Field operations weekly report, 2012 July 22-28

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report July 22-28, 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 Sunday, Cpl. Lee Burns and Ranger Zackary Hardy patrolled Lake Allatoona. The officers issued four citations for boating violations including operating without registration, operating a vessel with insufficient PFDs, towing skier with a PWC without an observer on board and fishing without a license.
On Saturday, Cpl. Byron Young was patrolling Lake Allatoona in the area of Allatoona Dam. Approximately 25 minutes after sunset Cpl. Young observed to two Kayaks without any lights displayed. Cpl. Young checked two juveniles that had left their campsite to do some night fishing. The two young men did not have any lights or handheld lights. The two young men were advised that while operating at night in a Kayak they must have a minimum of a hand held light. Cpl. Young escorted the young men back to their campsite.
GILMER COUNTY On July 22, 2012, Cpl. Casey Jones and RFC Joe Hill patrolled Carters Lake. The officers issued 3 citations and 6 warnings for towing a skier between sunset and sunrise, operating overloaded vessel, illegal consumption of alcohol on WMA, operating vessel with improper registration, and operating vessel without throwable device.
FANNIN COUNTY On July 28th, RFC Joe Hill and RFC Cody Jones patrolled Blue Ridge Lake. The officers issued 4 citations and 6 warnings. The violations were operating with improper registration, allowing person to ride on the bow, allowing a 3 and 7 year old child to ride without wearing a PFD, operating without PFDs, violation of rules of the road, and operating a PWC within 100ft. of persons swimming in the water.
On July 28th at about 10:00 pm, RFC Joe Hill and RFC Cody Jones assisted U.S. Forest Service Officer Mike Tipton with a party on US Forest Service property. There were approximately 30 people of which most were under the age of 21. As the officers entered the area, a juvenile ran and tried to hide in the tall weeds. DNR officers secured the juvenile, charged them with obstruction and turned them over to their parent. The Officer Tipton issued citations for underage possession of alcohol, illegal burning, and driving on closed roads.
On July 29th, RFC Cody Jones patrolled Blue Ridge Lake and issued 2 citations and 4 warnings for violations including improper registration, towing skier without observer, and operating an overloaded vessel.
PICKENS COUNTY On July 27th Cpl. James Keener assisted Pickens County Sheriff's Deputies after a brief chase. The chase was started after a suspect's vehicle was spotted shortly after the vehicle was involved in the theft of a firearm from another vehicle in Jasper. During the chase, the firearm was thrown from the suspect's vehicle and an accident was caused

when the suspect forced a motorist from the roadway. The suspect then fled on foot. Cpl. Keener helped secure a perimeter and track with a K-9 team. The vehicle used by the suspect was also determined to be stolen. The suspect was not apprehended and investigation continues.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY Cpl. Julian Wilkins and Cpl. Mark Patterson patrolled Lake Russell on Saturday July 28. While on routine patrol, they noticed a jet-ski tip over with three people on board. After a brief period they noticed no one had righted the jet-ski and boarded. They approached and realized one of the passengers was panicking and her life jacket was about to come off up over her head. She immediately began to ask the Rangers to get her into their boat. They got her into their boat and got her calmed down. The operator righted the jet-ski and then could not get it to crank. It is believed he rolled it back over in the wrong direction. They carried all three back to the ramp and towed the jet ski and got it loaded onto the trailer.
RICHMOND COUNTY On July 22nd, Sgt. Max Boswell and Cpl. Michael Crawley worked the Annual Southern National Drag Boat Races in Augusta. More than 10,000 spectators come every year to enjoy this high speed drag boat race. There were only minor incidents on the water with no serious injuries documented. The officers provided a secure river for the race. Permits must be drawn up for the event, so that river traffic can be limited. Several categories of racing takes place on the river with the highlight being the Top Fuel Hydro's which reach speeds of 230 mph in the liquid quarter mile.
BURKE COUNTY RFC's Jeff Billips and Grant Matherly were patrolling Yuchi WMA on Saturday July 28, when they encountered a couple riding an ATV on a closed road. The couple claimed they had been fishing but, were in possession of Native American artifacts. Citations and warnings were issued for operating ATV on closed WMA, driving on closed road, and excavating artifacts on State property.
LAKE OCONEE On Sunday, July 22, Cpl. David Allen, RFC Freddie Hays and RFC Richard Tanner patrolled Lake Oconee. Several safety violations were noticed and cited including failure to obey regulatory marker, towing skier on pwc without observer on board, allowing another to ride on bow / gunwale of vessel, and allowing child under 10 to ride in moving vessel without PFD.
On Sunday, July 23, Rangers on Lake Oconee were asked to assist in looking for a vessel involved in a gas drive off from a local marina. The vessel in question left the marina failing to pay for $143 in fuel. The incident is still under investigation.

On July 27-28, Sgt. John Harwell, Cpl. Derrell Worth, RFC Freddie Hays, and RFC Richard Tanner patrolled Lake Oconee. Rangers cited several operators for various safety violations including failure to obey regulatory marker, operating PWC with insufficient PFD, operating vessel with expired registration, operating vessel over capacity, allowing person to ride on bow / gunwale of moving vessel, operating vessel at night without navigation lights, and operating vessel with insufficient PFD.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On Friday July 27th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins attended Advanced Interview and Interrogations training at Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office in Lawrenceville.
On Saturday July 28th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins and Rfc. Leroy Ficklin conducted a boating safety patrol on Clarks Hill Lake and the Savannah River. One subjected was arrested for BUI and Failure to Obey Regulatory Marker.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY On July 28th, RFC Kevin Godbee and Corporal Bubba Stanford patrolled Lake Sinclair. At approximately 7:45 p.m. the Rangers were dispatched by Baldwin County Sheriff's Office to the area of Sinclair Marina in reference to a fight between several boats. Once on scene the officers separated both parties and escorted them to the dock. One subject was transported to the hospital with a severe laceration to the head from being struck with a boat paddle. One subject was arrested for Aggravated Assault and five others were arrested for disorderly conduct. The case was turned over to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.
BUTTS COUNTY On July 22nd, RFC Keith Page and Sergeant Tim Kendrick patrolled Jackson Lake. The Rangers stopped a vessel for towing a skier after sunset, and after a brief investigation found the operator to be under the influence of alcohol. The man failed several field sobriety exercises and refused to give a sample of his breath to determine his blood alcohol content. After being arrested the man was transported to the Butts County Jail. Charges include towing a skier after sunset, operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and child endangerment.
JASPER COUNTY On July 22nd, RFC Keith Page responded to a complaint regarding illegal burning of waste on County Line Road. When RFC Page arrived at the scene, he found a pit approximately 15 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 3 feet deep that had been filled with items such as shingles, mattresses, tires, car batteries, and a couch. All the items were still burning when Page arrived. RFC Page charged the suspect with unlawful burning of waste between 10 and 500 pounds, a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. The man admitted to RFC Page that he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he was trying to clean up around his house.

PUTNAM COUNTY On July 24th, Corporal Bubba Stanford investigated an unlawful dumping case off Pierce Chapel Road; several bags of household garbage had been dumped on the side of the road. Through items found in the trash Cpl. Stanford tracked the subject to an address in Putnam County. The subject was charged with littering and was instructed to remove the garbage which he admitted was his.
TROUP COUNTY On July 28th, Ranger David Fisher and Sgt. Jim Bradfield performed a boat patrol on West Point Lake. They issued three warnings and one citation for various violations such as operating a vessel with improper lights and operating an overloaded vessel.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On the night of July 22nd, Cpl. Greg Wade and Ranger Chris Carlisle were working boating safety patrol on Lake Worth when they observed and stopped a pontoon boat that was being operated with no navigation lights displayed. While discussing the safety concern with the operator, it became apparent to Cpl. Wade that the subject was impaired. After a thorough investigation, the operator was impaired was arrested and charged with boating under the influence and operating a vessel at night without lights.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
IRWIN COUNTY On the 26th RFC Joe Hilton was called on by the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division to assist in a search and rescue mission of a 68 year old male. RFC Hilton along with Sgt. Jeff Rhodes arrived on scene in Irwin County and was given a description of the subject and his background by the Irwin County Sherriff's office. The individual was missing for over twenty-four hours at the time of the dispatch. RFC Hilton and Sgt. Rhodes went airborne and within twenty minutes RFC Hilton located the subject along with his two canine companions. The subject was pronounced dead at the scene and had passed of heat exhaustion.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On Saturday July 28th, Cpl. Eddie Akins and Sgt. Don Dasher patrolled the Savannah River in the Tuckasee King Landing area and checked boat landings in Effingham County. Their efforts resulted in four boats being checked and two violations being documented. The violations documented were for operating a vessel with improper PFD's and for operating a vessel during hours of darkness without lights.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On the morning of July 22nd, Cpl. Jay Morgan and Ranger Jason Miller checked the boat ramp at King's Ferry on the Ogeechee River, citing one person for operating a personal watercraft (PWC) without a life jacket and for operating above idle speed in the "Idle Speed" zone.
On the afternoon of July 22nd, Cpl. Jay Morgan and Ranger Trey Taylor were driving on Hwy. 144 East, when a small car passed them in a "No Passing" zone. The car then passed another vehicle and sped off at a high rate of speed. When the officers caught up to the car as it was entering Richmond Hill, the operator of the car suddenly applied his brakes and veered into the adjoining right lane of the four-lane, causing Cpl. Morgan to apply his brakes to keep from hitting the car. Upon turning on their blue emergency lights, the car sped off and the officers gave pursuit with their blue lights and siren on. The car made a U-turn and headed back east on Hwy. 144, passing slower moving vehicles, and causing on-coming traffic to veer off onto the shoulder of the road. At one point, the car was estimated to be doing over 90 mph. The officers kept the subject in sight and radioed for assistance from the Bryan Co. Sheriff's Dept. The officers temporarily lost sight of the car when it entered a subdivision in which the operator lived. Upon arrival at the operator's home, the officers found the car parked in the driveway, knocked on the door, and was met by the operator's mother. When the operator came outside, he admitted to fleeing because he was scared and admitted that he had been drinking. The driver was taken to the sheriff's dept. where he gave a breath sample of .156, nearly twice the legal limit. The 28 year-old driver was arrested for passing in a No Passing zone, fleeing/eluding a police officer, passing within 200 feet of on-coming traffic, reckless operation, and driving under the influence.
On July28th, Sgt. James Shelton and Ranger Taylor patrolled the Ogeechee River in the King's Ferry area, citing one person for fishing without a license.
LIBERTY COUNTY On July 22nd, RFC Trey Taylor and Cpl. Jay Morgan patrolled the St. Catherine's Sound area, citing one boater for towing persons on a tube without an observer or mirror on board.
On July 28th, Sgt. James Shelton and Ranger Taylor conducted a HIN/boat registration inspection at the Savannah Tech campus on Airport Rd., assisting one boat owner with the registration of his boat.
MCINTOSH COUNTY On Monday, July 23, Rng Jeremy Reese, Cpl Chris Ridley, Cpl Bobby White, Sgt. Wayne Hubbard, and Cpt. Doug Lewis performed surveillance on a commercial fishing vessel in response to numerous complaints from commercial crab fishermen about stolen traps and crabs. The vessel was checked at the ramp and charges were made for

commercial fishing without a license, crabbing in closed waters, undersized fish while commercial fishing and a warning for failure to tag commercial fishing gear.
On Saturday July 28, Cpl. Chris Ridley, RFC Randy Aspinwall and Rng Jeremy Reese patrolled offshore to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. During the patrol, a vessel was issued a Federal warning for fishing inside the new research area which is located along the southern boundary. For more information on the research area go to HTTP://GRAYSREEF.NOAA.GOV