Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section Field Operations Weekly Report May 15-21, 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) BARTOW COUNTY On Monday, Sgt. Mike Barr, Sgt, Danny Crook, Cpl. Eric Brown, and RFC Byron Young held a training search and rescue event at the Stamp Creek Boat Ramp. The scenario involved a turkey hunter that had gone to the WMA by boat and had broken his leg in a remote area of the woods. The "victim" was located, given wilderness medical attention, and transported by boat to receive additional medical assistance. DNR maintains a Critical Action Team for response to such search and rescue events. COBB COUNTY On Friday, Sgt. Mike Barr, RFC Brooks Varnell and his K-9 "Rock" presented an agency awareness presentation to the graduating criminal justice class at Kennesaw State University. The presentation included a demonstration of "Rock's" ability to locate hidden wildlife parts along with his many other duties as a K-9 Officer. The graduating class was considering where they might join as a criminal justice professional and many showed interest in conservation law enforcement. On Saturday, Cpl. Chip Cox, RFC Brooks Varnell and his K-9 "Rock" patrolled a wakeboard event at Lake Allatoona and Dallas Beach. The event drew thousands of people watching professional wake-board participants in skiing competition. The Rangers made sure that the hundreds of viewers on the water by boat had proper safety gear and sober operators to get them home. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) STEPHENS COUNTY On May 18th, RFC Shane Sartor assisted the Stephens County Sheriff's Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms with a warrant on a property that had two working stills making distilled spirits. The ATF destroyed the stills and charges were made. WHITE COUNTY On May 21st, RFC Chad Chambers assisted the Chattahoochee bass club put on their annual handicapped fishing event at Anna Ruby Falls. They had approximately 45 fishermen participate in the event. On May 21st, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Wildlife technicians Eric Wood, Scott Bardenwerper, and David Shattuck manned the fishing simulator, BB guns, and archery events at the annual NWTF Jakes Day event at Smithgall Woods. HALL COUNTY On May 17th, RFC Eric Isom, Sgt. Mike Burgamy, and Captain Mark Padgett traveled to the Hall County Kiwanis International meeting. RFC Isom was awarded the John W. Jacobs, Sr. Memorial Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement. On May 18th, RFC Eric Isom, RFC Anne Alexander and Cpl. Adam Loudermilk participated in multi-agency training exercise on Lake Lanier. RFC Isom and Cpl. Loudermilk responded by patrol vessel and participated in the training exercise. On May 21st, RFC Eric Isom and K-9 Colt patrolled Lake Lanier by vessel. RFC Isom stopped several vessels after sunset for light violations. He was also able to distribute chemical lights to the operators so as they could reach their destination. RFC Isom also stopped a PWC that was operating on the lake at approximately 11:00 P.M. at night. On May 22nd, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Cpl. Eric Sanders, and RFC Mark Stephens worked on a fatal boating incident involving two PWC's that occurred on Lake Lanier the day before. FORSYTH COUNTY On May 21st, Sgt. Lee Brown and an Intern patrolled the Chattahoochee River for boating and fishing activity. They patrolled from Buford Dam to McGinnis Ferry Road. During the day a total of 24 fishermen were checked. Written warnings were issued for littering, fishing without a fishing license and fishing without a trout license. GWINNETT COUNTY On May 16th, Cpl. Eric Sander and an Intern answered a complaint received from RFC James Psillis. The complaint was for possession of turtles. Cpl. Sanders investigated the complaint and found the subjects at the resident to be in possession of box turtles. Verbal guidance was given and the turtles were released. Region III- Thomson (East Central) LINCOLN COUNTY On May 15th, Cpl Ryan Swain and RFC Robert Timmerman stopped a subject for reckless driving on Hwy 47. The subject was smoking marijuana and appeared to be impaired and Lincoln County Sheriff's Office was contacted. A LCSO Deputy responded to the scene. The subject was turned over to the Lincoln County Deputy for the traffic violations. COLUMBIA COUNTY On May 15th, Cpl Ryan Swain performed a concentrated patrol of Keg Creek on Clarks Hill Lake. Several subjects were cited for boating violations ranging from reckless operation to registration infractions. JEFFERSON COUNTY th On May 20 RFC Grant Matherly investigated a complaint of a subject possessing a raptor without a permit. When he arrived at the residence he tried to get someone to come to the front door. After not getting any one to the front door RFC Matherly knocked on the side door of the residence. While waiting to see if anyone would answer the door he noticed a red plastic cup sitting in the yard that had a marijuana plant growing out of it. RFC Matherly left the residence and went to acquire a search warrant. Later that evening RFC Matherly, RFC Jeff Billips and four local officers served the search warrant on the residence. While searching the residence the officers acquired one marijuana plant, some packaged marijuana, cocaine, and materials used to package and weigh the drugs for sale. All drug charges were turned over to the Wrens Police Department and one subject was arrested. No raptor was found to be on the property. WALTON COUNTY On Monday May 16, RFC Ricky Boles taught an I/E program at the Social Circle Elementary School. RFC Boles taught animal track identification and animal hide identification to seven groups totaling 175 Elementary School Students. GREENE COUNTY On Saturday May 21, CPL Derrell Worth, SGT John Harwell, and CPL David Allen assisted with the annual Global Eleven Tri-Athalon event at Parks Mill on Lake Oconee by enforcing a temporary no boating zone for the Tri-Athalon swimmers. CPL Derrell Worth also assisted with the kid's event the following day. Region IV- Macon (West Central) Region V- Albany (Southwest) CLAY COUNTY On May 14th, RFC Jim Atchley and RFC Bob Holley investigated a boating incident that occurred on Lake George Saturday night when a 27 foot "Fountain" powerboat broke loose from it's mooring on the Alabama side of the lake during the night, drifted east into Georgia waters and sunk. There were no injuries in the incident. MITCHELL COUNTY On May 11th, RFC Randy Davis responded to a complaint regarding unlawful burning. During his investigation one subject was issued a warning for unlawful burning and advised of the proper methods for disposing of household garbage. On May 13th, RFC Randy Davis responded to a complaint regarding unlawful dumping. After locating the responsible party, RFC Davis issued the subject a warning for unlawful dumping and advised him of the proper methods for disposing of debris. On May 15th, RFC Randy Davis investigated a litter/dumping violation located on a local county road. After a brief investigation, the violator was located, issued a warning for the violation, and required to clean up the dump site. On May 19th, after observing black smoke coming from a residence, RFC Randy Davis found a subject burning insulation from copper wire. The subject was arrested and transported to the Mitchell County jail for unlawful burning. DECATUR COUNTY On May 9, RFC Tony Cox responded to a complaint on a local private pond and cited 5 subjects for fishing without permission. GRADY COUNTY On May 12, Sgt. Rick Sellars conducted an educational program to the Boy Scouts in Whigham. The topic of the program consisted of hunting, fishing, and boating regulations along with the duties of a Conservation Ranger. DOUGHERTY COUNTY On Sunday May 8th, RFC Ben Roberts was patrolling Lake Worth when he encountered an impaired boat operator. The person was charged for Operating a vessel under the influence. On May 19th, RFC Ben Roberts conducted a boating safety program for a group of 25 Georgia Power Retirees in Dougherty County. On May 18th, Cpl. Scott Carroll and RFC Bob Holley represented the Department of Natural Resources in an Honor Guard detail recognizing fallen Law Enforcement officers from Albany and Dougherty County. This is an annual event in Albany and includes Honor Guard representation from seven agencies. WORTH COUNTY On Friday May 13th, Cpl. Robbie Griner, Cpl. Scott Carroll, RFC Al Greer and members of WRD Game Management and Fisheries staff conducted an outdoor education event for the Worth County Primary School. 250 children participated. LEE COUNTY On Friday May13th, RFC Randy James participated in a career day event at the Lee County High School. Interviews were conducted with students in the senior class. CALHOUN COUNTY On May 18th, RFC Ben Roberts completed an investigation generated by a landowner complaint involving illegal turkey hunting. After a lengthy investigation, which included assistance from investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, RFC Roberts obtained warrants for two non-residents for hunting without permission and hunting turkeys with an illegal weapon. RANDOLPH COUNTY On May 19th, RFC Bob Holley and his patrol dog Creek responded to a request for K-9 assistance from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office. The dog was utilized to track a subject who fled on foot into a wooded area as deputies were attempting to arrest him for outstanding child molestation warrants. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) BEN-HILL COUNTY On May 19th, RFC Tim Hutto assisted the Ben-Hill County Sheriff's Office with the annual C.H.A.M.P.S. safety day for over two hundred middle school students. Hutto taught nine programs consisting of ATV safety, boating safety, and hunting safety. WARE COUNTY On May 21st, Cpl. Damon Winters participated in the Ware County Public Safety Day event in Waycross. Citizens were able to view vehicles and equipment used by public safety agencies. Educational materials were handed out and questions from the public were fielded. Over one hundred citizens enjoyed the event. CLINCH COUNTY On May 17th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree responded to the scene of a bear-vehicle collision on GA177 near Stephen Foster State Park. The 400-plus pound bear had been struck late the night before by one of the forestry unit engines working the Okefenokee Swamp fire. Sgt. Dupree contacted an area taxidermist to mount the huge bear for educational display purposes. DODGE COUNTY On May 20th, Cpl. Johnny Ashe completed an investigation of two non-resident hunters who had been hunting in Georgia without appropriate licenses. The investigation showed that the two subjects had harvested four bucks from the southern end of Dodge County; neither hunter possessed a valid non-resident hunting license. After working with officers of Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission, the four deer were located at a taxidermist business in Florida. Cpl. Ashe interviewed the two hunters and confirmed that they had purchased GA resident licenses to keep from paying the high prices of a non-resident. He issued citations to the hunters for non-resident hunting with resident licenses and possession of illegally taken wildlife. Cpl. Ashe met with the FWC officer in Sanderson, Fla., to interview the taxidermist and to seize the deer racks as part of the evidence. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) GLYNN COUNTY On May 21st, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Chris Ridley and RFC Rebekah Huson participated in a joint boarding detail with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officers. During the detail, Officers boarded several vessels offshore and inshore. Three arrests were made for outstanding warrants, one Federal fisheries citation was issued for possession of Black Sea Bass in closed waters, and two citations issued for fishing without a license. On May 21st, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Jesse Cook, RFC Rebekah Huson, and Wildlife Tech Jay Drury checked the Altamaha Park for boating and fishing activity. Officers checked several vessels and fishermen and issued one citations for operating a vessel at night without lights. MCINTOSH COUNTY In the early morning hours of May 15, Cpl Jimmy Finn responded to boating incident on the Julienton River. The driver of the vessel had struck the marsh which caused all five people on the boat were thrown out into the marsh. The boat then made a U-turn in the river striking a dock on the opposite side. No one was injured; only property damage resulted from the incident. On May 18, Cpl Chris Ridley located a stolen vessel while doing a HIN inspection. The owner of the vessel had requested a ranger come out and complete a HIN inspection so he could register his vessel. The investigation continues on how the person obtained the stolen vessel. On May 21, Cpl Chris Ridley participated in a multi-agency exercise along the Georgia Coast. The exercise was designed to intercept vessels coming from off shore into Georgia with illegal narcotics, illegal immigrants, and other illegal activity. The exercise was conducted with state and federal agencies involved. WAYNE COUNTY On May 20, while on boating safety patrol from Williamsburg landing on the Altamaha River, Cpl Bobby White stopped a 14ft Jon Boat with two white males in it. The driver was screened for BUI and taken to the Wayne County Jail. The driver was cited for Boating under the Influence and operating a vessel without personal floatation equipment. LONG COUNTY On May 21, while checking a fishing without permission complaint in Morgan Lakes, Cpl White cited one person for fishing without permission.