Field operations weekly report, 2011 September 18-24

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report September 18-24
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 September 14th, Cpl. Lee Burns patrolled Pine Log WMA and checked three fishermen on Neel Lake. Cpl. Burns charged one for fishing w/o a license and one with possession of illegal size fish. The group told Cpl. Burns a man just left with about twenty undersize bass and he would be back in the morning to catch more.
On September 15th, Cpl. Lee Burns returned to Neel Lake to follow up on the over the limit of undersize bass complaint. Cpl. Burns approached Neel Lake and noticed a male sitting in a truck. Cpl. Burns eased up to the vehicle and noticed the subject sitting behind the wheel drinking a Bud Lite and the bed of the truck had three rod and reels rigged with bass lures. There was also a small cooler in the passenger's seat. Cpl. Burns advised the subject that being intoxicated on a WMA was a violation. Cpl. Burns asked the subject to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety test. Being borderline for intoxicated on a WMA; Cpl. Burns opted to leave and return later to check this subject after he had fished for a while. After about thirty minutes, Cpl. Burns returned to see the vehicle was gone. Cpl. Burns continued out the WMA road and caught up with the driver as he left the WMA onto a county road. Cpl. Burns followed the subject for a few miles and noticed him weaving; he also nearly stopped at a bridge before crossing. Cpl. Burns stopped the vehicle on Hwy. 411 and arrested him for DUI.
On September 23rd, Capt. Carroll Chastain contacted Cpl. Lee Burns in reference to a complaint from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency about a hunter returning to Georgia from Colorado with the complete head of an elk. Cpl. Burns located the subject's residence, but he was already headed to the taxidermist with the head; he was asked to return with the elk head. Cpl. Burns took pictures of the complete head and cited subject for illegal transportation of cervid carcass from CWD positive State.
COBB COUNTY On September 21st, Cpl. Lee Burns and intern Sarah Miller were patrolling Cherokee County for deer bait. Sgt. Mike Barr called in reference to an in progress hunting w/o permission complaint near Allatoona Lake. Cpl. Burns and Sarah walked in and heard what sounded like a bow being shot. About a quarter mile in, they witnessed a hunter jump up and take off; Cpl. Burns advised Sarah to hang tight and took chase. After about a hundred-yard chase, Cpl. Burns caught the subject and led him out to the awaiting Cobb County Police. Cpl. Burns and Sarah returned to the woods to locate evidence of hunting; a loaded crossbow was located. Subject was arrested and charged for obstruction of a police officer, hunting w/o a license, hunting w/o a big game license and hunting w/o permission.

Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
JACKSON COUNTY On September 24th, RFC Eric Isom, Cpl. Jason Roberson, and Sgt. Mike Burgamy participated in shooting event at Pond Forks Baptist Church. The event consisted in archery, skeet, .22 Cal. Rifles, and pellet pistols. The Rangers also had a shooting simulator setup for the public. Approximately 75 people participated in the events activities.
BANKS COUNTY On September 25th, RFC Eric Isom participated in a program hosted by Commerce WalMart. RFC Isom assisted the public on the functions of the DNR and answered general questions from the public.
DAWSON COUNTY On September 24th, Cpl. Freddie Hays was patrolling Dawson Forest WMA at the Devil's Elbow. He encountered several consuming alcohol. Written warnings were issued for illegal consumption of alcohol on a WMA.
FORSYTH COUNTY On September 24th, Cpl. Freddie Hays attended the Outdoor Adventure Day Event at Lower Pool on The Chattahoochee River. Cpl. Hays answered questions and represented the Law Enforcement Section at this event.
GWINNETT COUNTY On September 18th, Sgt. Lee Brown and Cpl. Eddie Tompkins were patrolling the Chattahoochee River for boating and fishing violations. The Rangers were checking fishing licenses. They observed four subjects fishing. After talking with the subjects they found that none of them had fishing or a trout license and they were all fishing with illegal bait. Citations and warnings were issued for fishing without a license, fishing without a trout license and fishing with illegal bait.
On September 19th, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins received a call from Gwinnett County P.D. that they had a unit out with some subjects that were hunting illegally. When Cpl. Tompkins arrived on the scene he found that the Gwinnett County P.D. unit on the scene had one subject in custody. Two other subjects had fled the scene before the Gwinnett County unit arrived. The subject in custody was arrested for hunting without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife (two small bucks.) Cpl. Tompkins found out who the other two subjects were and met them on September 21st. They were arrested for hunting without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife. One of the subjects was also charged with hunting without a license and hunting without a big game license.
On September 20th, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins and Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an Online Hunter Education class the Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. A total of 25 students were certified during this class.

LUMPKIN COUNTY On September 20th, RFC Mitchell Crump conducted an Online Hunter Education class at the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office. A total of 23 students were certified during this class.
FRANKLIN COUNTY On Thursday September 22nd, Ranger First Class Tim Vickery assisted the Georgia State Patrol and Lavonia Police Department with the apprehension of one of three men wanted for armed robbery at a local credit union. At approximately 2:45 p.m. a BOLO was sent from Franklin County dispatch about three men in a white pick-up truck that had just been involved in an armed robbery of a credit union on Hwy 17 in Lavonia. Shortly thereafter, a Georgia State Patrol Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the occupants jumped out of the truck and fled on foot through the woods. RFC Vickery was close by and went to assist the Trooper. When he got there, the Lavonia Police Department and Franklin County Sheriff's Deputies were already there. RFC Vickery was directed to a back street near a trailer park to try and contain the suspects in a small block of woods while Troopers and deputies waited on a canine unit. About twenty minutes after arriving at the trailer park, RFC Vickery and another officer with the Motor Carrier Compliance Division heard the dog and other officers on a sewer line just below them yelling at one of the suspects to come out of the woods. RFC Vickery went around to the other side of the thick brush the suspect was hiding in to make sure he did not run out of the brush and escape back into the woods. Officers with the Georgia State Patrol and Motor Carrier Compliance Division handcuffed the suspect and took him to the Lavonia Police Department. RFC Vickery then assisted with roadblocks outside Lavonia while other canine units attempted to locate the other two suspects.
Wildlife Technicians from Region II set up and participated in the annual Outdoor Adventure Day at Unicoi State Park. Technicians continue to respond to numerous bear complaints and tag legally harvested bears. Frank Manning assisted the city of Helen with a bear that died in a tree in the city limits.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On Tuesday September 20, Cpl. Julian Wilkins caught 3 subjects stealing copper from a house in Elbert County. They were stripping copper wiring from an old house. The driver of the vehicle was driving on a suspended license.
On Friday September 23, Cpl. Greg Colson assisted a landowner with preparing a dove field. The subject wanted to know if and how he could legally hunt over planted wheat. Cpl. Colson explained how to ensure that the field was legal for the next dove season.

WILKES COUNTY On Thursday September 22 thru Sunday September 25, Sgt. Brian Carter and Wildlife Tech. Mark Patterson worked a managed deer hunt on Clarks Hill WMA. Several violations were addressed to ensure that all participants were hunting safely.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On Saturday September 24, Cpl. Julian Wilkins made contact with a subject that had been holding a goose in a pen behind her house. The subject was instructed to release the goose.
GREENE COUNTY On September 24, Cpl. David Allen patrolled Redlands WMA. Cpl. Allen checked three archery hunters and fishing licenses at Dyar's Pasture. No violations were observed.
On September 25, Sgt. John Harwell and RFC Richard Tanner patrolled Lake Oconee checking boating and fishing activity.
On September 25, Cpl. David Allen assisted the Greene County Sheriff's Office. Cpl. Allen responded to vehicle wrecks on I-20 during a severe thunderstorm and gathered information for the deputies to complete their reports.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On September 24th-25th, Sgt Doyte Chaffin, RFC Robert Timmerman, and RFC Leroy Ficklin assisted the Game Management Section with a modern rifle hunt on Clarks Hill WMA. Three Hundred hunters participated in the event and around 30 deer were harvested. No major violations were detected.
On September 24th, RFC Leroy Ficklin assisted the McDuffie PFA with their annual Kid's Fishing Event. RFC Ficklin set up the Laser Shot System for the children to use.
LINCOLN COUNTY On September 24th, Cpl Ryan Swain assisted Parks Division with an I and E program at Elijah Clark State Park. It was the parks annual Kids Fun and Fish Fest. Cpl. Swain talked to the children about boating and water safety while using various PFDs and DNR patrol vessels. One hundred children participated in the event along with their parents.
BURKE COUNTY On September 21, RFC Jeffrey Billips patrolled Yuchi WMA and Georgia Power property. RFC Billips checked an illegal artifact digging complaint and an ongoing trespassing complaint.
On September 23rd, RFC Jeff Billips investigated a trespassing complaint and the theft of two newly erected gates. RFC Billips documented the theft of the gates and two new deer stands. RFC Billips located the stolen stands several miles from the property. The stands had been destroyed and removed off the property to nearby dumpsters. The case remains under investigation.

RICHMOND COUNTY On September 24, RFC Jeffrey Billips assisted the staff at the Fort Gordon Sportsman's Complex during their annual youth outdoor events day. RFC Billips utilized the Laser Shot video program to educate and entertain approximately 150 children and their families.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On September 18th, RFC Tony Cox was patrolling boat landings along the Flint River when he observed a subject attempting to load his vessel onto the trailer. After observing several unsuccessful attempts, the ranger approached the operator to offer assistance. As the ranger began a conversation with the subject, he noticed the operator displayed signs of impairment. Cox had the operator perform field sobriety exercises which the operator failed. He was then arrested and charged with operating a vessel under the influence.
COLQUITT COUNTY On September 23rd, Cpl. Greg Wade and Sgt. David Ruddell were patrolling rural areas of the county when they passed a large Gopher Tortoise crawling along a dirt road. A short distance down the road, the rangers passed a van occupied by several men. The rangers continued around a curve in the road and stopped out of sight of the men in the van. The rangers exited their truck, walked a short distance back to the curve, and observed the van backing up and then stopping alongside the tortoise. A Hispanic male quickly exited the van, picked up the tortoise and tossed it into the van and drove off. The rangers stopped the van and retrieved the tortoise, which was found hidden under a rear seat. The driver was cited for taking a protected species and open container (alcohol). The tortoise was released in a safer area a short distance away.
CALHOUN COUNTY On September 19th, RFC Jim Atchley and RFC Bob Holley along with Holley's patrol dog Creek, responded to an armed robbery call of a store in Edison. Two suspects had robbed a convenience store and fled on foot into a wooded area near the store. The rangers utilized the dog to track the suspects through the woods, eventually arriving at a public housing complex where the track was lost. Officers from the sheriff's department and the rangers then began searches and interviews in an attempt to locate the suspects. The dog was then used on an article search along the initial track and located several items of evidence that were discarded by the suspects in their flight through the woods. The investigation is ongoing with arrests expected in the near future.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BACON COUNTY On September 25th, RFC Chase Altman worked a night hunting complaint in Bacon County. Around 9:30 pm a truck was spotted driving slowly down the road, stopping repeatedly to shine a spotlight into peanut and cotton fields on both sides of the road. RFC Altman then stopped the truck to investigate. The driver of the truck was charged with hunting from a vehicle, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting deer at night.
DODGE COUNTY On September 23rd, Cpl. Dan Stiles patrolled the Dodge County Public Fishing Area during an alligator hunt. Two permit holders participated in two boats with four other hunters assisting. No violations were documented and one alligator was harvested.
On September 23rd, Cpl. Dan Stiles stopped a suspicious vehicle that was stopped on a dirt road near the Dodge County Public Fishing Area. The stop resulted in a violation of Georgia Open Container Law, DUI, and pending drug charges for possession of cocaine. The driver of the vehicle was turned over to the Dodge County Sherriff's Office.
On September 25th, Cpl. Johnny Ashe and Cpl. Dan Stiles were working a complaint of illegal permit hunters off the Flat Creek road area when a vehicle entered the field and shined both the permitted crops and the non-permitted crops in the area. They followed the vehicle and watched as they shined a cotton field from the roadway and stopped the vehicle as it exited another field. They were issued citations for hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle and hunting from a public road.
LAURENS COUNTY On September 24th, Cpl. Dan Stiles patrolled the Beaverdam WMA during the opening day of the Adult / Child big game hunt. 13 licenses were checked and verbal guidance was given for four violations of WMA regulations.
On September 22nd, Cpl. Johnny Ashe was working a night hunting complaint off the Laurens and Dodge county line. Cpl. Ashe had called RFC Danielle O'Connor to assist him with a detail when they encountered a vehicle riding up Co. Rd. #301 headed into Dodge, shining a spotlight into the combined corn field. They followed the vehicle as it made a loop around highway 126 and came down the backside of the field on Barris road. The vehicle was stopped and both admitted to shining the spotlight into the field. The passenger was attempting to hide a loaded .22 mag bolt-action rifle and had hidden the spotlight in a book bag while it was still hooked to a lawn and garden battery. Further investigation determined that the driver of the truck was also a convicted felon. He was arrested and transported to the Laurens county LEC. The Laurens drug unit had been working a case on the same offender and conducted a search of his residence that also netted more firearms and drugs.

BERRIEN COUNTY On September 24th, Cpl. Morty Wood, Cpl. Tommy Daughtry, Sgt. David Reckly, RFC Tim Hutto, and RFC Keith McDonald presented a hunter development program at the Jakes Day / Outdoor Adventure Day at Paradise PFA. The officers gave instruction on firearms safety and supervised the kids shooting skeet. Approximately 650 kids and 400 adults attended the event.
On September 24th, Cpl. Morty Wood was working a night deer hunting detail in the Alapaha area of Berrien County. Cpl. Wood observed a vehicle approach the field and the passenger began shining a spotlight from the truck window while on the public road. The vehicle then backed up and entered the field. The occupants continued to shine the field while they approached Cpl. Woods position. Cpl. Wood stopped the 4 door truck and an AR-15 loaded with 19 rounds was located in the back seat with the rear 2 occupants. The four occupants of the truck were each charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, hunting big game from a public road, and hunting without permission.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
GLYNN COUNTY On September 2nd, RFC Rebekah Huson responded to an abandoned vessel call. Cpl. Wil Smith and Cpl. Wayne Hubbard also assisted with locating the owner of the vessel. The vessel was anchored in the creek and the motor was up. Further investigation revealed that the owner had intentionally left the vessel anchored in the creek.
On September 12th and the 14th, RFC Rebekah Huson conducted a two day Hunter Education Class. Sixteen people completed the course and were successfully certified.
On September 21st, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Wayne Hubbard, and RFC Rebekah Huson assisted the United States Coast Guard with an offshore port security boarding of a 300' foreign cargo ship. Officers provided added security while Coast Guard officers inspected the vessel and crew for clearance to enter the Brunswick Ports.
On September 22nd, Sgt. Chris Hodge and Cpl. Wil Smith responded to a complaint on Crooked River in reference to someone possibly stealing crabs from a commercial crab trap. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the vessel and learned that the occupants had not been taking crabs.
On September 23rd, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Wil Smith, and Cpl. Chris Ridley responded to a complaint of a boat trawling for shrimp in Joiner Creek. Upon arrival, officers discovered two subjects over 7 miles inside of closed waters trawling for food shrimp with a commercial shrimp trawl net. The boat was escorted back to the Brunswick Law Enforcement Office where officers where cited the subjects for Using Power Drawn Nets in Closed Waters. Officers also seized the net that was used by the fishermen.

CAMDEN COUNTY On Sunday evening, August 28, Sgt. Chris Hodge and Cpl. Wayne Hubbard responded to a missing person in the St. Mary's River near the North River. Upon arrival, officers learned that the person that was reported missing had returned to Florida on a PWC and was safely out of the water.
On Sunday evening, August 28, Sgt. Chris Hodge and Cpl. Wayne Hubbard responded to a boating incident on the St. Mary's River near the King's Ferry Landing. It was reported that two juveniles were injured when the tube they were riding was thrown into woods on the bank of the river. Both juveniles were transported to a trauma unit in Jacksonville, Florida and listed in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending against the operator of the vessel.
On September 2nd, Sgt. Chris Hodge and Cpl. Chris Ridley responded to a vessel in distress call in St. Andrews Sound. Upon arrival, officers found a sailing vessel that had capsized due to high winds. The vessel was righted, and officers escorted the vessel to the Jekyll boat ramp. RFC Huson and Cpl. Will Smith waited at the Jekyll boat ramp to provide assistance.
On September 23rd, Sgt. Chris Hodge and NCIS Agent Jason Scoles conducted a Port Security Patrol in Camden County in the area of the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base.
On September 4th, Sgt. Chris Hodge responded to a report of a boating accident at the St Mary's River entrance offshore of Cumberland Island. Sgt. Hodge learned that a 35 foot sailboat had struck the jetty rocks lining the entrance to the river. Further information was received that the vessel was taking on water and was making its way to a marina for removal from the river. The vessel sustained significant damage and no injuries were reported.
On September 17th, Capt. Doug Lewis, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Wayne Hubbard, Cpl. Jimmy Finn, RFC Craig Smith, and RFC Rebekah Huson assisted the Camden County Sheriff's Office by responding to a missing child call in Kingsland near the St. Mary's River. An 18 month old had wondered off from his home and K-9 officers believed that they had tracked the child to the River behind his residence. Officers continued searching through the night with lights and side scan sonar. On the morning of September 18th, searchers found the body of the child in the river. Investigation is ongoing by the Sheriff's Office.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On September 3rd, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Billy Reed, Cpl. Wayne Hubbard, and RFC Craig Smith patrolled Brantley County for dove hunting activity. Officers checked hunters and cited one hunter for hunting with an unplugged gun.

On September 5th, Cpl. Billy Reed and Cpl. Wil Smith checked a dove field off Indian Swamp Road. One hunter was cited with hunting without a license and for hunting with an unplugged gun. CHATHAM COUNTY On September 22, RFC Buster Cooper, Cpl. Cindy Miller, and intern Jordan Crawford, patrolled offshore Little Tybee checking shrimp trawlers. The rangers came in contact with an out of state shrimp trawler, trawling in Georgia waters without any commercial fishing licenses for Georgia. The captain of the vessel was cited for a nonresident commercial fishing without a commercial fishing license, nonresident commercial fishing without a commercial fishing boat license, and commercial fishing without a bond or affidavit. In addition, the rangers confiscated the shrimp trawler and 7465 pounds of shrimp.
On September 24, Cpl. Cindy Miller checked recreational fishermen at the Lazaretto Creek boat ramp. Cpl. Miller cited three individuals for possession of illegal size fish. She confiscated 18 fish; one was a 25.5 inch red drum.

BRYAN COUNTY On Sept. 24th, Cpl. Jay Morgan assisted the Fisheries Section with the Laser Shot hunting simulator and archery course at the Kids Fishing Event at the Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery which was attended by over 200 kids and family members.
WAYNE COUNTY On September 16, RFC Craig Smith, Technician John Evans, Sgt. Chris Hodge, and RFC Danielle O'Connor with K-9 Briar, responded to a call of a missing hunter on Penholloway Swamp WMA. After several hours of searching, the missing hunter was located by a Georgia State Patrol helicopter using a FLIR unit. After obtaining a GPS coordinate from the helicopter, Rangers were able to walk to the hunter's location and escort him out of the woods.