Field operations weekly report, 2013 January 27-February 2

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report January 27 February 2, 2013
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 January 30th, Sgt. Mike Barr organized the Region I DNR Critical Action Team in response to a tornado that touched down in Bartow County in the city of Adairsville. Cpl. Byron Young and RFC Zack Hardy went in from the south side of town and assisted people in schools and businesses that had been hit by the tornado. Cpl. Chip Cox assisted at the incident command center. Sgt. Mike Barr found seven overturned semi tractortrailers at the Adairsville Truck Stop and a large pool of fuel leaking from the trucks. Sgt. Rick Dempsey and Cpl. Wil Smith worked through the night providing security and traffic control. Rangers from DNR worked in Adairsville during the next four days assisting the Adairsville PD, Bartow County EMA and other agencies with needs of citizens and businesses affected by the F3 tornado.

FANNIN COUNTY On January 30th, RFC Cody Jones assisted with the response to wind damage across the county. Officer Jones assisted in clearing debris from roadways, searching and identifying impassable roadways and assisting with vehicle wrecks caused during the weather event.
GILMER COUNTY On January 20th, Cpl. Casey Jones and RFC Joe Hill assisted GSP Troopers with a seat belt safety check on Hwy 52 East at the Gilmer County and Dawson County line. Several arrests were made and citations issued for driving without a license, DUI, and violation of GA open container law.
On January 25th, Sgt. John VanLandingham and RFC Cody Jones came across a car that had spun out on the icy road and crashed in the ditch. The officers stopped to check on the driver but no one was around the vehicle. The officers were able to locate the driver who sustained no injuries. After the car was pulled from the ditch officers found eight unopened cans of beer in the floorboard. A matching empty beer can was found a few feet away in the ditch where the driver admitted throwing it. The scene was turned over to a Gilmer County Deputy. On January 26th, RFC Joe Hill assisted Gilmer County Sheriff's Office with a motor vehicle accident. Later in the evening RFC Hill assisted GSP Trooper Tennant with marijuana identification and apprehension of a DUI driver that fled the scene of an accident. The officers, along with several Deputies with Gilmer County Sheriff's Office, went the driver's residence and arrested the driver for numerous violations.
On February 2nd, RFC Joe Hill patrolled the Cartecay Tract of Rich Mountain WMA for GORP compliance. RFC Hill checked two area users that did have the required license. Before the officer left, the owner of a local kayak and tubing company drove into the area to pick up some clients. RFC Hill asked for his GORP license and the subject could not produce one. RFC Hill asked for his driver's license, and he could not produce a driver's license. The officer checked to see if the person had a valid license using the mobile data terminal in his patrol vehicle. The subject had a suspended driver's license. RFC Hill arrested the man for driving while license suspended or revoked.
GORDON COUNTY On January 30th, Rangers from Region 1 responded to areas along the 24-mile path of a devastating tornado spanning two counties. DNR Rangers assisted with removing affected residents from collapsed homes, search and rescue in residential areas and served on Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams as the law enforcement team member during the residential community searches. DNR's role eventually turned into one of security and traffic control in affected areas for the next four days.
MURRAY COUNTY On January 21st Cpl. Casey Jones issued two waterfowl hunter's citations for hunting without a federal waterfowl stamp.

WHITFIELD COUNTY On January 23rd Cpl. Casey Jones arrested two men for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Cpl. Jones was responding to a hunting out of season complaint when he encountered the two men in the area. The men were not engaged in any hunting activity.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
TOWNS COUNTY On January 28th, Cpl. Jesse Cook observed a subject that appeared to be hitch hiking from the Appalachian Trail. Cpl. Cook stopped to check on the subject who appeared to be frantically waving at vehicles as they passed. Upon checking on the subject he advised that he was trying to get to Hiawassee because he had ran out of food two days ago while hiking the Appalachian. Cpl. Cook did get the subjects identification cards and asked the subject if he had any weapons on him. The subject advised that he had a pocket knife. Cpl. Cook notified the Georgia State Patrol dispatch of his intention to transport the subject to Hiawassee. While en route Cpl. Cook ran the subject through his mobile data terminal and found that the subject was wanted out of Kentucky and out of Florida. Cpl. Cook had dispatch to confirm the warrants and the subject was placed under arrest for the warrants once in Hiawassee. Cpl. Cook did however provide the subject with a MealReady to-Eat (MRE) before he was transported to the jail.
HART COUNTY On January 30th, RFC Brandon Pierce received a call from the Hart County 911 Center in reference to a possible illegal burn. The call involved an abandoned chicken house that had been buried and burned. RFC Pierce, along with the fire chief and code enforcement for the county, arrived on scene and investigated the matter. There were two subjects involved in the matter. As a result, a total of two violations were documented. The violations consisted of unlawful burning of egregious litter. The subjects were advised on the laws and what do to in the future of getting rid of waste.
CLAYTON COUNTY On February 1st, Cpl. Eric Sanders assisted RFC Travis Sweat with the DNR booth at the Safari Club Banquet. The rangers utilized the Laser Shot and answered questions.
FORSYTH COUNTY On January 27th, Sgt. Lee Brown was patrolling the Chattahoochee River for boating and fishing activity. During the patrol several fishermen were checked. One subject was issued a citation for fishing without a license and a written warning for fishing without a trout license.
GWINNETT COUNTY On January 27th, Cpl. Eric Sanders and Cpl. Eddie Tompkins located a 16 year old subject hunting without permission. A parent was called and requested to come to the scene. Upon the parent's arrival the subject was given warnings for hunting without permission, hunting without a license, hunting without big game license, and failure to record deer harvest.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY On January 27th Cpl. Brian Hobbins checked waterfowl hunters on Clarks Hill Lake. Cpl. Hobbins checked several groups of hunters and issued warnings for several license violations.
On January 29th Cpl. Brian Hobbins taught a Hunter Safety class to twenty six 4H students so they would be eligible to shoot on the 4H Skeet Team.
On February 1st RFC Bobby Timmerman was on routine patrol traveling on Hwy 104 in the Pollards Corner area. Timmerman observed a car driving at a very slow rate of speed weaving across the entire roadway. Timmerman followed the vehicle for a short distance and it continued to drive erratically. Timmerman activated his emergency equipment in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued on at approximately 20 mph and refused to stop. Timmerman followed the vehicle for approximately 8 miles attempting to get it to stop. On several occasions Timmerman had to cross into the other lane in order to warn oncoming traffic to pull over to prevent a head on collision. After pursuing the vehicle for 15 minutes a Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy arrived to provide assistance. Timmerman and the deputy finally got the vehicle boxed in and were able to get it stopped. Officers approached the vehicle and found a 54 year old female that was incoherent. Timmerman had EMS respond to the scene to check the driver. It was determined the woman was suffering from diabetic shock. The woman was treated and turned over to her father.
GREENE COUNTY On Saturday February 2, Sgt. John Harwell was traveling west on I-20 when he drove upon a wreck with an overturned vehicle. Sgt. Harwell assisted GSP with the wreck scene.
LAKE OCONEE On Saturday February 2, Sgt. John Harwell and Cpl. David Allen patrolled Lake Oconee checking fishing licenses and vessels in Sugar and Lick Creeks. No violations were recorded.
WALTON COUNTY On January 27, RFC Nikki Spencer issued citations for hunting waterfowl after hours and no Federal duck stamp.
On Saturday February 2, RFC Nikki Spencer was checking rabbit hunters and issued one individual a citation and for hunting without a license.
CLARKE COUNTY On Sunday January 27, RFC Tim Butler caught two subjects hunting ducks over bait. Subjects were cited for hunting ducks over bait.

RICHMOND COUNTY On January 27, Cpl. Ben Payne patrolled Richmond and Burke County checking without permission complaints. He also checked local creeks for fishing activity. No violations were documented. Later in the afternoon he patrolled Yuichi WMA for hunting activity with no contacts made.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
CLAYTON COUNTY On February 1st and 2nd, RFC Travis Sweat, Corporal Eric Sanders, RFC Kevin Godbee and Deputy Ranger Joe Sebo ran the laser shot at the annual Safari Club International show in Atlanta.
CRAWFORD COUNTY On January 27th Ranger David Fisher responded to a complaint regarding an in-progress illegal burn. Upon arriving on the scene, Fisher determined many of the items being burned were of such a nature that their burning was prohibited by law. As a result, one citation was issued for unlawful dumping (burning).
JONES COUNTY On Wednesday, January 30th, Corporal Lynn Stanford and Corporal Josh Copelan acted on an anonymous complaint that two deer had been shot behind a house in a residential area. Upon arrival, they checked the scene, and observed alligator parts on the suspects back porch. Upon questioning the suspect about the alligator, he stated that he had shot it with a .22 rifle in Macon. The alligator parts were seized and warrants were taken on the suspect for taking an alligator out of season, taking an alligator by illegal methods and illegal possession of alligator parts. The suspect turned himself in at the Bibb County Jail the next day. The alligator killed was estimated in excess of 12 feet.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
TIFT COUNTY On the evening of February 2nd, Cpl. Greg Wade had stopped in a rural area and heard a volley of gunshots as he exited his truck. The shots were in the direction of a baited duck pond, upon which Cpl. Wade had caught two men shooting the prior Saturday. Suspecting the shots came from the same pond; Cpl. Wade quickly drove to the location and discovered two vehicles hidden in the woods. The officer set up surveillance on the unoccupied vehicles but despite a lengthy wait in the dark, the suspects did not return. Suspecting that his approach had been observed by the suspects, Wade contacted Ranger Chris Carlisle for assistance. Two and a half hours later, two suspects exited a nearby wooded area and were greeted by the waiting officers. When questioned, the subjects stated they had been scouting for turkeys and gotten lost. Cpl. Wade noticed that both men were unusually dressed for the cold weather and activity; one suspect was wearing only a tee shirt, boxer underwear, and boots. Cpl. Wade asked the subject, "You fell in the pond again didn't you?" (Both subjects had fallen in the water the previous Saturday when encountered by Wade). The hunters finally admitted that they had decided to shoot the pond again, even though the season was out, because of the large numbers of ducks still coming to feed on the bait. After locating the guns and wet clothing the two men had hidden, the officers charged the pair for hunting waterfowl out of season, hunting waterfowl after hours, hunting over bait and numerous license and illegal ammunition violations.
SEMINOLE COUNTY On January 27th, RFC Tony Cox and Ranger Jace Heard located a baited duck pond being shot. Six hunters were charged for hunting waterfowl over bait and various license violations.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On January 27th, Cpl. Stiles patrolled the Beaverdam WMA. Four hunting licenses were checked and eight individuals were checked for GORP compliance at the shooting range. No license or GORP violations were detected. Verbal guidance was given for minor shooting range violations.
WHEELER COUNTY On January 28th, 2013 RFC Rodney Horne worked two Security Details at Wheeler County Elementary School and Wheeler County High School.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
On February 2- Region VII had its 2nd annual "Family Day" at Captain Doug Lewis's residence. Rangers in Region VII brought their spouses and kids. The "entire Region VII Family" enjoyed skeet shooting, hay rides, and barbeque.