Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section Field Operations Weekly Report June 5-11, 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 June 11th, RFC Byron Young was patrolling near the low head dam on the Etowah River and located 4 male subjects in possession of spear guns, goggles, and both nongame and game fish with wounds consistent with a spearhead. After further investigation one of the subjects admitted to shooting the game fish and was charged with illegally spearing game fish. CHEROKEE COUNTY On June 8th, RFC Byron Young and CPL. Shawn Elmore responded to a near fatal boat incident on Allatoona Lake in the area of Victoria Marina. The incident involved a bass boat and ski boat that collided at approximately 11:30 p.m. The cause of the incident is being investigated. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) HART COUNTY On June 11th, RFC Josh Chambers responded to a complaint about an illegal burn. Chambers issued one citation. FRANKLIN COUNTY On June 11th, RFC Tim Vickery and Cpl. Bill Bunch patrolled Lake Hartwell. Several citations and warnings were issued for failure to obey regulatory marker and violation of the 100-foot law. HALL COUNTY On June 5th, Cpl. Jason Roberson and RFC Eric Isom patrolled Lake Lanier. One subject was arrested for boating under the influence. On June 9th, RFC Mark Stephens responded to a drowning on Lake Lanier. The subject was located in the water near the dock he was believed to have been fishing from several days earlier. On June 10th, Cpl Adam Loudermilk and RFC Mitchell Crump patrolled Lake Lanier for fishing and boating activity. They issued several citations and warnings for various violations. On June 11th, Cpl. Jason Roberson and RFC Mark Stephens patrolled Lake Lanier. They worked three boating accidents and arrested one of the operators for boating under the influence. FORSYTH COUNTY On June 7th, RFC Mitchell Crump conducted an I & E program for the Forsyth County Park and Recreation Department. This program was on duties of a ranger and boating safety. Region III- Thomson (East Central) RICHMOND COUNTY On June 7, Honor Guard members Cpl. Ben Payne, Cpl. Scott Carroll, and RFC Clint Jarriel represented the Department for a funeral detail in Hinesville Georgia. The funeral was for retired Chief Ogden Long. The Honor Guard folded the flag at the burial site and met with family. On June 8, Cpl. Ben Payne responded to a fire spotted in south Richmond County. When he arrived he could see that tires were burning along with the surrounding woods. Hephzibah Fire Department was on site to put out the fire. The start of the fire is unknown at this time, but is still under investigation. Other suspicious fires have been documented in the area. ELBERT COUNTY On Sunday June 5, Cpl. Greg Colson and RFC Eddie Tompkins responded to assist South Carolina DNR with a drowning on Lake Richard B. Russell. Four men had climbed onto the train trestle crossing the main lake and jumped. One subject did not surface after hitting the water. Divers were brought in and the body was recovered in approximately 80 feet of water. WILKES COUNTY On Thursday June 9, Cpl. Greg Colson taught a boating safety course in Washington. The course teaches students about proper boating practices and laws. LINCOLN COUNTY On June 11th, Cpl. Ryan Swain and RFC Eddie Tompkins arrested one subject in Soap Creek for Boating under the Influence. On June 11th 2011, Cpl Brian Hobbins and RFC Brian Adams arrested one subject for Driving under the Influence on Hwy 220. GREENE COUNTY/LAKE OCONEE On June 10th and 11,th Sgt. Harwell, Cpl. Worth and RFC Boles patrolled Lake Oconee, Citations were issued for towing a skier after hours, Operating a PWC within 100ft. of a fixed object and failure to obey regulatory marker. Cpl. Worth cited one subject for boating under the influence and child endangerment. The subject had three children in the vessel under the age of 14. Region IV- Macon (West Central) BUTTS COUNTY On June 11th, while on patrol, RFC Wil Smith found a vehicle parked near a piece of property for which he had previously received a Landowner's Affidavit - the affidavit stated that no one had permission to hunt or fish upon the property. RFC Smith approached a pond located on the property and observed two subjects fishing. Upon questioning the subjects, the officer determined that they did not have permission to there. When asked why they were there, one subject stated, "I didn't know it was private property and I've been fishing out here for a while." Both subjects were charged with fishing without permission. HARRIS COUNTY On June 9th RFC Jeremy Bolen received a phone call from Harris County 911 in regards to a vehicle accident involving a black bear. RFC Bolen responded to the location and confirmed that it was indeed a black bear, which is rare for the area. Later in the day RFC Bolen performed 2 Information and Education programs to different television stations from Columbus. The programs covered habitat and behavior patterns for black bears. On June 11th RFC Mitch Oliver was patrolling Lake Harding when he observed a boat being operated after sunset without navigational lights. RFC Oliver stopped the vessel to speak with the operator about the violation and to conduct a safety inspection. From the onset of the stop, it was apparent that the operator had been consuming alcoholic beverages and he admitted to doing so when asked. The boat operator was put through a series of field sobriety exercises which he failed. He was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence, child endangerment, and operating a vessel at night without lights. Later that same evening, Oliver stopped another vessel for use of improper lights. The boat operator was using his docking lights as head lights which is a violation of state law. During the conversation with the operator, it was apparent that he had been drinking alcohol and he admitted to drinking several beers. The operator could barely keep his balance when standing and had difficulty putting on a PFD when asked to do so. RFC Oliver administered field sobriety exercises to the operator and the operator failed. He was placed under arrest for operating a vessel under the influence and operating a vessel with improper lights. MUSCOGEE COUNTY On June 10th RFC Mitch Oliver and RFC Jeremy Bolen concluded an investigation that had been ongoing since Labor Day Weekend of 2010. The officers had apprehended three subjects who were diving in the Chattahoochee River in Columbus and removing cultural resources from the river bottom. All of the evidence that the officers had collected had to be sent to the state archeologist to be cataloged, cleaned, and researched to determine the age of the resources. It was finally determined that the majority of the items were of greater age than 50 years old and were indeed cultural resources belonging to the State of Georgia. RFC Oliver met with the Muscogee County Solicitor and it was decided that the three would be charged with the violation of removing or interfering with underwater cultural resources. PULASKI COUNTY On June 11th RFC Tim Butler saw a group of men swimming in the Ocmulgee River with a cooler of beer. He further observed one of the men sink his beer can in the river. The subject who sank the beer can was issued a citation for littering. UPSON COUNTY On June 11th Cpl. Susan Morris, working with Game Management Technicians Ronnie Beard and Nick Holbrooks, patrolled Sprewell Bluff State Park and Big Lazar WMA at the Flint River for illegal activity. From a covert position near Pobiddy Bridge and the WMA boat ramp, officers staked out a location where people liked to gather. There, they observed several people drinking alcohol and littering. After watching for a short time, one of the officers returned to his truck, which had been hidden in the woods, and drove to the location. As he approached, the other officers watched as people scurried to hide their beer. Citations were issued for illegal consumption of alcohol on a WMA, littering, and underage persons in possession of alcohol. Region V- Albany (Southwest) BROOKS COUNTY On June 7th, RFC Jon Penuel responded to a call for assistance from a Brooks County Deputy. As the deputy attempted to contact two subjects fishing along the edge of the roadway, the subjects tried to elude the deputy by hiding in tall brush, as well as throwing their fishing rods into the creek. After interviewing both subjects, RFC Penuel charged them with fishing without a license. CALHOUN COUNTY On June 9th, while conducting a patrol during a special hog hunt on Chickasawhatchee WMA, RFC Randy Davis checked and issued warnings to four hunters for hunting hogs without wearing fluorescent orange and hunting without a license. CRISP COUNTY On June 11th, Sgt. Wade Law and Cpl. Tommy Lawrence were conducting a boating patrol on Lake Blackshear when they stopped a jet ski for a lifejacket violation. During the stop, the operator was found to be in possession of marijuana and arrested. The14 year old passenger was released to his guardian. On June 10th, RFC Harold Hill investigated a boating/skiing incident when a skier was struck by a kneeboard causing lacerations and a possible broken nose. The subject was transported to Crisp Regional Hospital and treated for his injuries. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) LAURENS COUNTY On June 6th, at 11:00pm, RFC Barry Britt assisted Laurens County Sheriff's Office in a search for a missing/lost adult female on the Oconee River between Turkey Creek landing and Shady Field landing. The female subject had been floating down the river with 3 other people when around 7:30pm she attempted to walk through the woods to the road to get home. She was safely located June 7th around 3:50am by local search and rescue personnel on the east side of the river approximately a half mile from Rock Springs subdivision. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) BRYAN COUNTY On May 29th, RFC Jack Thain, Cpl. Phillip Scott, Cpl. Jay Morgan and Sgt. James Shelton patrolled the Richmond Hill WMA shooting range throughout the day due to complaints about range rules violations and misuse of the range. Three persons were cited for violations of range rules. On May 29th, Cpl. Morgan and Sgt. Shelton patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area. No violations were found. On May 30th, the Richmond Hill WMA shooting range was patrolled by the rangers with no violations found. On May 30th, Cpl. Morgan and Sgt. Shelton patrolled from St. Catherine's Sound to the Strathy Hall area on the Ogeechee River. No violations were found. On June 4th, Cpl. Morgan assisted the Fisheries Section with the Kids Fishing Event at the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery. LIBERTY COUNTY On May 29th, RFC Jack Thain and Cpl. Phillip Scott patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound to Sunbury area. One boater was cited for operating without lights during hours of darkness. On May 30th, RFC Thain and Cpl. Scott patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area. One person was cited for riding on the bow of a boat without a retaining device (rail). Another person was cited for allowing a 15 year old to operate PWC without adult supervision and without a registration. CHATHAM COUNTY On May 29th, Cpl. Cindy Miller and Intern James Medler worked Tybee Island area of Chatham County for the Memorial Day weekend. Cpl. Miller stopped a boat in Lazaretto Creek with five individuals who had been fishing. Cpl. Miller measured the fish on board and found 38 undersized black sea bass. All five individuals were cited for possession of undersized fish. CAMDEN COUNTY On the night of May 29th, RFC Craig Smith was patrolling Crooked River and the ICW for vessels without navigation lights. During the patrol, RFC Smith observed a very dim light next to the marsh. After making his way to the light, RFC Smith discovered two Kayakers that had gotten lost and were not equipped to be on the water after dark. RFC Smith loaded both subjects in his vessel and returned them to Crooked River State Park boat ramp. BRANTLEY COUNTY On Saturday night, June 4th, Sgt. Chris Hodge and RFC Craig Smith assisted the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the Brantley County Sheriff's Office with road checks throughout the County.