Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report March 18-24, 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)
BARTOW COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Byron Young and RFC Bart Hendrix were patrolling the Etowah River at the dam at Chemical Products. They found two people fishing without licenses who had used kayaks to access the area. The boaters did not have any life jackets as required by law. The Rangers addressed all violations.
GORDON COUNTY On March 22nd, several rangers assisted the Calhoun Police Department and other agencies with a suicidal gunman who was held up in his vehicle in an occupied apartment complex. The subject had reportedly fired a shot at a female prior to their arrival and made threats to harm law enforcement. When approached by law enforcement the subject led police on a short vehicle chase before stopping in the residential area. This resulted in a standoff lasting over seven hours before the subject surrendered.
HARALSON COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Ricky Dempsey was checking an area where suspected turkey bait had been placed when he located a subject using an electronic caller to hunt turkeys. The subject had harvested two gobblers. Both turkeys were confiscated and the hunter was charged with possession of illegal taken wildlife and hunting with an electronic call for turkeys.
POLK COUNTY On March 18th, Cpl. Ricky Dempsey and W/L Technician Daniel Gray responded to a complaint on Hightower Road reference trespassing. Upon arrival the complainant advised that he located a vehicle with Alabama tags on his property and found a white female in the vehicle reading a book. She said the two guys she was with left her in the truck while they looked around in the woods. While talking with the complainant the vehicle pulled out into the road and approached the ranger's location. Two white males were dressed in camo with turkey calls in sight along with loaded shotguns. After a brief investigation the subjects were charged with hunting big game out of season and hunting without landowner permission.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
GWINNETT COUNTY On March 20th, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins held and HIN inspection at Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. During this inspection a total of six boats were inspected.
On March 22nd, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins conducted an Online Hunter Education Class at Bass Pro Shop in Lawrenceville. During this class a total of 24 students were certified in Hunter Safety.
LUMPKIN COUNTY On March 18th, RFC Mitchell Crump was patrolling Chestatee WMA. RFC Crump found a truck parked in a food plot. The next day RFC Crump and Wildlife Technician III Frank Manning located the owner of the truck. Citations were issued for driving in a food plot and driving around a device to prevent access.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On March 24th Cpl. Eric Sanders was checking an area he had found baited for turkeys. Cpl. Sanders checked two hunters in a blind hunting turkeys over the bait. The hunters were not aware of the bait that was out. Verbal guidance was given to them. The person who put the bait out was also hunting on the property. Cpl. Sanders checked him and issued him a written warning for unlawful enticement of game.
STEPHENS COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Bill Bunch caught two subjects hunting approximately 15 yards from an automatic feeder throwing corn. The two men were charged for hunting turkeys over bait.
HART COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Craig Fulghum checked a man turkey hunting with a crossbow. Fulghum recognized the man as a local convicted felon. He checked to see if the man had warrants and a felony warrant returned. Fulghum arrested the man and turned him over to the sheriff's office.
TOWNS COUNTY On Tuesday Mar 20th, Cpl Jesse Cook responded to call for assistance at a residence near the Chattahoochee National Forest in reference to a 7 year old autistic boy that had disappeared from the residence. Cpl Cook was part of a massive search effort that included the Towns County Sheriff's Office, Towns County Fire & Rescue, Rabun County Sheriff's Office, Union County Sheriff's Office K9 unit, Georgia Aviation Authority and troopers from the Georgia State Patrol. The child was found in a very short period of time wandering thru the woods and was unharmed.
On Thursday Mar 22nd, Cpl Cook assisted Towns County deputies and Hiawassee Police with a traffic stop involving individuals possibly involved in an armed robbery and other violent crimes in the Atlanta area. The individual's inside the vehicle was later determined not to have been involved in the crimes but one was a family member of the suspect. Cpl Cook was able to use his in vehicle computer investigative tools to assist officers on the scene.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
WARREN COUNTY On March 25th, RFC Brian Adams cited two subjects for hunting turkeys over bait and one subject for hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On March 24th, RFC Robert Timmerman cited a subject for littering.
WILKES COUNTY On Saturday March 24th, RFC Mark Patterson and Sgt. Brian Carter caught 2 subjects hunting turkeys over bait and one subject hunting with an unplugged gun. Another subject did not have a big game license. Violations that were addressed included hunting big game over bait, hunting without a big game license, and hunting with an unplugged gun.
ELBERT COUNTY On Saturday March 24th, Cpl. Greg Colson and Cpl. Julian Wilkins caught 3 subjects hunting turkeys over bait and 1 subject hunting with an unplugged gun. They also investigated 2 hunting without permission complaints. The complaints are still under investigation. Several boats and fishermen were also checked during the day. Violations that were addressed that day included hunting big game over bait, hunting with an unplugged gun, operating vessel without registration, and violation of WMA rules.
RICHMOND COUNTY On March 24-25th, Cpl. Ben Payne and his work section attended the Annual Cooking for Kids event at Daniel Field in Augusta, GA. The event is put on every year by the Exchange Club of Richmond County for Child Enrichment. Sponsors for the DNR Law Enforcement Team were Windsor Jewelers, Sheehans Irish Pub, Andy Jones, Johnny Finley, Gene Staulcup, Charlie Warren, and Joe Jackson. The DNR Team cooked in 4 judging categories and was well represented with tasteful game dishes. Cpl. Crawley cooked a Fajita venison entre. Cpl. Payne cooked wild rabbit, crappie and barbeque roast. The event was a success, it raised close to $30,000. DNR won the Showmanship Award for the event. Thanks to all the sponsors that allowed Team Green and Grey to participate in the event.
GREENE COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Derrell Worth responded to Lake Oconee in the area of Hwy 278 in reference to a 17 year old female being thrown from a tube. The female was airlifted to Grady Memorial and treated for neck and back injuries.
LAKE OCONEE On March 18th, Sgt. John Harwell and RFC Ricky Boles patrolled Lake Oconee for fishing and boating activity. Several boats and fishermen were checked for equipment
violations, safety violations and fishing licenses. One boat operator was cited for allowing an underage child to ride in vessel without a PFD.
On March 21st, Sgt. John Harwell and RFC Richard Tanner patrolled Lake Oconee for fishermen catching over the limit of hybrids. All fishermen checked were within their limits. One boat operator was cited for insufficient number of PFD's.
MORGAN COUNTY On March 24th, RFC Ricky Boles was patrolling a baited property for illegal hunting activity. RFC Boles could here turkey sounds coming from one of the baited areas and approached the area. The hunter was hunting with a .22 WMR rifle and was found to be a convicted felon. Upon search of the hunter, a bag of marijuana was produced. Subject was charged with possession of firearm by a convicted felon, hunting big game over bait, hunting with illegal weapon/ammo, and possession of marijuana less than one ounce. Subject was then transported to Morgan County Detention Center.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY On March 20th Cpl. Bubba Stanford responded to the area of Airport Island on Lake Sinclair in reference to a stranded boater. Cpl. Stanford located the boater and towed him to safety and assisted the subject with loading his vessel.
HEARD COUNTY On March 24th Ranger Russell Epps and Cpl. Jeremy Bolen were investigating a baited area in Heard County. With the assistance of K-9 Ruger they were able to locate two individuals hunting from a blind on the edge of a field. After a brief inspection of the area the Rangers discovered where several bags of millet seed had been poured out. One individual was issued a citation for hunting big game over bait and the other individual who was determined to be assisting with the hunt and filming was issued a warning for hunting big game over bait.
HOUSTON COUNTY On March 18th Cpl. John Harkins checked fishing license and WMA permits on Flat Creek PFA. He issued three written warnings for fishing without appropriate licenses.
LAMAR COUNTY On March 20th RFC Keith Page and Major Walter Rabon located a woman inside the wood line on Hwy 341 South. RFC Page and Major Rabon decided to stop and investigate what the woman was doing. While approaching the woman, the rangers noticed that she appeared to be hiding something in the nearby brush. After speaking with the woman, she admitted to hiding a small amount of marijuana in the bushes. The woman had been fighting with her boyfriend and had left their residence and began walking through the woods. Because she stated that she was leaving the state of Georgia, RFC Page arrested the individual and charged her with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
On March 25th RFC Keith Page located two men hunting turkeys over bait on Ridgeway Road. The men were sitting in a stretch of woods that was scattered with cracked corn. RFC Page charged both men with hunting big game over bait.
MONROE COUNTY On March 24th, the opening day of turkey season, Sgt Tim Kendrick and Cpl. Tony Wynne were patrolling for hunting activity in south Monroe County when they saw a couple of vehicles pulled off the road into field adjacent to a peach orchard. One of the vehicles had corn in the back of it. Kendrick and Wynne found a trail in front of the vehicles that ran along the edge of a clear-cut. The trail was strewn with cracked corn. Kendrick and Wynne split up and found two adults and a juvenile hunting near the corn. The adults were charged with hunting big game over bait and the juvenile was given a verbal warning for not having a plug in his shotgun.
TALBOT COUNTY On March 24th, shortly after daylight, Cpl. Mitch Oliver checked a baited area that he and Ranger Russell Epps had found the day before. Cpl. Oliver found two ATV's parked near the area and could hear two to three turkeys gobbling in the distance. Cpl. Oliver made his way to a food plot along a gas line and could see two decoys staked in the middle of this food plot. Sitting approximately 20 yards from the decoys and bait were two hunters. Cpl. Oliver announced that he was the Game Warden and told the hunters to unload their shotguns. One of the hunters admitted to putting the bait out a few weeks prior and said that he thought it would have been gone in time for turkey season. Both hunters were charged with hunting big game over bait.
TROUP COUNTY On March 24th Ranger Russell Epps and Cpl. Jeremy Bolen checked a baited area in Troup County. The Rangers located two individuals in a blind. One citation was issued for hunting big game over bait.
TWIGGS COUNTY On March 24th RFC Kevin Joyce and Cpl. Robert Stillwell were patrolling Ocmulgee WMA when they contacted a turkey hunter who had failed to sign in on the managed hunt. Further investigation by the officers revealed the hunter was also in possession of marijuana. Officers placed the subject into custody and charged him with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and failure to sign in on a WMA hunt.
UPSON COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Susan was checking a baited area in Upson County that had been located by RFC Keith Page earlier in the week. She located a turkey hunter sitting near a feeder with cracked corn in it. The man was charged with hunting big game over bait
WILKINSON COUNTY On March 24, RFC Allen Mills and Cpl. Bill Goodson checked baited areas they had located earlier in the week. One subject was located hunting over whole corn and a citation was issued for the violation. On the same morning Sgt. Bo Kelly, RFC Josh Copelan and Cpl. Bubba Stanford checked baited areas that they had located and one
subject was found bow hunting an area where cracked corn and wheat was scattered. A citation was issued for the violation.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
CRISP COUNTY On Wednesday March 21st, RFC Randy James received a complaint of out of season trapping. RFC James and Ranger Chad Hulsey investigated the area and located 27 untagged snares on a fence surrounding the property. The manager of the property was interviewed and found to be unfamiliar with trapping laws as they apply to nuisance trapping. The manager was charged with trapping with illegal device and provided information to bring him into compliance with trapping laws.
LEE COUNTY On March 22nd, RFC Randy James, Ranger Chad Hulsey, and Lee County Code Enforcement Officer Ben Roberts presented a program explaining the enforcement of Georgia's environmental laws to the 2012 Leadership Lee class.
DOOLY COUNTY On Saturday March 24th, RFC Randy James patrolled the Flint River WMA, where he encountered several violations of WMA regulations.
MACON COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Ronnie Beard and RFC Tommy Lawrence located and cited a turkey hunter for hunting over bait.
SCHLEY COUNTY On March 24th, RFC Tommy Lawrence was contacted by a landowner to discuss poaching evidence found on his farm. Cpl. Ronnie Beard and RFC Lawrence investigated the complaint and were able to locate the juvenile suspects on an adjoining property. Verbal guidance was given to the juveniles.
EARLY COUNTY On March 24th, Sgt. Rick Sellars and Cpl. Mike Binion cited two hunters for hunting turkeys over bait and non-resident hunting without a license.
DECATUR COUNTY On March 24th, Sgt. Rick Sellars and Cpl. Mike Binion conducted a patrol on Silver Lake WMA, citing three subjects for fishing without licenses.
STEWART COUNTY On March 18th, Cpl. Steve Robinson was on routine patrol when he observed a truck weaving from lane to lane, and the passenger toss a beer can out the window. Cpl. Robinson stopped the truck, and after determining that both the driver and passenger were intoxicated, he called a nearby Georgia State Patrol Trooper. The GSP officer charged the driver for DUI and Cpl. Robinson issued the passenger a citation for littering.
On Saturday March 24th, Cpl. Steve Robinson encountered and cited two subjects hunting turkeys over bait.
RANDOLPH COUNTY On March 25th, RFC Bob Holley responded to an in-progress hunting without permission complaint. The complainant stated that he as he investigated the origin of a shot he had heard on his property, he found a hunter with a recently killed turkey. The hunter claimed he had shot the bird on the adjoining property, and it flew across the property line before finally going down. RFC Holley made contact with the hunter who showed him the location where the turkey was allegedly shot. No evidence to confirm the hunter's story could be found. However, the kill location, a fired shell and other evidence were located on the complainant's property, the hunter then confessed to hunting and shooting the bird illegally. He was cited for hunting without permission and possession of illegally taken wildlife. The turkey was confiscated.
CLAY COUNTY On March 24th, RFC Bob Holley and RFC Jim Atchley checked a turkey hunter and found the area he was hunting in to be baited. The hunter was charged for hunting big game over bait.
On March 25th, RFC Jim Atchley observed two subjects burning wire in an abandoned building. Both were cited and the Clay County Sheriff's Office was contacted to investigate due to the high number of irrigation wire thefts in the area.
TERRELL COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Scott Carroll witnessed two turkey hunters cross over a property line and pursue turkeys without permission. After making contact with the subjects, Cpl. Carroll found one of the pair was hunting with buckshot. The subjects were cited for hunting without permission and hunting with illegal ammunition.
BROOKS COUNTY On the morning of March 24th, RFC Jon Penuel checked an area located prior to turkey season that had been baited with corn. A subject was located in a ground blind hunting turkey over the baited area and was charged with hunting big game over bait.
THOMAS COUNTY Cpl. Greg Wade checked activity along the Ochlocknee River and issued several citations and warnings for fishing and boating safety violations. As a small boat approached the boat ramp, Cpl. Wade observed a subject in the boat act suspiciously upon seeing the officer. After a brief investigation, Cpl. Wade discovered the man had placed a small amount of marijuana in his pocket. The subject was charged accordingly.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EVANS COUNTY On March 24th, RFC Debbie Brannen checked numerous turkey hunters. Violations were documented for hunting without a license and hunting without big game license. Later the same day, fishermen and boaters were checked on the Evans County Public Fishing Area. Violations for fishing without licenses were documented.
APPLING COUNTY On March23rd, RFC Altman was patrolling the Altamaha River for fishing activity. During the patrol three fishermen were checked and were found to be without licenses. Warnings were issued for the violations.
On March 24th, RFC Altman checked an area baited for turkeys. One hunter was given verbal guidance on the bait laws of the state due to his distance from the bait. Later that day, RFC Altman responded to a fishing without permission complaint. It was determined the fisherman had permission but did not have a fishing license and was issued a written warning.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On the morning of March 24th, Cpl. Barry Britt checked two turkey hunters. The hunters were a father and his 19-year-old daughter and she had just killed her first gobbler. She did not have her hunting licenses on her or any other ID. Cpl. Britt checked her through the GCIC database and through the DNR website to see if she had a valid hunting license. She did have a valid hunting license and big game license; however, she was wanted on a failure to appear warrant for a seat belt violation in Doulgas, GA. Cpl. Britt escorted the father and daughter to Douglas PD where she was able to resolve the issue.
ECHOLS COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Jason Shipes and Sgt. Patrick Dupree were patrolling the WithersHaylow & Tarver-Tom's creek areas for turkey hunting activity. Sgt. Dupree located two hunters that had their turkey decoys set up around a corn feeder that was dispensing shelled corn. Each hunter was observed in a concealed location within 20 yards of the bait and decoys. After further inspection, Sgt. Dupree found that each hunter's shotgun was unplugged. Cpl. Shipes issued the two hunters citations for hunting big game over bait and hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
WARE COUNTY On February 26th, Cpl. Gary Simmons was investigating littering violations that had occurred at the shooting range on Dixon Wildlife Management Area. Cpl. Simmons was meeting with Wal-Mart loss prevention personnel in Waycross to view videos of recent purchases in an attempt to determine if items found at the shooting range had been purchased at the local Wal-Mart. While in the store, Cpl. Simmons observed a woman remove price tags off of merchandise and conceal the items in her handbag. After concealing the items, the female then proceeded to the self-checkout counter where over a three-hour period she made six individual purchases receiving $100.00 cash back from
each transaction. It was later determined that these purchases were made with a stolen debit card. Cpl. Simmons and the loss prevention official approached the female after she exited the store and she dropped the handbag and discarded the stolen debit card under a vehicle. While detaining the subject for Waycross Police, Cpl. Simmons learned that the woman had stolen the debit card and a vehicle from a local motel. She was turned over to Waycross Police Department for shoplifting and six counts of felony credit card fraud. She is also facing charges for theft of the motor vehicle & credit card. On March 24th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree, Cpl. Gary Simmons, Cpl. Jason Shipes & RFC Mark Pool conducted a vessel inspection at the Ware County High School. Numerous vessels were inspected by the officers. Several boat registration issues were cleared of errors such as not having valid hull identification numbers and ownership verifications.
DODGE COUNTY On March 24th Cpl. Johnny Ashe was on foot patrol near Free Gift Church Road to check on baited areas he had located. After discovering that multiple hunters were on the property, Cpl. Ashe contacted Sgt. David Reckley and RFC Rodney Horne to assist him in locating the hunters and securing the property. After the hunters were located, 4 nonresident hunters were issued citations for hunting big game over bait, two of which were also cited for hunting without licenses.
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On March 24 Cpl. Johnny Ashe was on foot patrol in the area off Lower River Road to check on an area that was baited within the 10 day limit. After locating and checking 3 hunters, Cpl. Ashe issued the landowner a warning for hunting over bait due to not having his feeder removed within the time allowed. On March 24th RFC Rodney Horne received information of nonresident hunters hunting without proper licenses in Dodge County. RFC Horne located the hunters and issued 3 citations for hunting without licenses, 2 citations for hunting with unplugged shotguns
and 1 warning for hunting with illegal ammunition. RFC Horne also located an additional hunter on the adjoining property and issued one citation for hunting turkeys over bait.
WHEELER COUNTY On March 25th RFC Horne responded to a call from SOC concerning a PWC operator speeding around docks and operating recklessly on the Little Ocmulgee River. RFC Horne surveyed the area from a bridge and witnessed the activity. After stopping the PWC operator RFC Horne issued a citation for operating a PWC above 5 mph within 100 feet of an object.
IRWIN COUNTY On March 25th, RFC Tim Hutto, K9 "Gauge", and Sgt. David Reckley checked an area that was baited for turkeys. RFC Hutto and K9 "Gauge" located where the hunter had set up his hen decoy, but it appeared that the hunter had fled the area. K9 "Gauge" located the hunter approximately four hundred yards away down a logging road. RFC Hutto questioned the hunter and it was determined that the subject was in possession of an unplugged shotgun, which was loaded with five shells. RFC Hutto escorted the hunter back to their vehicles. As Sgt. Reckley continued to question the hunter, RFC Hutto ran a check on the subject and the firearm. Further investigation revealed that the hunter was wanted for a felony in Seminole Georgia and was a convicted felon. RFC Hutto also determined that the shotgun was stolen by using his CAD computer. The subject was arrested and transported to the Irwin County Sheriff's Office.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On March 18th, Sgt. James Shelton, Cpl. Jay Morgan, and RFC Jack Thain responded to a complaint of a person shooting at an alligator with a .22 cal. rifle in a Redbird Creek Subdivision lagoon. The suspect denied shooting the gator, stated that he didn't have a rifle, and offered to let the officers search his house. It is believed that the suspect removed the firearm from the location. The case is still under investigation.
CHATHAM COUNTY On March 18th, Sgt. James Shelton, Cpl. Jay Morgan, and RFC Jack Thain were checking boaters at King's Ferry ramp on the Ogeechee River when they observed two kayakers on the river. After checking the kayakers, the two were cited for not having life jackets. One subject, who was nineteen years old, was also cited for possession of alcohol by an underage person.
LIBERTY COUNTY On March 24th, Cpl. Phillip Scott and RFC Jack Thain checked men on Liberty County Industrial Authority property near Midway. When both subjects were first checked, neither had a firearm, but officers had heard the subjects using turkey and owl calls in the woods. Upon checking the woods, the officers found their weapons and hunting gear. Officers met with the subjects again and cited both for hunting without permission. One
was cited for not having a hunting license and a big game license. Since they hid their weapons, the weapons and gear were seized and held as evidence for court.