Field operations weekly report, 2012 June 10-16

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report June 10-16, 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 June 16th, Cpl. Chip Cox and RFC Bart Hendrix were patrolling Allatoona Lake in the area of Allatoona Landing Marina. About 10:00 p.m. the officers observed a pontoon boat displaying improper navigational lights. The officers stopped the vessel with 9 passengers onboard and found the vessel to be 3 life jackets (PFD's) short. The officers loaned the operator 3 PFD's and explained the importance of PFD's on the water as well as the proper way to use the navigation lights. The operator was issued a citation for operating vessel with insufficient PFD's.
CARROLL COUNTY During the week of June 11th-15th, local public safety agencies and area merchants partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to host the 8th annual Carroll County Outdoor Day Camp. Cpl. Eric Brown and RFC Chad Cox assisted with the weeklong camp that exposed 39 students to shooting sports, Geocaching, animal identification, boating, and fishing. The camp was again a huge success in exposing youth to the outdoors.
FLOYD COUNTY On June 6th, Rangers McConkey, Elmore, and Galloway presented Hunter Development programs at the Floyd County Greenwings event. The Rangers instructed the kids and adults attending the event on archery equipment and ethical hunting.
GILMER COUNTY On June 3rd, RFC Joe Hill and intern Quinn Fogle patrolled around the Carters Lake Re Reg lake. RFC Hill issued citations for fishing without a license and nonresident fishing without a license. On June 3rd, RFC Joe Hill and intern Quinn Fogle were patrolling around the boat ramps on Carters Lake when RFC Hill observed a person operating a jet ski in the no wake zone at the Dam Site boat ramp. RFC Hill issued the operator a warning for operating a PWC without a life jacket (PFD).

On June 8th, RFC Joe Hill was patrolling on Yukon Rd. in Gilmer County when he noticed black smoke coming from a vacant lot. RFC Hill stopped and observed vinyl siding, painted boards, and other plastic and metal trash in the fire. The officer issued a warning to the landowner for unlawful burning.
On June 9th, RFC Joe Hill, RFC Cody Jones and intern Quinn Fogle patrolled Carters Lake. The officers issued three citations for failure to obey regulatory markers and operating vessel without registration. Two warnings were issued for failure to use engine cut-off lanyard on personal watercraft and riding bow/gunwale.
MURRAY COUNTY
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On June 16 , Cpl. Casey Jones and Cpl. James Keener assisted a boater on Carters Lake after his vehicle rolled down the boat ramp and into the lake while he was trying to unload his vessel at the Dam Site boat ramp.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY
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On June 16 , at approximately 1445 hours, Cpl. Loudermilk and Sgt. Burgamy responded to a boating incident at Little River Park where an 11-year-old boy sustained a propeller cut to his right leg (knee area). He was life-flighted to Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta where he underwent surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.
HART COUNTY
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On June 16 , RFC Tim Vickery, RFC Shane Sartor, Cpl. Craig Fulghum and Cpl. Bill Bunch worked boating safety patrols on Lake Hartwell. Citations and warnings were issued for operating vessels without personal flotation devices, expired registration, failure to obey regulatory marker, and fishing without a license.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
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On June 11 , RFC Tim Vickery, Cpl. Craig Fulghum and Sgt. Stan Elrod assisted the Franklin County Sheriff's Office with their annual Junior Deputy Academy at the Franklin County Middle School. The Rangers gave a slideshow presentation about careers in conservation, as well as a presentation showing the furs of some of the mammals of Georgia. Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland also attended and brought a live alligator named "Boots" for the kids to see and feel. Approximately 30 kids were in attendance.
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On June 15 , Cpl. Craig Fulghum took a group of 10 people from the Hartwell Health Care Center for Seniors on a fishing trip to Victoria Bryant's State Park.
On June 16th, RFC Tim Vickery and Cpl. Craig Fulghum responded to a request for assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office to help locate a theft suspect who had run into the woods on the Franklin/ Madison Co. line. Sheriff's deputies had requested a four wheel drive vehicle to take them across a pasture to look for the suspect.

The Rangers responded shortly after getting off of patrol on Lake Hartwell. When the Rangers arrived on scene, an investigator with the Sheriff's Office had already arrived and taken the officers into the woods, so the Rangers stood by in case they were needed for further assistance. The suspect was apprehended later that evening.
FORSYTH COUNTY
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On June 13 , Sgt. Lee Brown concluded and investigation on a complaint of removing bird nest with baby birds in the nest in the common area of a subdivision. Sgt. Brown met with the subject on site and issued a written warning for taking/possession of a nongame animal.
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On June 13 , Sgt. Brown was patrolling the Chattahoochee River for boating and fishing activity. He checked one boat that had unserviceable life jackets onboard. Sgt. Brown issued a written warning for the infraction and loaned the operator a life jacket that they returned after their trip.
GWINNETT COUNTY
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On June 13 , Sgt. Lee Brown, Cpl. Eric Sanders, Rudy Everson with the National Park Service and Nick Baggett with the Corp of Engineer conducted an interview with WSB Channel 2 reference the "Wear It" campaign. This is a campaign to promote the wearing a life jacket while boating. Along with the interview Cpl. Sanders took the reporter in his boat on a patrol of the Chattahoochee River.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
WILKES COUNTY On Friday June 15th, RFC Mark Patterson patrolled Broad River WMA. RFC Patterson caught three non- resident fishermen fishing w/o a license and issued citations to all three.
ELBERT COUNTY On Saturday June 16th, Sgt. Brian Carter and RFC Mark Patterson presented an information and education program to a neighborhood watch organization. There were several other law enforcement agencies from within and outside the county there also. Their program focused primarily on boating and water safety. There were approx. 71 people in attendance. This is part of an effort to help citizens meet and become familiar with Law Enforcement officers.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On June 16th, RFC Brian Adams conducted a concentrated patrol of the Savannah River below Clarks Hill Dam. Adams issued several citations and warnings for various boating violations. On June 17th, RFC Robert Timmerman and Cpl. Ryan Swain conducted a concentrated patrol of the Savannah River below Clarks Hill Dam. Several warnings and citations were issued for fishing and boating violations.

LINCOLN COUNTY On June 17th, RFC Robert Timmerman and Cpl. Ryan Swain apprehended three subjects who were noodling fish using scuba equipment. The subjects were noodling near the Little River Causeway on Clarks Hill Lake. They were issued written warnings for their violations.
JEFFERSON COUNTY On June 17th, RFC Grant Matherly responded to a complaint of a nuisance alligator at a residence in Wadley. When RFC Matherly arrived on scene the alligator was in the front yard of the residence. The alligator was captured and removed from the residence. RFC Matherly took the alligator to a safe location and released it.
MORGAN COUNTY On Monday June 10th, RFC Freddie Hays received a complaint in reference to night hunting in Rutledge. After an investigation, RFC Hays determined that it was a deer control permit. RFC Hays interviewed the permit holder and it was determined there was a person participating in the shooting of deer who was not on the permit. RFC issued the landowner a citation for violation of deer control permit.
On Monday June 10-15, RFC Ricky Boles, Cpl. David Allen, RFC Freddie Hays, RFC Richard Tanner, and RFC Niki Spencer participated in the 11th Annual Morgan County Junior Deputy Camp. During the week long camp, Rangers helped teach children about law enforcement. Rangers taught classes on gun safety, boating safety, building clearing, 10 codes and the use of the radio, and hand cuffing techniques. Approximately 45 children were selected for the camp this year.
GREENE COUNTY/LAKE OCONEE On June 15th, Cpl. Derrell Worth, RFC Ricky Boles and Intern Matt Johnson patrolled Lake Oconee. A vessel was stopped for a light violation and after conducting a vessel safety inspection, the Rangers noted the operator of the vessel had a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. After further investigation, the operator was charged with the light violation as well as BUI. The operator was transported to the Greene County Sheriff's Office.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On June 16th, Ranger David Fisher and Cpl. Jeremy Bolen were patrolling for boating violations on Lake Harding. The officer's noticed a boat without a stern light on, approximately 40 minutes after sunset. The boat was stopped and Ranger Fisher detected alcohol coming from the boat operator. After checking the safety equipment on board the boat, Ranger Fisher administered field sobriety exercises and determined the operator to be under the influence of alcohol. The boat operator was arrested and transported to the Harris County Jail. The operator received citations for boating under the influence, and operating a vessel without lights during hours of darkness.

JASPER COUNTY On June 16, 2012 Corporal Susan Morris and RFC Billy Bryant responded to a complaint of a suspicious object in the Ocmulgee River below Lloyd Shoals Dam. The Rangers located a hoop net that contained several dead turtles and a couple dozen live fish. The Rangers released the fish and seized the hoop net.
UPSON COUNTY On June 15, Corporal Susan Morris and RFC Billy Bryant worked a litter detail at the Flint River boat ramp of Big Lazar WMA, known as Po Biddy Bridge. She and RFC Bryant stood in the woods, and using binoculars, watched to see if anyone was littering or consuming alcoholic beverages illegally on WMA property. They observed three white males walk to the trunk of their car, open it and begin to fill a red cup and a Mountain Dew bottle with a liquid and then add what appeared to be fruit juice. After watching them drinking the mixture, the officers walked out of the woods and confronted them. They were cited with underage drinking and consumption of alcohol on a WMA
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On June 10th, Ranger Chris Carlisle received a call around 12:00 a.m. in reference to two overdue hunters on Chickasawhatchee WMA. The two subjects started hog hunting the afternoon before around 3:30 p.m. and could not find their way back to their vehicle. With the information provided to Ranger Carlisle from Dougherty County 911 Communications, he was able to locate the two hunters around 1:30 a.m. and returned them to their vehicle. A warning was issued to one of the hunters for hunting without a license.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On the afternoon of June 12th, Cpl. Greg Wade was checking fishing and boating activity at the Georgia Power Dam on the Flint River when he made contact with an individual whom he had observed fishing earlier in the day. When asked if he had a license, the subject stated that he didn't, then sprinted towards the river and threw what looked to be cocaine in the river. The suspect was then arrested for obstruction of a law enforcement officer and fishing without a license.
THOMAS COUNTY On June 13th, Ranger Chris Carlisle was patrolling along the Ochlocknee River for fishing and boating activity. Ranger Carlisle checked several fishermen and found one subject to be fishing without a license and with an outstanding arrest warrant. The individual was cited for fishing without a license and transported to Thomas County Jail for processing.
GRADY COUNTY On June 11th, Sgt. Rick Sellars received a complaint from a Florida FWC officer about 2 suspects that FWC was investigating for poaching alligators in Wakulla County Florida.

The suspects had also admitted to killing an alligator in Grady County on this date, and transporting it back to Florida. RFC Tony Cox is investigating this case and will be taking warrants for the two. DECATUR COUNTY On June 16th, RFC Tony Cox and Ranger Kevin Goss responded to a boating incident at Silver Lake WMA. The incident occurred when a small fishing boat sank after running up on a stump, putting a hole in the hull. There were no injuries or charges filed in this incident. EARLY COUNTY On June 16th, Rangers conducted a concentrated patrol on the Chattahoochee River to address complaints of boating under the influence and racing. GSP Troopers from Post 14 also assisted by setting up roadblocks near one of the landings. One vessel operator was arrested for BUI and BUI Child Endangerment, and one driver was arrested for DUI. QUITMAN COUNTY Cpl. BJ Foster was honored at a retirement banquet in Albany for his 30 years of service to the State of Georgia. Cpl. Foster, who began his career in Decatur County, had worked the last 11 years in Quitman County. In attendance at the banquet were Cpl. Foster's family and many friends and co-workers. Cpl. Foster is pictured below with Sgt. Butch Potter (left) and Captain Jeff Swift (right).
Quitman County Ranger Cpl. BJ Foster (center) Retires

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On Saturday June 16th, Sgt. David Reckley and Cpl. Dan Stiles conducted a vessel patrol on the Oconee River in Laurens County. Four boating safety inspections were conducted and eight fishing licenses were checked. No violations were documented.
APPLING COUNTY On the night of June 13th, RFC Chase Altman assisted the GBI Task Force and the Sheriff's office with a drug raid on a home in the county. Over 15 marijuana plants were seized and 2 individuals at the house were arrested.
Over the weekend, RFC Chase Altman, RFC Clint Jarriel, and RFC Debbie Brannen, escorted over 300 canoes and kayaks down the Altamaha River, from Deen's Landing to the Wayne County Line. The group was headed by Paddle Georgia. During the escort several boats were stopped, resulting in warnings and citations being issued for fishing w/o a license and breaking the 100 foot rule.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY On June 16th, Cpl. Barry Britt charged a man with illegal use of an ATV on Bullard Creek WMA.
PIERCE COUNTY On June 15th, RFC Tim Hutto, Cpl. Gary Simmons and K-9 Gauge presented a K-9 program for approximately forty children and five adults at a youth camp in Blackshear. The children learned about the different breeds of K-9 dogs that law enforcement used as well as their specific task.
On June 11th, Cpl. Gary Simmons received a complaint call from Pierce County 911 about someone shooting a deer from the road and from a vehicle. 911 advised Cpl. Simmons that the complainant heard a gunshot and observed a pickup truck leaving the scene. A deer was killed, but the truck sped off after shooting and the deer was not retrieved. Once on scene, Cpl. Simmons learned a different truck had been observed riding back and forth by the location. A traffic stop was conducted of this vehicle. A Georgia State Patrol trooper came to Cpl. Simmons' stop location to assist. As Cpl. Simmons was out with the occupants of this vehicle, the original vehicle observed when the shot was fired came by the officer's location. The GSP trooper stopped this truck. In the floor board was a fresh spent 7MM Rem Mag shell. There was also a spent round in the console. After brief interviews, charges were made for hunting out of season, hunting from vehicle, hunting from public road, and possession of illegally taken wildlife.
ATKINSON COUNTY On June 16th, RFC Tim Hutto and K-9 Gauge checked areas along the Little Satilla River for fishing and boating activity. Violations were detected and documented for the offense of fishing without a license.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CHATHAM COUNTY On June 11th 2012 CPL Chris Moore and Ranger Kate Hargrove were on patrol in Chatham County. The officers discovered what appeared to be a large volume of dirt backfilled along the edge of a saltwater marsh. They notified Buck Bennett with DNR Coastal Resources Division of the situation and location. Coastal Resources personnel found the site to be in violation of laws protecting the marsh and currently are working with the landowner to mitigate the situation. On June 14, Ranger Kiel Toney and Sgt. Cindy Miller were checking boat ramps for flounder giggers. The Rangers checked several giggers. Two individuals were cited for gigging illegal fish in salt water. These two individuals gigged six sheepshead. Flounder is the only fish that can be gigged in Georgia.
On June 17th 2012 CPL Chris Moore and Ranger Kate Hargrove were on patrol in the Grove River in Chatham County. Upon checking a small vessel the individuals were cited for fishing without license and possessing an undersized Atlantic sharpnose shark that measured 11" from nose to fork. The legal size to possess a sharpnose is 30" fork length. On June 17th 2012 CPL Chris Moore and Ranger Kate Hargrove responded to a call from a landowner in reference to individuals trespassing and fishing a private pond without permission. Upon arrival it was discovered to be a family with small children fishing. They were asked to leave by request of the landowner.

WAYNE COUNTY On June 16, 2012 RFC Randy Aspinwall offered a HIN inspection detail in Jesup. He inspected and assisted 12 boaters in getting their boat registration. MCINTOSH COUNTY On June 16, 2012, Sgt. Wayne Hubbard offered a HIN inspection in Darien. He inspected 3 boats. GLYNN COUNTY On June 15th, RFC John Evans was patrolling the Jekyll Island Pier when he noticed a man cleaning a shark that appeared to be smaller than the legal size. RFC Evans stopped to talk to the man and told him the shark was too small and told him how long they had to be. The man then stated, "well, then I bet none of the thirty I caught are legal." The subject was cited for possession of illegal size fish and fishing without a license.
On June 16th, RFC John Evans responded to a boating incident at the Blythe Island Regional Park in Glynn County. A female boater lost her balance while exiting the boat and fell backwards into it. Her head struck the metal seat which caused about a 2 inch laceration. She was transported to the hospital by ambulance where she was treated and released.