Field operations weekly report, 2011 August 7-13

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report August 7-13, 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)
FULTON COUNTY On August 18th through the 21st, 2011 RFC James Psillis assisted the Johns Creek Police Department with patrolling the Chattahoochee River during the 93rd Annual P.G.A. Championship held at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
RABUN COUNTY On Saturday night August the 6th, while Corporal Derek Dillard and Rabun County Deputy Kevin Woodard were patrolling Lake Burton by boat they stopped a Pontoon Boat because it was missing one of its navigation lights. While speaking to the occupants of the boat, Corporal Dillard noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the boat and also saw that the occupants and operator had opened beer cans around them. Upon further investigation, one of the occupants gave Corporal Dillard a bag of marijuana and a pipe used to smoke it with and said that it was his. That occupant was arrested and charged with simple possession of marijuana. The operator of the boat was given some field sobriety exercises which he passed and released with a citation for operating a vessel with improper lights. Rabun County
On Friday August 12th, while Corporal Derek Dillard and RFC Chad Chambers were patrolling the Betty's Creek Road and Patterson Gap Road areas looking for people training bear dogs to run bears, they checked several hunters who had the required licenses. However, they checked 2 subjects from North Carolina who did not have the required Big-Game License, WMA License, and had not signed in at one of the required WMA's. Furthermore, one of the hunters didn't have a hunting license. Both subjects were issued written warnings for training bear dogs without a big game license, without a WMA license, and failure to sign in to run bear dogs on USFS property at one of the required WMA's. The subject that didn't have a hunting license was written a citation for training dogs without a license. It was made clear to everyone they checked to make sure all other people in their hunting parties knew what licenses to have to train bear dogs.
DAWSON COUNTY On August 8th, Cpl. Freddie Hays was patrolling Dawson Forest WMA at the Edge of the World. He observed several subjects that were consuming alcohol. He made contact with the subjects and determined that several of the subjects were also underage consuming the alcohol. Citations and warnings were issued for illegal consumption of alcohol on a WMA and possession of alcohol by an underage person.
On August 13th, RFC Mitchell Crump and RFC Eric Isom were patrolling Lake Lanier for boating and fishing activity. The rangers encountered violations of towing a skier without an observer, operating a vessel with improper lights and operating a vessel with

improper registration displayed and operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's. Citations and warnings were issued for these infractions.
FORSYTH COUNTY On August 13th, Sgt. Lee Brown and Cpl. Eric Sanders patrolled Lake Lanier for boating and fishing activity. The rangers encountered violations of towing a skier on a PWC without an observer, towing skiers after hours, operating a PWC after hours (two different ones), operating a vessel without registration numbers displayed and operating a vessel with improper lights. Citations and warnings were issued for these infractions.
Later that evening as Sgt. Brown and Cpl. Sanders were concluding their lake patrol when the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office called to advise the rangers of a lost boater who was stranded on a sand bar. Sgt. Brown and Cpl. Sanders responded to Charleston Park Boat ramp to meet with the fiance of the lost boater while Cpl. Jason Roberson and RFC Mark Stephens responded to the area by boat. Sgt. Brown made contact with the lost boater and was able to direct Cpl. Roberson and RFC Stephens to their location. After they made contact with the boater and secured the boat it was determined that the subject was under the influence of alcohol. The subject was arrested for boating under the influence of alcohol
HALL COUNTY On August 7th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and Cpl. Freddie Hays were patrolling Lake Lanier for boating and fishing activity. The rangers answered a complaint of skiing in a "No Ski Zone." The rangers made contact with the vessel and issued a citation for the infraction. The rangers also encountered a PWC towing a skier without an observer and a citation was issued for this infraction also.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On August 9th, Cpl. Freddie Hays and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling Chestatee WMA at Dicks Creek. The rangers checked several fishermen. The rangers encountered violations of fishing without a fishing license and fishing without a trout license. Citations and warnings were issued for these infractions.
On August 12th, Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Eric Sanders, RFC Mitchell Crump, RFC Eric Isom with K-9 Colt, Wildlife Tech IV Scott Bardenwerper, Wildlife Tech III Frank Manning and Wildlife Tech II Brandon Walls assisted with a road check on Chestatee WMA that was set up by the Georgia State Patrol. Also assisting with the road check was the U. S. Forest Service and the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office. During the road check one arrest was made for DUI, two open container citations, one subject arrested on an outstanding warrant from Forsyth County and several warnings for equipment violations.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
LINCOLN COUNTY On August 11th, Cpl Ryan Swain performed a concentrated patrol of the Elijah Clark area of Clarks Hill Lake. Several subjects were warned for various violations on Department owned property.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On August 14th, RFC Robert Timmerman patrolled the Savannah River and Little River on Clarks Hill Lake. RFC Timmerman detected several boating violations in the Keg Creek area.
WARREN COUNTY On August 14th, RFC Brian Adams handled a complaint dealing with ATVs and Criminal Trespass on Private Property.
ELBERT COUNTY On Tuesday August 9, Cpl. Greg Colson performed wild animal permit inspections in Oglethorpe and Clarke Counties. Permits inspected were for Dromedary Camels, Dik Diks, and numerous other animals.
On Saturday August 13, Cpl. Julian Wilkins and Cpl. Greg Colson assisted with a triathlon that was hosted at Richard B. Russell State Park.
Greene County, Lake Oconee On August 13 CPL Derrell Worth and CPL David Allen assisted with the third annual cardboard boat regatta at Lake Oconee. CPL Worth assisted several participants by helping them get out of the water when a lightning storm moved quickly into the area with the aid of a PWC donated to the event by Boats With Gusto.
On August 14, CPL Derrell Worth and SGT John Harwell patrolled Lake Oconee. During their patrol, numerous citations were issued for towing skier without PFD's, 100' violations, and operating vessels with insufficient PFD's.
On August 14, CPL David Allen and RFC Ricky Boles responded to a boating incident on Lake Oconee. There were no injuries in the incident and the damage to the vessels was minimum.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
STEWART COUNTY On August 13th, RFC Bob Holley, RFC Ben Roberts, Cpl. BJ Foster and Sgt. Ellis Wynn conducted patrols to address illegal alligator hunting occurring along the Chattahoochee

River and within the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. At approximately 11 pm RFC Holley and Sgt. Wynn observed a boat occupied by three occupants hunting within the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. The boat was stopped and after a brief investigation all three occupants were charged with hunting alligators out of season and violation of Refuge regulations. Two of the subjects were also charged with possession of marijuana and one of these was also charged for hunting under the influence.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
DODGE COUNTY On August 13th, RFC James McLaughlin conducted a late night patrol of Dodge County PFA. RFC McLaughlin noticed two vehicles parked in the parking lot. Utilizing night vision equipment, he was able to locate the individuals on the other side of the lake. RFC McLaughlin watched the individuals for a few minutes until they started to pack up and leave. RFC McLaughlin identified himself and apprehended them. Cpl. Dan Stiles was called to assist RFC McLaughlin. Citations were issued to six of the individuals for illegal consumption of alcohol on a PFA. Two were charged with underage consumption of alcohol and one was charged with fishing on a PFA after sunset.
LOWNDES COUNTY On August 13th, Cpl. Morty Wood and RFC Tim Hutto conducted I&E's at the Jakes Day event held at the Quail Branch Lodge in Lake Park. The rangers operated the Laser Shot system, gave speeches on Hunter Education classes & requirements, Ranger's duties, hunting laws & law changes, and conducted a demonstration with K-9 Gauge.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
LIBERTY COUNTY On Aug. 11th, Cpl. Jay Morgan presented three boating safety Information and Education programs at Ft. Stewart Military Base for their Battalion Safety Day for over 500 soldiers.
OFFSHORE/FEDERAL WATERS On Aug. 13th, Sgt. James Shelton and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the Grays Reef Marine Sanctuary checking nine boats. No violations were found.
CHATHAM COUNTY On August 13, 2011 RFC Buster Cooper, Cpl. Cindy Miller, and Sgt. Tim Vincent were patrolling offshore waters as a part of the Joint Enforcement Agreement between Georgia and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The rangers checked a bottom long line commercial shark boat. The appropriate licenses and permits were checked and the boat was in compliance.

WAYNE COUNTY On August 11, 2011 RFC Randy Aspinwall was in the Wayne County 911 Center when a call came in of a kidnapping. It occurred only a couple blocks from where he was at. As he responded to the area additional information came out that the estranged husband had threatened to kill his wife and her entire family. Within 5 minutes Aspinwall had located the truck and made a vehicle stop. He got the male out of the driver's seat and placed him in handcuffs. The female was unhurt. The husband was turned over to the Jesup Police Dept. where he was charged with kidnapping and battery.
LONG COUNTY On August 13, 2011 RFC Randy Aspinwall was patrolling the Townsend WMA Buck Island Tract due to receiving information of some illegal hog hunting going on. He found a truck parked at a location and it had unloaded a 4-wheeler. The tracks lead into the swamp. Aspinwall tracked the 4-wheeler for about a mile into the swamp. He heard it approaching him. Just as it got to him the 4-wheeler stopped and Aspinwall watched as the subject got off of the 4-wheeler and threw corn onto the ground. Aspinwall then approached the subject and asked him what he was doing. The subject told him that he was baiting hogs. Aspinwall told him it was illegal to hunt anything on a WMA over bait and it was also illegal to pour any bait out on a WMA. The subject was written citations for placing bait on a WMA and illegal use of an ATV on a WMA.

GLYNN COUNTY On August 11-13 Sgt Mark Carson, Cpl Chris Ridley, Cpl Wayne Hubbard, Cpl Jimmy Finn, and Cpl Billy Reed work the Golden Isles King Fish Classic tournament. These rangers worked the Captains meeting, the blast off, and the weigh in. During the tournament, Gray's Reef Nation Marine Sanctuary was patrolled for compliance of sanctuary regulations.
On August 13th, RFC Rebekah Huson responded to a call from the Coast Guard regarding a vessel with three occupants on board that had possibly run aground near the Golden Isles Marina. RFC Huson and the Coast Guard responded to the area and the vessel was gone on arrival
On August 13th, Captain Doug Lewis, Sgt. Mark Carson, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl Chris Ridley, Cpl Wayne Hubbard, Cpl Jimmy Finn, Cpl Billy Reed, and RFC Rebekah Huson assist the Jekyll Island Authority and the Georgia State Patrol in the 28th annual Beach Music Festival on Jekyll Island.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On August 8th, Sgt Bob Lynn, Cpl Jimmy Finn, Cpl Chris Ridley, Cpl Wayne Hubbard, and RFC Randy Aspinwall searched for 2 missing/overdue boaters in McIntosh County. A guy and girl (Unknown names) were in a 17' silver Bass Tracker. At 4:00pm on August 7th they were seen leaving a dock and heading back to the Bellville Boat Ramp at Pelican Point. No one had seen them since. The truck and trailer is still at the boat ramp. McIntosh SO started a search for them on August 8th. Coast Guard and DNR LE were notified at 1:oopm on August 8th. Region VII rangers searched the area by boat and helicopter (Captain Ed Watkins). The Coast Guard searched as well with boats and helicopters. The boat was located by a Good Samaritan at the C buoy approximately 25 miles away. A Coast Guard helicopter and boat went to tow them back in. They were not hurt in the incident.