Field operations weekly report, 2012 March 11-17

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report March 11-17, 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)
CARROLL COUNTY On March 17th, Sgt. Danny Crook, Cpl. Eric Brown, and W/L Technician Daniel Gray participated in the Junior Sportsman's Bonanza at John Tanner Park. Events including archery, bb guns, wildlife exhibits as well as a live snake show were presented. Over 300 youths attended the event.
GILMER COUNTY On March 8th, Sgt. John VanLandingham was patrolling a remote area due to illegal hunting in the area when he came across a suspicious vehicle. While speaking with the occupant of the vehicle Sgt. VanLandingham became suspicious of what the subject was doing there. A check of the subject showed that he was on probation. Sgt. VanLandingham located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. The subject was arrested for possession of marijuana less than one ounce and possession of drug related objects.
On March 10th , Cpl. James Keener and RFC Joe Hill patrolled Carter's Lake. The officers issued 8 citations and 2 warnings for fishing without license, operating vessel with insufficient PFD's, and operating vessel without registration.
GORDON COUNTY On March 17th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore, RFC Ben Cunningham, and RFC Roger McConkey attended the 100th Anniversary Girl Scouts Camporee held at the Northwest Georgia Fairgrounds in Calhoun. The rangers assisted with the use of archery equipment and conducted boating safety programs for the attendees. These programs were presented to approximately 300 people.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
WILKES COUNTY On Saturday March 17th, RFC Mark Patterson patrolled the Broad River and Little River areas of Wilkes County. RFC Patterson encountered several violations including taking of undersize fish, driving on a closed road on a WMA, and boat registration violations.
TALIAFERRO COUNTY On March 13th, RFC Robert Timmerman, RFC Brian Adams, Cpl. Ryan Swain, and Cpl. Brian Hobbins traveled to Crawfordville to take DNR LE promotion exam along with the rest of the region.

LINCOLN COUNTY On March 17th, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin and Cpl. Brian Hobbins checked a sanctioned bow fishing tournament at Cherokee Boat Landing. The event had approximately 25 boats and 50 participants. The event raised around $500 in parking fees for Lincoln County.
LAKE OCONEE On March 11th, RFC Ricky Boles patrolled Lake Oconee boat ramps for boating and fishing activity. One boat operator was cited for operating a vessel without registration and insufficient number of PFD's. A fisherman was cited for taking of illegally sized fish, he was in possession of two 13 inch largemouth bass.
While patrolling Lake Oconee on March 11th, Cpl. Derrell Worth and Sgt. John Harwell came into contact with several fishermen in possession of illegally sized fish. Fishermen were cited for these violations. Others were cited for fishing without a license and verbal guidance was given on lesser infractions.
GREENE COUNTY/ OCONEE RIVER On March 17th, Sgt. John Harwell and Cpl. Derrell Worth patrolled the Oconee River for fishing and boating violations. Several fishermen were cited for fishing without a license. The Rangers also discovered other boating violations and several were cited.
On March 12th, RFC Richard Tanner taught motor vehicle/ATV theft investigations at the training center in Forsyth. With the increasing number of thefts occurring, it is imperative for the new recruits to know how to investigate these crimes.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
COWETA COUNTY On March 17th Sgt. Brent Railey, Cpl. Wanda Roberts, RFC Travis Sweat, and RFC Kevin Godbee worked a concentrated ATV patrol at BT Brown Reservoir in Coweta County. Through a complaint from the Coweta County Water Authority these Rangers were focusing on fishing without permission, criminal trespass, and damaging county/government property. Several violations were documented including criminal trespass and fishing without permission.
JASPER COUNTY On March 16th Sgt. Tim Kendrick and RFC Billy Bryant patrolled Charlie Elliott Wildlife Area. The Rangers documented several violations for fishing license and fishing without WMA license. Later that same night the Rangers patrolled the Clybell Campground. The rangers issued three citations in the campground for violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, possession of less than one ounce of Marijuana.
TWIGGS COUNTY On March 16th Capt. Bob Lynn, Cpl. Robert Stillwell, and RFC Kevin Joyce assisted the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, and the Georgia State Patrol with a license check at exit 27 on I-16. Rangers occupied a vantage

point prior to the license check to view violations that would have not been detected. On that day, rangers observed occupants switching in vehicles and drivers pulling onto the emergency lane to stop so they could throw out alcoholic beverages and narcotics. Rangers would advise officers at the license check of what they observed so officers could make the arrest.
UPSON COUNTY On March 17th, Cpl. Susan Morris was patrolling the Flint River at Sprewell Bluff WMA. Cpl. Morris encountered a non-resident angler fishing without a license. He was given a citation for the offense.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
STEWART COUNTY RFC Bob Holley conducted a boating safety patrol on Lake George and the Chattahoochee River on March 17th, checking 18 vessels and issuing 6 citations for fishing license, safety equipment and registration violations. SEMINOLE COUNTY On March 13th, Cpl. Mike Binion conducted a patrol on Lake Seminole to check fishing activity. A fisherman was found to be in possession of 92 crappie and bream and was cited for taking over the daily creel limit of fish. Cpl Binion also cited another person for non-resident fishing with a resident license. DECATUR COUNTY On March 14th, Cpl. Mike Binion responded to a 911 call concerning a boat incident with injuries on the Flint River. The incident occurred when one vessel turned into the path of the second vessel, causing a hard impact near the operator's compartment. The injured operator was transported to the hospital with broken ribs and lacerations to the head. No charges have been filed in this incident at this time.

On March 16th, Cpl. Randy Davis and RFC Tony Cox were patrolling landings around Lake Seminole, when they encountered a non-resident fishing without a license. The individual was found to have a deportation warrant through Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An Immigration and Customs Agent was contacted, and the subject was taken into custody.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BULLOCH COUNTY On Friday March 16th, Cpl. Eddie Akins and RFC Brandon Pierce responded to a call from the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office. Their assistance was needed in trying to locate a missing person from an overturned kayak on the Ogeechee River. The boater was located by some fishermen and brought back to the landing before the officers arrived on the scene. Cpl. Akins and RFC Pierce retrieved the kayak and other belongings and brought the items back to the landing and turned the property over to the father of the kayaker.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On March 18th, RFC Brandon Pierce patrolled river landings along both the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers. Numerous boats and fishing licenses were checked. As a result, a one violation for operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's was documented.
LAURENS COUNTY On March 14, Cpl. Dan Stiles participated in a television interview for a local cable television access station in Dublin. During the 30 minute segment, Cpl. Stiles discussed the upcoming turkey season, WMA opportunities as well as the new GORP requirement, hunting deer and feral hogs over bait, and a review of the basic boating laws.
DODGE COUNTY On March 17th, Cpl. Johnny Ashe completed a joint investigation with the Albany EPD office on a local pharmacist who was illegally dumping and burning waste. The findings included medication waste, needles, customer's protected HIPPA information for Medicaid and over 250 tires being burned or buried. A Department of Community Health representative conducted the investigation on the illegal handling of protected information and the pharmacist was ordered to secure the entire waste site and remove all information by law. The EPD issued a consent order for the waste site and ordered the complete removal of all the tires, solid waste as well as handling the runoff material that was adjacent to a creek. Cpl. Ashe then issued the individual a citation for the Unlawful dumping of waste (greater than 500 lbs. or 100 cu ft.) 1st offense.

TOOMBS COUNTY On March 11, Cpl. Jon Barnard conducted a Hunter Development program for the Toombs County 4-H skeet team. The program was on the fundamentals of gun care and cleaning and was attended by 25 youth and 5 adults.
On March 15, Cpl. Jon Barnard conducted a CD ROM Hunter Ed review for 10 students.
WARE COUNTY On March 16th, CPL Jason Shipes and RFC Mark Pool were checking popular boating and fishing locations on the Satilla River. RFC Pool observed a vessel with several subjects returning to the landing from fishing. Upon checking the vessel's safety requirements and occupant's fishing licenses, RFC Pool found that one of the subjects had failed to purchase a valid fishing license. A citation for fishing without a license was issued to the subject.
On March 17TH, CPL Jason Shipes and RFC Mark Pool were patrolling Dixon WMA firing range for activity. RFC Pool located two individuals preparing to shoot at the range. Upon checking, RFC Pool learned that the two shooters had failed to purchase the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass. Verbal guidance was given to the two range users and information was provided to them on how and where to obtain the required permit.
CLINCH COUNTY On March 17th, CPL Jason Shipes and RFC Mark Pool responded to the Suwannee River Visitor's Center in Fargo in reference to a possible drowning. The victim was attempting to swim across the river with friends, but due to swift currents he was swept downstream and went under. An immediate search of the area was conducted by a number of agencies utilizing vessels and recovery equipment, including: DNR Law Enforcement, DNR Parks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Lowndes County Sheriff's

Department's dive team. Sgt. Patrick Dupree, RFC Mark Pool, CPL Jason Shipes and Captain Scott Klingel commenced dragging operations at noon on the 18th after the dive team had completed their initial search. The victim was recovered by RFC Shipes and Captain Scott Klingel at 1:00 PM near where he was last seen.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CHATHAM COUNTY March 15, Sgt. Cindy Miller was patrolling the salt water in Chatham County around low tide. Sgt. Miller saw a small boat coming toward her. She moved closer to the small boat and the operator recognized it was the Game Warden and made an evasive maneuver. While making the evasive maneuver the operator of the small boat reached forward and grabbed a shrimp basket and threw the contents overboard. Once Sgt. Miller got the small boat stopped, she saw the big shrimp drag net in the boat folded up and wet. The individual was charged with failure to allow inspection of wildlife.
BRYAN COUNTY On March 17th, RFC Jack Thain and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area. Two boaters were cited for not having enough life jackets on board and one commercial crabber was cited for not having his commercial crabbing number properly displayed on the boat.
CHATHAM COUNTY On March 11th, Cpl. Jay Morgan checked boaters and fishermen at King's Ferry Ramp on the Ogeechee River. One boater was cited for failure to obey regulatory markers at the Idle Speed zone.
GLYNN COUNTY On March 14th, RFC David Brady and Sgt. Chris Hodge met with the Kings Bay Navy Base Game Warden in reference to a subject taking an alligator from one of the fishing ponds on the Navy Base. NCIS agents had the two subjects in custody at their office where DNR officers later interviewed them about their activity with the alligator. Both subjects admitted to catching the alligator and attempting to remove it from the Navy Base. Both subjects were cited for Taking Alligators Out of Season and Possession of Illegally Taken Wildlife.
On March 15th, RFC Craig Smith and RFC David Brady presented an information program to the State Chaplains Conference on St. Simon's Island.