on the Ochlocknee River in Grady County. Thomas County divers recovered the 36-year-old male victim, who disappeared while wading in waist deep water near a sandbar, on August 23rd.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TOOMBS COUNTY On August 28th, Sgt. Don Dasher, Cpl Jon Barnard, RFC Danielle Partin and RFC Clint Jarriel patrolled the Altamaha River from Stanfield Landing to Dean's Landing inspecting 10 boats and 18 fishing licenses, issuing one citation and two warnings, and providing guidance for various boating and fishing violations.
APPLING COUNTY On August 20th, RFC Chase Altman worked a detail, along with the Appling County Sheriff's Office and the Altamaha Drug Task Force, which resulted in the seizure of around 15 marijuana plants located in the Carters Bight area.
WARE COUNTY On August 26th, RFC Jason Shipes conducted an information and education program at the Comfort Inn in Waycross. RFC Shipes presented a power point presentation detailing the duties of the Law Enforcement Section to members of Maurice Sporting Goods and Wal-Mart district managers.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On August 17th, Ranger Jack Thain and Sgt. James Shelton patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area. Two fishermen were cited for fishing without licenses.
On August 21st, RFC Isaac Strickland and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled several boat ramps. Three persons were cited at Morgan's Bridge ramp for possession of open containers of alcohol at a DNR ramp. One person at Ft. McAllister ramp was cited for fishing without a license.
On August 22nd, RFC Isaac Strickland and Cpl. Jay Morgan cited two men for fishing without licenses at the old Bryan Co-op dock.
On August 27th, RFC Isaac Strickland and Ranger Jack Thain cited one person for fishing without permission at the old Bryan Co-op dock.
GLYNN COUNTY On August 21st, Cpl. Chris Ridley, Cpl. Phillip Scott, Cpl. Ron Harris and RFC Mark Carson assisted the Georgia State Patrol with crowd control for the annual Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival. The event had an estimated 700 people in attendance. The crowd however was very well behaved and no arrests were made. One person was given first aid for a cut and two people were treated for heat related illness.
LONG COUNTY On August 15th, Sgt Bob Lynn, Sgt Chris Hodge and Cpl Bobby White assisted the GBI at Johnson Station Landing on the Altamaha River in looking for the vehicle that was involved in a shooting incident on Griffin Ridge WMA on August 13. Rangers utilized side scan sonar to attempt to locate the vehicle. Two vehicles were located in the river but neither were the vehicle involved in the incident.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On August 16th, Sgt Bob Lynn, Cpl Bobby White, Wildlife Tech Hal Wiggins, Wildlife Tech Jay Drury, GM associate John Bronson, and deputies from the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office responded to a lost hunter incident on the Altamaha WMA. The subject was hunting hogs and became lost in the Buffalo Swamp. Captain Ed Watkins and RFC Rebekah Huson were requested to join the search because they were on call for aviation support. The hunter was located after a seven-hour search was conducted.
On August 28th, Cpl Jimmy Finn assisted the Georgia State Patrol with a vehicle accident on Sapelo Island. Cpl Finn transported the State Trooper by boat to the island to work the accident. The accident involved one vehicle striking a tree and killing the driver.

WAYNE COUNTY On August 20th and 21st, Captain Doug Lewis, Sgt Bob Lynn, Cpl Bobby White, and RFC Randy Aspinwall assisted the Wayne County Tourism Board with the annual Grand Slam Fishing Tournament at Jaycee Landing.
On August 28th, Sgt Bob Lynn, Cpl Jimmy Finn, and Cpl Jesse Cook operated the fishing simulator and laser shot at the annual NWTF Jakes Event held at Union Church of God in Jesup.
CAMDEN COUNTY On August 22nd, Cpl Jesse Cook was conducting an offshore Joint Enforcement patrol for the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement. While checking CDH Reef Cpl Cook encountered a vessel that had several occupants that were spear gun fishing. While checking the subject's catch, Cpl Cook observed a Red Snapper in the subject's possession. Red Snapper is closed in Federal waters off the coast of Georgia at this time. The fish was confiscated and documentation will be provided to the NMFS and Federal Attorneys for prosecution.
LIBERTY COUNTY On August 22nd, RFC Isaac Strickland and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled from St. Catherine's Sound to Sapelo Sound, and then patrolled offshore to Grays Reef, checking numerous boaters and fishermen.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On August 26th, RFC Craig Smith and Sgt Chris Hodge were working a night hunting detail in east Brantley County. Soon after officers arrived at their location, a vehicle approached the area and the occupants began shining spotlights out the windows of the vehicle. Officers then stopped the vehicle to investigate and discovered a .22 caliber rifle lying on the front seat. Both subjects were cited for Hunting Deer at Night, Hunting from a Public Road, and Hunting from a Vehicle. One subject was transported to Camden County after it was discovered that the subject had not appeared for court on his last charge of Hunting Deer at Night.