Field operations weekly report, February 26-March 3 , 2012

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 26 - March 3, 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)
PICKENS COUNTY On February 26th, Cpl. James Keener concluded an investigation that had started on January 1st of this year. The investigation started from a night hunting and shots fired call to Pickens 911. Through the course of the investigation, at least 9 people were implicated for numerous violations. These violations were all night hunting related and occurred from early October through the first of this year in Pickens, Gilmer, Gordon, Bartow, and Cherokee Counties. It is not known exactly how many deer were killed but it is estimated that between 40 and 60 deer were shot at, and several deer have been recovered. Approximately 59 charges were filed against the 9 suspects for numerous violations including hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, hunting from a vehicle, and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
On February 27th, Cpl. James Keener responded to a call for assistance from the Pickens County Sheriff's Office in reference to a missing 10 year old boy. Arriving on scene, Cpl. Keener learned that the juvenile had run away and had evaded other law enforcement officers for approximately 20 minutes. A short time later, Cpl. Keener spotted the juvenile running across a pasture approximately 100 yards from the area he had been searching. After repeated request for the juvenile to come to rescuers, Cpl. Keener ran after him, retrieving the juvenile and escorting him to awaiting deputies on a road above. Cpl. Keener also provided general first aid to a small wound (sustained while crossing a fence) on the boy's finger and provided the juvenile with water to drink.
On February 29th, Cpl. James Keener responded to a call for assistance at the Pickens County High School. The call was in reference to an improvised explosive device (IED) which had been discovered earlier that day in another part of the county. The IED had been possessed by a school aged person, and the possibility of the person having the IED at school existed. Cpl. Keener assisted the Sheriff's Office deputies with blocking the road to the school and providing security while the entire high school was searched by multiple K-9 teams.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
GWINNETT COUNTY On February 29th, Cpl. Eric Sanders utilized the Laser Shot at Hebron Baptist Church for one of their annual wildlife programs. During this program approximately 60 people used the Laser Shot.
On March 1st, Cpl. Eric Sanders was contacted by the Gwinnett County Animal Control and the Lilburn Police Department to assist them with subjects holding raccoons. When Cpl. Sanders arrived a female subject was sitting outside of her apartment. Her boyfriend had already been arrested by Lilburn P.D. for drug possession and the Gwinnett County Animal Control had already taken a raccoon in possession. Cpl. Sanders interviewed the

female and she told him that there was another raccoon in the apartment. She took Cpl. Sanders along with the Animal Control Officer and a Lilburn P.D. Officer into the apartment to retrieve the raccoon. When they entered the bedroom Cpl. Sanders could see an indoor marijuana grow operation in the closet. The raccoon was secured and citations were issued to both the male and female subjects for holding a game animal without a permit. The indoor grow operation was turned over to the Lilburn P.D. Officer and the Gwinnett County Animal Control took possession of the raccoons.
ROCKDALE COUUNTY On February 28th, Cpl. Eric Sanders conducted an Online Hunter Education Class at Johnson Park. During this class a total of 9 students were certified in Hunter Education.
HART COUNTY On February 26, Cpl. Craig Fulghum and Sgt. Elrod assisted with a youth hunt for terminally ill kids. The hunt was held at Skeeter Branch Shooting Preserve. Six children were placed in duck blinds with someone calling and duck hunted pen raised mallards. Each child killed at least three mallards. The hunt done for the Outdoor Dream Foundation which Fulghum and Elrod participate with hunts throughout the year. On February 27, Cpl. Craig Fulghum investigated a complaint of a bear and household garbage being dumped on a dirt road. Thee bear had been skinned out to be mounted but were dumped. He ran an article on the local radio station asking for tips. About ten minutes after the first ad ran, he got a call with information. Fulghum investigated the information the caller had given and was able to locate the persons responsible for dumping the bear and trash. He learned that the bear had been killed in Canada in 1997 and was legal. One of the persons responsible was arrested and taken to the Hart County Jail. The second person has outstanding warrants for illegal dumping and will be incarcerated when located.
FRANKLIN COUNTY On March 3, RFC Josh Chambers, RFC Shane Sartor, Cpl. Craig Fulghum and Sgt Stan Elrod assisted with a NRA Youth Event at Richard Wanlsey's farm. The event offered fishing, shooting rifles and shotguns, and exhibits by Steve Scruggs the "Snake Master" and local Labrador trainers. Approximately 100 people participated. Lunch was provided and everyone seemed to have a great time.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY On February 26th, RFC Robert Timmerman stopped a suspicious vehicle while on the way to his residence. Timmerman arrested two subjects for possession of marijuana and transported them to the Columbia County Detention Center.
On March 3rd, Cpl. Ryan Swain conducted a vessel inspection on a large sailboat at the Augusta Sailing Club on Clarks Hill Lake.

On March 3rd, RFC Robert Timmerman conducted a Boating Safety Class in Evans for the Columbia County EMA.
On March 4th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins and RFC Robert Timmerman investigated a vessel incident at Wildwood Park. The vessel sank due to high winds and was considered a complete loss. Cpl. Hobbins took the report.
BURKE COUNTY On the night of February 27th and the early morning hours of February 28th, RFC Jeff Billips responded to a complaint of hunting from a public road and hunting at night. A concerned citizen observed a spotlight being shined from a vehicle on a public road. The citizen followed the vehicle and obtained the tag number and operator description. The citizen continued to follow the vehicle until a Sardis Police Officer arrived. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle but the operator fled into the woods after a brief chase. Ranger Billips, a GSP trooper and Burke County Deputies went to the operator's address and spoke with family members. The case remains under investigation at this time.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
BULLOCH COUNTY On Wednesday February 29th, Cpl. Eddie Akins responded to a complaint of illegal wire burning inside the city limits of Brooklet, Ga. The incident is still under investigation and charges are pending.
EMANUEL COUNTY On Sunday, February 26th, at approximately 1:00am, RFC Jamey O'Brien responded to an in-progress complaint of hunting without permission on a private tract of land near the Ohoopee River. RFC O'Brien arrived on scene and heard the sound of hunting dogs on the property. RFC O'Brien parked his patrol vehicle and for a couple of hours covertly walked around the property. With the aid of night vision equipment, he watched the hunting dogs and the hunters assess their activity. At one point, RFC O'Brien observed the individuals dismantle a gate at the rear of the property to make entry through the landowner's gate. The hunters then drove their vehicles onto the private property.
As the subjects were driving their vehicles on the property in an attempt to catch their hunting dogs, they saw O'Brien's truck. The subjects then began to attempt to flee the property through the gate they had earlier dismantled. Both vehicles were stopped and their identifications were checked. The subjects did not have written permission to be on the property and they admitted to hunting on the property without permission. Furthermore, a current landowner affidavit is on file for this property and these subjects

are not listed on the affidavit. Four counts of hunting without permission were documented.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On March 3rd, Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the Richmond Hill WMA which is open for a "day-time only" hog hunt from March 1st 15th. Three hog hunters were checked on the Egypt Island and Kilkenny tracts. No violations were found.