Field operations weekly report, 2012 March 4-10

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report March 4- 10, 2012
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)
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DAWSON COUNTY On March 10th, Sgt. Lee Brown went to Dawson Forest WMA to assist Wildlife Technician Jim Johnson with a horseback rider who had broken their pelvis. Sgt. Brown and Wildlife Technician Johnson assisted the Dawson County EMS and the Dawson County Sheriff's Office with getting to the injured rider. The rider was transported by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment. Later in the afternoon Wildlife Technician Johnson called Sgt. Brown reference to illegal target practicing at the end of North Gate Road on Dawson Forest WMA. Sgt. Brown made contact with four subjects and issued written warnings for target practicing in an unauthorized area on a WMA.
DEKALB COUNTY On March 10th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and Cpl. Eddie Tompkins utilized the Laser Shot at the First Baptist Church of Atlanta's Wildlife Expo. The rangers had approximately 300 people come to their booth.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On March 6th, RFC Mitchell Crump conducted an Online Hunter Education Class at the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office. During this class a total of 9 students were certified in Hunter Education.
On March 10th, RFC Crump was patrolling Lumpkin Park for fishing activity. He issued one subject a written warning for fishing without a license.
UNION COUNTY On March 4th, RFC Kevin Dyer received a request for assistance from Assistant Park Manager Randy Gambrell at Vogel State Park. Park Ranger Gambrell stated that he had received a complainant from a person visiting the park about two subjects walking around the Lake smoking Marijuana. Park Ranger Gambrell had obtained a clothing description from the complainant and requested assistance from RFC Dyer. RFC Dyer responded to Vogel State Park and met Park Ranger Gambrell and two subjects in the parking lot near the Lake. Park Ranger Gambrell stated that he obtained consent to search the two subjects in question and located a pill bottle believed to contain Hydrocodone that was not prescribed to either of the subjects. Park Ranger Gambrell stated that both subjects had admitted to smoking Marijuana while walking around the Lake. RFC Dyer obtained consent to search the subject's car that was in the parking lot. RFC Dyer searched the car while Park Ranger Gambrell watched the two subjects. RFC Dyer contacted the Narcotics Division of the Union County Sheriff's Department to assist. RFC Dyer counted 65 pills in the bottle and placed them into a bag for evidence. Union County Deputy Tracy James read the Miranda Warning to both subjects. Deputy James

questioned the subjects of how they had obtained the pills and Marijuana. Both subjects were arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor drug charges and were transported to the Union County Jail.
STEPHENS COUNTY On March 10th, RFC Josh Chambers, RFC Shane Sartor, Cpl. Bill Bunch and Sgt. Stan Elrod conducted a concentrated patrol on the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area. The rangers have received several complaints from locals about various violations on the Currahee Mountain area. A road check was held after dark. One subject was arrested for Driving under the influence of drugs and several other violations were written such as open container of alcohol and expired driver's license.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
GREENE COUNTY On March 7th and 8th, Cpl. Derrell Worth patrolled the shores and boat ramps surrounding Lake Oconee for fishing activity. Five fishermen were cited for fishing without a license. Other lesser violations were given verbal guidance.
On March 10th, Sgt. John Harwell and RFC Richard Tanner patrolled the Oconee River by boat. Several boats and fishermen were checked but all infractions were given verbal guidance.
MORGAN COUNTY/ LAKE OCONEE On March 9th and 10th, RFC Ricky Boles patrolled boat ramps in Morgan, Greene, and Putnam Counties for boating and fishing activity. Three fishermen were cited for fishing without a license. RFC Boles gave verbal guidance on several other violations, such as no fire extinguisher and no throw-able device.
WILKES COUNTY On Saturday, March 10th, RFC Mark Patterson responded to hunting without permission complaint. RFC Patterson located 5 subjects who were hunting hogs without permission. The landowner stated that he did not want to prosecute them, but he wanted them to be told not to come back. The subjects were warned about hunting without permission and released.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On Friday March 9th, RFC Phillip Nelson presented an informational and educational program to the Oglethorpe County Rotary Club.
RICHMOND COUNTY On March 9th, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, and Cpl. Ryan Swain conducted a firearms class for other Rangers in the region as a refresher for Officers Survival.

Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
ATKINSON COUNTY On March 11th, RFC Tim Hutto and K9 Gauge were called to assist the Atkinson County Sheriff's Office with locating two suspects who had broken into a house on the Lazy-9 highway. K-9 Gauge picked up on the scent of the suspects at the residence and tracked them to an abandoned home nearby. Gauge was used to search the abandoned home while the officers remained outside. A few moments later Gauge returned and it was determined that the suspects had fled back into the woods. Gauge tracked the suspects to an area of thick cover approximately two hundred yards from the abandoned home where they were found hiding. The suspects were arrested and turned over to the Atkinson County Sheriff's Office.
EVANS COUNTY\ On March 10th and 11th, DNR Law Enforcement Officers Keith Byers, Don Dasher, Eddie Akins, Dave Sims, Barry Britt, Jon Barnard, Jamie O'Brien, Danielle O'Connor, Chase Altman, Clint Jarriel, Steve Mincey and Debbie Brannen presented the Laser Shot and Fishing Simulators to the attendees of the Evans County Wildlife Festival.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On March 10th, Cpl. Jay Morgan checked two hunters hunting during the special hog season (March 1st 15th) on Richmond Hill WMA. While checking the WMA Shooting Range during the day, he found four persons/groups that did not have the proper licenses or Ga. Outdoor Recreation Pass (GORP) required for use of the range.
CHATHAM COUNTY On March 6, Cpl. Chris Moore stopped a vehicle for swerving in and out of the lanes on Interstate 16. Once the vehicle pulled over, Cpl. Moore observed that the operator of the vehicle was impaired. Cpl. Moore called the Georgia State Patrol and turned the subject over to them. The subject was charged with driving under the influence. On March 10, Cpl. Chris Moore and Sgt. Cindy Miller were checking boats at the Lazaretto Creek boat ramp. Two individuals came in with five bushels of oysters. The individuals were charged with taking over the limit of oysters from a recreational area.
GLYNN COUNTY On March 10th, RFC John Evans and RFC David Brady, along with Wildlife Technicians Darryl Hartley and Ed Van Otteren, participated in the 4th Annual JAKES Day Event at Camp Tolochee in Brunswick. Officers set up the Laser Shot system, Fishing Simulator, and a Wildlife display. There were over 150 kids in attendance at the event.

On March 9th, RFC David Brady, Sgt. Chris Hodge, and Cpl. Billy Reed had just completed a nighttime JEA patrol in Camden County when officers received a complaint in of someone night deer hunting off Baumgardner Road. The complainant was able to give a vehicle description and tag number. Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle and the driver. After a short investigation and interview of the suspects, they admitted to pulling over on the side of the road and shooting at several deer they had seen. One man was cited with Hunting Deer at Night, Hunting Big Game from a public Road, and Hunting from a motor vehicle.