Field operations weekly report, 2011 April 3-9

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report April 3-9, 2011
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)
FANNIN COUNTY On April 3rd, RFC Cody Jones cited a man for turkey hunting on lands of another without permission.
PICKENS COUNTY On April 2nd, Cpl. James Keener issued two citations to turkey hunters for hunting over bait off Pleasant Hill Rd. While checking another baited area off Shyers Ford Rd., one hunter was issued a warning for hunting over bait. Later that afternoon, two more hunters were issued citations for hunting turkeys over bait off of Hwy. 515 North.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DAWSON COUNTY On April 9th, Cpl. Jason Roberson responded to Dawson Forest WMA reference two lost hikers on the Wildcat Tract. With assistance from the Dawson County Sheriff's Office and the Dawson County Fire Department the two lost hikers were located and returned to safety.
GWINNETT COUNTY On April 6th, Cpl. Eric Sanders was patrolling Freemans Lake off of Beaver Ruin Road for fishing without permission. Cpl. Sanders issued four citations for fishing without permission.
On April 9th, Cpl. Sanders patrolled Freemans Lake and Harrisons Lake for fishing without permission. He issued one citation for fishing without permission.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On April 7th, Cpl. Eric Sanders presented and I & E program to employees of the Georgia Power Company in Conyers. Cpl. Sanders presented the program on Boating Safety.
Also, on April 7th, Cpl. Sanders attended the grand opening of the new Archery Range at Panola Mountain State Park. This range was built in cooperation between the State Parks and Wildlife Resources Divisions of DNR. In attendance were the Commissioner of DNR Mark Williams and the Director of the Wildlife Resources Division Dan Forster.

RABUN COUNTY On April 3rd, RFC Anne Alexander assisted the US Forest Service Rangers, Jeff Angel and Derik Breedlove patrolling Wildcat Creek and Earls Gap, checking campsites. The rangers came in contact with a driver of a vehicle that seemed to have been under the influence of alcohol. While investigating, the driver of the vehicle dropped something out of his right hand on to the ground. Ranger Breedlove picked up a container and opened it up and found 3 pills inside. The passenger of the vehicle was in possession of two open containers hiding under his feet. Both subjects were under the age of 21. The Rangers also located small leafy green substances located inside both driver and passenger side doors of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for DUI and possession of controlled substances and transported to the Federal Detention Center in Gainesville. The passenger was cited for possession of controlled substance, open container and possession of alcohol by a minor. The vehicle was impounded.
WHITE COUNTY On April 11th, RFC Anne Alexander and Cpl. Adam Loudermilk participated in the opening day ceremonies for the White County Little League baseball and softball season. They answered questions from citizens and spoke with them about the duties of Conservation Rangers.
HABERSHAM COUNTY On April 7th, RFC Chad Chambers received a call in reference to an illegal burn from the Habersham County Fire Department. RFC Chambers responded to the location and found the individual burning tires and other illegal materials. The subject was cited for unlawful burning.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY On April 4th, Cpl Brian Hobbins assisted Columbia County Sheriff's Office with calls due to severe storms that plagued the CSRA.
While performing a vessel inspection on April 9th, Cpl Ryan Swain detected a stolen vessel. The vessel was placed under constructive seizure pending an investigation.
LINCOLN COUNTY On April 4th, Cpl Ryan Swain assisted the City of Lincolnton with traffic and evacuations of city residents due to strong storms that plagued the CSRA.
On April 5th, Cpl Ryan Swain responded to hunting without permission complaint off of Hwy 220 East. Upon arrival at the scene, Swain apprehended three subjects who were with the complainant. Two of the subjects were warned for hunting without permission and hunting out of season (juveniles). One subject was arrested for hunting without permission, hunting out of season, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

WALTON COUNTY On Thursday April 7th, RFC Niki Spencer attended an Outdoors Without Limits dinner. Officer Spencer provided informational and educational materials as well as answering law related questions.
On Saturday April 9th, RFC Niki Spencer was checking fishing without permission complaints when she caught 2 subjects who did not have permission to be fishing the lake they were on. The subjects were warned about fishing without permission and released.
PUTNAM COUNTY / LAKE OCONEE On Saturday April 9th, Cpl. David Allen and RFC Richard Tanner responded to a boating incident on Lake Oconee in Lick Creek. A personal watercraft collided with a pleasure boat resulting in injury. The driver of the personal watercraft was found to be operating the vessel while under the influence of alcohol. The driver of the PWC was found at fault for the accident and was arrested for BUI and Violation of Rules of the Road. Boating investigation is still ongoing at this time. The main victim, a fifteen year old, suffered severe head injury. Sgt. Matt Garthright assisted with the investigation along with RFC Jeff Billips. RFC Billips serves as a member of the Critical Incident Reconstruction Team.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
JASPER COUNTY On April 9th, at approximately 11:00pm, Sgt. Tim Kendrick and RFC Keith Page received calls about a boat accident on Jackson Lake. Sgt. Kendrick and RFC Page responded to the accident near Martin's Marina. After a brief investigation, it was determined that 5 male subjects were in a ski boat traveling at a high rate of speed near the bank just south of Martin's Marina when their vessel struck the side of an old boat ramp. As a result, the driver of the vessel suffered minor injuries on his face. The driver was tested to see if he was under the influence, but it was determined that his blood alcohol concentration was not high enough to be charged. The driver of the vessel was charged with reckless driving, failure to display registration, and operating a vessel at night with improper lights.
JONES COUNTY On April 9th Cpl. Bill Goodsen assisted in a boating incident investigation by traveling to the Macon Medical Center to interview a witness who had been injured. This incident had occurred on Lake Oconee.

PULASKI COUNTY On April 4th RFC Tim Butler received a hunting without permission complaint. The complainant had found a truck he did not recognize parked on the land upon which he was hunting. When RFC Butler arrived he was able determine who owned the truck and it was found the truck belonged to a man who was given permission to hunt the land. As the officer and complainant were talking a gun shot rang out approximately 200 yards away. RFC Butler walked to the area and found a hunter holding a turkey that was still flapping its wings. The man was standing in an area that was heavily baited with wheat the hunters stool and gun were located approximately 10 yards away. The hunter was issued citations for hunting big game over bait and possession of illegally taken wildlife and the bird was confiscated.
PUTNAM COUNTY On April 8th Cpl. Lynn Stanford, DCR Fred Hays, and Sgt. Bo Kelly assisted in the Governor's Office of Highway Safety road check in Eatonton. Rangers assisted in checking motorists during the evening and turned over two drivers found driving under the influence of alcohol to the Georgia State Patrol.
On April 9th Cpl. Lynn Stanford and Sgt. Bo Kelly conducted boat patrol on Lake Sinclair. One boat operator was arrested for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol. Several other boating violations were documented during the day.
TROUP COUNTY On April 9th RFC Mitch Oliver and Sgt. Jim Bradfield attended the RODBENDERS Annual Homecoming Bass Tournament at Sunny Point access on West Point Lake. The officers were on hand to answer any questions from the participants and also did a brief interview for the association's web page. In the photograph are RFC Mitch Oliver and Rodbender club member Dale Hill.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
QUITMAN COUNTY Cpl. BJ Foster performed compliance checks on turkey hunters throughout the county, citing three for hunting with an unplugged gun.
WEBSTER COUNTY Sgt. Butch Potter checked several baited areas for turkey hunting Saturday morning. One hunter was charged with hunting big game over bait.
STEWART COUNTY Cpl. Steve Robinson observed a vehicle parked near an area where he had previously found a ground blind baited with sunflower seeds. Robinson located the hunter and charged him with hunting big game over bait.
COLQUITT COUNTY Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey responded to a fishing without permission complaint near the Ellenton area and caught three subjects fishing without permission in a local pond.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On April 3rd, RFC Ben Roberts was conducting license checks on a Chickasawhatchee WMA quota turkey hunt when he encountered two hunters, an adult and his juvenile son, whom had just moved to Georgia from Japan. Neither hunter was drawn for the quota hunt. The adult, who was confused on what constituted a "quota hunt", was provided guidance on how the WMA quota hunt system operates.
On April 8th, RFC Roberts located another individual hunting on the Chickasawhatchee WMA quota turkey hunt that was not drawn for hunt. The individual received a citation for violation of WMA quota hunt.
BAKER/MITCHELL COUNTIES On April 9th, RFC David Brady and RFC Jon Penuel patrolled the Flint River. The Rangers encountered numerous boaters and fishermen during the patrol and documented several violations including, operating a vessel without PFD's and vessel registration issues.
THOMAS COUNTY On April 8th, RFC David Brady was conducting a late evening boating safety patrol of the Ochlocknee River. Ranger Brady encountered and arrested two subjects with outstanding warrants and for marijuana possession. He also issued several citations and warnings for other violations that he encountered including, littering, operating vessels without lights during hours of darkness, and vessel registration issues.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
CLINCH COUNTY On April 4th, RFC Jason Shipes received information from a concerned citizen about a possible marijuana-growing operation in a heavily wooded area. RFC Shipes and drug agents searched the wooded area and located 47 suspected marijuana plants. The plants were photographed and confiscated by the local drug task force due to their location. The street value of the confiscated marijuana at maturity was estimated at $211,000.
ECHOLS COUNTY Near midnight on April 4th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree received a call from Echols' Sheriff Randy Courson to help locate three teenagers that had failed to arrive at Mayday Beach on Howell Road at the scheduled time from a short boat trip on the Alapaha River. Last phone contact with the three had been at 9:30 PM and efforts to make further phone contact were unsuccessful. Sgt. Dupree learned from one of the teen's mother that all three were dressed in shorts and no shirts. A severe storm was forecast in a few hours that created a heightened concern due to the way the teens were dressed. River level conditions would not support a nighttime search by vessel due to the rock shoals throughout the stream. A helicopter would not be available until the next morning. Sgt. Dupree advised the family that he would drive to each private landing on one side of the river, sound his siren and listen for the teens. If no contact, he would do the same thing up the other side. Sgt. Dupree assisted by GSP Trooper Jeremy Kinsey heard the teens shouting for assistance at the first landing they visited, but the teens were on the opposite bank with no flashlight. The teens asked if they should swim across the swift river to the officers and were strongly advised to wait where they were. The officers traveled around to the other side and were able to get within a few hundred yards of the three by using Google Earth on Sgt. Dupree's BlackBerry. The teen's boat had been damaged on a rock and was taking on water when they heard the water rushing loudly at the next set of swift

rapids up ahead in the dark. They wisely decided not to attempt navigating them in their damaged boat without a light. They had already built a makeshift shelter when they heard Sgt. Dupree's siren. They were very relieved to hear & see the officers.
BULLOCH COUNTY On April 1st, Sgt. William Vickers and Corporal Eddie Akins checked several fishermen along a creek near Statesboro. They identified five individuals fishing without license. Two individuals were also given warnings for failure to carry life jackets while kayaking. Five persons were cited for fishing without license.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On April 8th, RFC Brandon Pierce along with Sgt. William Vickers responded to a call in reference to an overturned vessel in the Savannah River. The subject's boat turned over due to the anchor getting caught on an obstacle. The Sheriff's Office and Effingham Fire Department assisted the officers. The subject was removed from the water and brought safely to the landing in which he launched his vessel. The victim sustained no injuries and after loading his boat on the trailer he went to his home.
On April 9th, RFC Brandon Pierce patrolled river landings along the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers. A total of sixteen boats and four fishing licenses were inspected. As a result of the inspections three violations consisting of fishing without a license, operating a vessel with insufficient PFD, and operating a vessel without registration were documented.
EVANS COUNTY On April 2nd, RFC Debbie Brannen checked several turkey hunters. One violation was documented for hunting without a license.
On April 3rd, RFC Brannen patrolled the Evans P.F.A. Warnings were issued for operating a vessel without registration and operating a vessel with improper lifejackets.
On April 9th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked fishing and boating on the Evans County Public Fishing Area. 12 boats and 33 licenses were checked. Violations for fishing on a PFA without a WMA license, operating a vessel without PFD's, and operating a vessel without registration were issued.
On April 9th, RFC Brannen and Cpl. Dave Sims conducted a late afternoon and night patrol on the Evans Public fishing area. Verbal guidance was given for several violations.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On April 7th, RFC Barry Britt investigated a complaint of hunting without permission that occurred on April 3rd. RFC Britt secured an arrest warrant for hunting without permission and met the violator at the Jeff Davis County Jail where he was released on a $500 cash bond.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)