Field operations weekly report, 2011 July 24-30

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report July 24-30, 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 July 28th, Cpl. Lee Burns worked a section of the lower Etowah River at the low-head dam. The landowner had previously completed an affidavit to prosecute people found fishing or hunting without permission. This property is known for its active illegal activity, including a recent homicide. Cpl. Burns located a truck parked at one of the barricades and patrolled onto the property to locate the persons. A young man and his girlfriend from Paulding County were found fishing from the bank at the spillway dam. Cpl. Burns explained the circumstances concerning the property and issued citations for fishing without permission. On July 29th, Cpl. Lee Burns and Cpl. Chip Cox responded to a call from Bartow County 911 of a missing swimmer in Lake Allatoona near the entrance to Clark Creek at McKinney Campground. Sgt. Mike Barr contacted the Corp of Engineers who also sent a boat to the area. Cpl. Burns and Cpl. Cox received information that a 35-year-old man was swimming with his uncle when he went down and was not seen again. The Rangers used the side scan sonar to locate the body in 12 feet of water and the Bartow County Dive Team completed the recovery.
FULTON COUNTY On July 30th, 2011 RFC James Psillis and RFC Chad Cox in coordination with National Park Service Rangers, Sandy Springs Police and Fire and Cobb County fire patrolled the Chattahoochee River during the 4th Annual Summer Splash. Over 750 people floated the Chattahoochee River from Morgan Falls to Paces Mill.
MURRAY COUNTY On July 24th, Cpl. James Keener, RFC Cody Jones, Technician Larry Ethridge, and Technician Joe Hill assisted four U.S. Forest Service Officers with an undercover detail on Holly Creek on Cohutta WMA. DNR and Forest Service Officers issued 16 citations and 5 warnings for offenses including possession of marijuana, littering, and fishing by

illegal methods, fishing license violations, public indecency, and violation of forest service rules.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On Friday July 29, Cpl. Julian Wilkins assisted the Georgia State Patrol Reconstruction Team reconstruct an accident that involved a four-wheeler. A subject had been killed while riding a four-wheeler on the road and Cpl. Wilkins assisted them with the fourwheeler operation.
MORGAN COUNTY On Sunday July 24, RFC Ricky Boles and Nikki Spencer were traveling on Hwy 278 in Morgan County. RFC Boles and Spencer heard a 911 dispatch of a traffic accident with injuries near their location. RFC Boles and Spencer were the first to arrive at the scene and observed that a small compact car left the roadway and hit a tree. The Rangers tried to assist the driver, who was entrapped in the vehicle. Several minutes later, EMS personnel arrived at the scene and freed the driver. RFC Boles and Spencer stayed and assisted Trooper Screws from the Georgia State Patrol. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
LINCOLN COUNTY On July 30th, Cpl Ryan Swain responded to an alligator complaint off of CE Norman Road in Lincolnton. The owner of a residence with a pond shot the six-foot alligator when it approached his son, who was fishing at the time. No charges have been filed as of now. The alligator was seized and taken to a state certified alligator trapper.
On July 30th, Cpl Ryan Swain and RFC Robert Timmerman handled a complaint involving the sale of game fish. Upon arrival at a residence off of Hwy 220 West in Lincolnton, it was discovered that the owners of the residence were draining a pond and were selling game fish. The subjects were informed that they needed a Pond Draining Permit and that they were in violation of the law. Cpl Swain obtained a permit for the subjects via telephone and advised them the proper way to package the fish when each individual sale was made. Verbal warnings were given
COLUMBIA COUNTY On July 30th, RFC Robert Timmerman and Cpl Ryan Swain finalized a marine theft investigation in Harlem. The vessel in question was given a HIN and proper vessel inspection by the rangers.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
BAKER COUNTY On July 29th, RFC David Brady responded to a call for assistance from the Baker County Sheriff's office regarding a drowning. Upon arrival, RFC Brady assisted Sheriff's office personnel and EMTs with the body recovery.
On July 30th, RFC David Brady assisted with the 2nd Annual Poker Float and Raft Race hosted by the Georgia Sheriffs Association.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On July 24th, RFC Ben Roberts responded to a complaint of two jet skis operating above idle speed in a no wake zone. RFC Roberts located and observed both vessel operators violate a no wake zone, after which they were charged with failure to obey regulatory markers. One operator was also found to be impaired from alcohol consumption and was arrested and charged for boating under the influence.
On Saturday July 30th, RFC Randy James and SGT Danny Bishop responded to a sunken vessel call at Cox boat ramp in Dougherty County. With assistance from the Lee County SAR dive team the vessel was recovered and returned to owner who escaped the incident without injury.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
APPLING COUNTY On July 23rd and 24th, RFC Chase Altman conducted a special detail on Moody Forest WMA for illegal use of ATV's on the trails. With assistance from Tech II Mark Pool, the WMA was patrolled resulting in 5 citations being issued for ATV use on the WMA. Verbal guidance was given to juveniles stopped on the trails.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
LIBERTY COUNTY On July 24th, Sgt. James Shelton and RFC Jack Thain patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area. One fisherman was cited for possession of an undersized shark and for having its head/fins removed while at sea. He was also cited for improper boat registration. Another boater was cited for feeding dolphins.
CHATHAM COUNTY On July 23, RFC Buster Cooper, Corporal Bill Bryson, and interns James Medler and Charlie Follin, were on salt water patrol near the Thunderbolt Idle speed zone. The Rangers observed a vessel towing a skier without a life jacket or an observer or wide angle mirror. The operator of the vessel was cited for these violations. The operator of

the vessel was wanted out Greenville, NC and was taken into custody. The Savannah Metro Police Department transported the subject to the Chatham County Jail.
LONG COUNTY On July 30, Sgt Bob Lynn and Cpl Chris Ridley worked boating traffic on the Altamaha River at night. Four boats were checked. Numerous violations were detected including operating a vessel at night without navigation lights, operating a vessel with insufficient PFDs, fishing without a license, operating a vessel without a throwable device, and operating a vessel without a fire extinguisher. Violators were cited for the offences.