Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section Field Operations Weekly Report February 17-23, 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) FANNIN COUNTY On February 24th RFC Cody Jones patrolled the delayed harvest section on the Toccoa River. Officer Jones checked 5 fishermen and issued one citation and one warning for possession of trout and for unlawful equipment on a delayed harvest stream. GILMER COUNTY On February 15th Cpl. Casey Jones and RFC Joe Hill were patrolling the Talona area of Gilmer County. The officers were on foot patrol at Talona Creek when they encountered two subjects at the falls area. One subject was found to be in possession of marijuana and the officers charged the man with possession of marijuana, less than one ounce. On February 23rd Cpl. James Keener and RFC Joe Hill were patrolling the Hwy 382 area of Gilmer County. The officers spotted a suspicious vehicle on the side of the road and stopped to see what the occupants were doing. The driver of the vehicle told the officers his car had lost the power steering pulley. While RFC Hill checked both of the subjects' drivers' license, Cpl. Keener talked with them. While Cpl. Keener was talking to the subjects, the female passenger opened the trunk of the car and a glass marijuana pipe fell out. The officers secured the subjects and Cpl. Keener asked them if they had any marijuana in the vehicle. The male driver said he did have some. Cpl. Keener searched the vehicle and found the marijuana, prescription pills not in the original container, and other drug related objects. Both subjects were arrested and charged for Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) GWINNETT COUNTY On February 19th, Sgt. Lee Brown provided in-service training to the Corp of Engineer Park Rangers that work at the Lake Lanier Project. The training consisted of how the two agencies can better work together on incidents that occur on and around Lake Lanier. LAKE LANIER During the week rangers have continued conducting surface patrols searching for the victim from the boating incident that occurred on February 11th. RABUN COUNTY On February 19, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Sgt. Stan Elrod, Cpl. Derek Dillard, Cpl. Jesse Cook, Cpl. Jason Roberson, Cpl. Bob Holley, Cpl. Michael Crawley, Cpl. Bill Bunch, RFC Kevin Dyer, RFC Anne Alexander, RFC Chad Chambers, RFC Mitchell Crump, RFC Tim Vickery, RFC Eric Isom, USFS Officers, and USFWS Agents served three (3) search warrants at three (3) different residences in Rabun County in a multi-state and federal investigation involving illegal bear hunting. The officers seized a multitude of items from the residences that will be used as evidence against the suspects. Four suspects were arrested on Georgia violations including: hunting bears over bait, illegally placing bait for bears, hunting bears with dogs, Littering, etc. in GA. The four suspects also face charges in North Carolina as well as federal charges. WHITE COUNTY On February 20, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Sgt. Stan Elrod, Cpl. Derek Dillard, Cpl. Jesse Cook, Cpl. Jason Roberson, Cpl. Bob Holley, Cpl. Michael Crawley, RFC Kevin Dyer, RFC Anne Alexander, RFC Chad Chambers, RFC Mitchell Crump, RFC Tim Vickery, RFC Eric Isom, USFS Officers, and USFWS Agents served three (3) search warrants at three (3) different residences in White County in a multi-state and federal investigation involving illegal hunting and guiding. The officers seized a multitude of items from the residences that will be used as evidence against the suspects. Three suspects were arrested on Georgia violations including: hunting bears over bait, Illegally placing bait for bears, hunting bears with dogs, Littering, hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle, etc. in GA. One suspect faces 99 charges in seven (7) counties in GA and all three suspects face federal charges in addition to their state charges. For more information about this multi-state and federal investigation visit: www.operationsomethingbruin.org Region III- Thomson (East Central) OCONEE COUNTY On February 23rd Captain Mike England and RFC Tim Butler attended the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet in Watkinsville. ELBERT/OGLETHORPE COUNTY Cpl. Julian Wilkins and RFC Phillip Nelson attended an in service training on Thursday February 21, put on by the G B I. The instructors were G B I, F B I,the Georgia State Patrol and Army personnel. This class was also attended by Sheriff Deputies from several other counties. The topics covered were ; Metal Theft in the CSRA Area, Initial Crime Scene Response, Internet Crimes Against Children, Basic Explosives Recognition, Legal Update, Synthetic Marijuana / Spice, Army CID Investigations and Basic Interdiction / Roadside Interviews. WILKES COUNTY On February 20th, Sgt. Matt Garthright and Cpl. Mark Patterson met with a subject that was known to be holding a white tailed deer without a permit. The information on this case had been gathered by officers involved in the multi agency investigation "Operation Something Bruin". The individual was charged with the offense of holding a game animal without a permit. GREENE COUNTY/ LAKE OCONEE On Saturday February 23, fourteen young shooters participated in a course on firearm safety and learned the skills of shooting clay targets launched from a skeet thrower. The shooters were given the opportunity to shoot 50 targets with close guidance from local Rangers. After the skeet event, the shooters became Squirrel hunters. The hunters were broken up into three groups and sent off with Rangers, parents, and dog handlers. The hunters were given the opportunity to watch squirrel dogs work the woods and even given the opportunity to shoot at a squirrel or two. Several squirrels were taken with most of the hunters taking their first squirrel. Among the Rangers that participated were Sgt. Brian Carter, Cpl. Derrell Worth, Cpl. Mark Patterson, Cpl. David Allen, Cpl. Josh Copeland, RFC Tim Butler, RFC Ricky Boles, and RFC Niki Spencer. The event was organized by Cpl. Derrell Worth. MORGAN COUNTY On February 20, Cpl. David Allen received a call from the Region 3 office in reference to damage to property and trespassing on a Morgan County hunting lease. Cpl. Allen spoke with the complainant, who did not want to press charges for damaging two metal traps. Cpl. Allen located the offender, a seventeen year old student, and gave verbal guidance concerning trespassing on others property. WASHINGTON COUNTY Corporal Micheal Crawley and K9 Storm were involved in serving multiple arrest and search warrants in White and Rabun counties. These warrants were the result of a 4 year investigation called Operation Something Bruin. MCDUFFIE COUNTY On the night of February 20th, Sgt. Matt Garthright responded and assisted with the recovery efforts of a plane crash that resulted in five fatalities and two survivors. The plane crashed in a wooded area east of the McDuffie Airport and is believed to have over shot the runway and tried to pull up out of it, striking a telephone pole and large line. RFC Leroy Ficklin continued our assistance with the incident on February 21st. Region IV- Macon (West Central) MONROE COUNTY On Saturday, February 23rd, Ranger First Class Freddie Hays, Corporal Susan Morris and Corporal Tony Wynne went to New Providence Baptist Church for their Wild Game Supper. In order to develop future hunters, the Rangers set up a Laser Shot System and Morris and Wynne assisted RFC Hays with helping the children develop their marksmanship and shooting techniques using both a rifle and a shotgun. MUSCOGEE COUNTY On February 23rd, Corporal Mitch Oliver was checking fishing license along the Chattahoochee River in Columbus. Corporal Oliver stopped at Rotary Park and observed 5 people fishing from the dock near the boat ramp. As Corporal Oliver was exiting his vehicle, several of the fishermen picked their gear up and walked up the dock towards him. Corporal Oliver stopped 2 of the men and checked their license and lost sight of a third man that had walked up as well. After making his way down to the dock, Corporal Oliver checked one subject that didn't have a license. Corporal Oliver also asked a juvenile there on the dock where the adult had gone that was fishing with him. The juvenile said that his stepfather had gone to the restroom and for a walk. Corporal Oliver walked the unlicensed fishermen up to his truck and issued him a citation for non-resident fishing without a license and then turned his attention to locating the other subject. After a few minutes, Corporal Oliver saw the man walking along the river walk and went over to where he was. Corporal Oliver asked the man for his fishing license and the fisherman said that he didn't have one and that was why he walked off. Corporal Oliver asked the subject for his driver's license and the man produced one, but said that it was suspended. Once back at his truck, Corporal Oliver ran a check of the subject's driver's license and found that the man had a warrant for his arrest from Columbus Police Department. The warrant was for 2nd degree burglary. Corporal Oliver took the subject into custody without incident and turned him over to the Columbus Police Department. The man was also issued a citation for non-resident fishing without a license. TROUP COUNTY On the afternoon of February 17th, Ranger Russell Epps was patrolling the area of West Point Lake for fishing activity. A total of 9 boats and 18 fishing licenses were checked. One warning was written for operating a vessel with expired registration. Region V- Albany (Southwest) WEBSTER COUNTY On February 21st, Sgt. Butch Potter interviewed two subjects detained by Webster County deputies following a citizen's complaint of a suspicious vehicle. It was determined that the two Ohio residents had been hunting and trapping throughout the county for several days. After finding several set steel leg hold traps, the two were cited for non-resident trapping without a license, failure to tag traps, and non-resident hunting without a license. DECATUR COUNTY On February 20th, RFC Tony Cox responded to a hunting incident involving two quail hunters. The incident occurred when one hunter was shot in the face by his partner, who was shooting at a bird that flushed between them. This incident is currently under investigation. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) WHEELER COUNTY On Sunday, February 17th, 2013, RFC Rodney Horne responded to a complaint about a person holding two deer in a fence behind a residence in Glenwood. RFC Rodney Horne located the two deer. Violations were documented for possessing the deer without a permit and Game management was notified to seize the deer for rehabilitation. On Saturday, February 23rd, 2013, RFC Rodney Horne responded to a report of 5 reckless boaters racing up the Little Ocmulgee River outside of Lumber City. RFC Rodney Horne responded to the location and found 14 vessels involved in a Bass Tournament. RFC Rodney Horne and Cpl. Dan Stiles documented violations for fishing without licenses, operating vessels with expired registration, and operating a vessel without personal flotation devices readily accessible. LAURENS COUNTY On February 23 Cpl. Stiles responded to a call from Laurens Co. 911 reference persons stuck in vehicles at the Beaverdam WMA. Cpl. Stiles, assisted by Cpl. Bryant of the GSP, located an individual and his vehicle. The vehicle had become disabled and was stuck in the mud on a firebreak several hundred yards from a road. Another individual, who was also driving off road at the WMA and had left the scene in another vehicle, was later located at his residence. Two violations for driving a vehicle on an un-improved road on a WMA were documented. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) CAMDEN COUNTY On February 12th, 13th, and 14th, Sgt. Chris Hodge and RFC John Evans testified in Federal Court during the prosecution of a subject who reported being bitten by a Black Mamba snake on November 21st, 2011 in Camden County. Throughout the course of the 1 year investigation, investigator's learned that the subject was never bitten in Georgia by any snake but was bitten at his residence in Jacksonville, Florida by his pet Egyptian Cobra. The subject was indicted in Federal Court during the summer of 2012 and released on bond awaiting trial. On February 14th, a federal jury convicted the subject of providing false information to law enforcement officers and the subject is currently in custody of the United States Marshall's Service awaiting sentencing. On February 18th, RFC John Evans investigated a dumping case on Springhill Road in Camden County. The suspect had dumped tires and a big screen TV. RFC Evans was eventually able to track the man down and he admitted to the dumping. He was cited and the debris was cleaned up and disposed of properly. On February 19th, RFC John Evans and Wildlife Technician Hal Wiggins taught archery to 12 kids attending the Day Camp at Crooked River State Park in St. Mary's. On February 18th, Cpl. Craig Smith responded to a complaint from Camden County Deputies that they had caught several subjects possibly hunting hogs on Private property. Cpl. Smith responded and was able to determine that the location was on private property. The subjects were charged with Hunting W/O Permission and Hunting W/O a License. TRAINING ACADEMY On February 21st 23rd, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Scott Carroll, Cpl. James Keener, Cpl. Steve Robinson, and RFC Mark Stephens instructed DNR Law Enforcement officers in DNR's first Advanced/Tactical ATV Training Course. 19 Officers were certified as advanced ATV operator's and completed advanced training in Tactical Formations, Hill Climbing, Side Hilling, Crash Avoidance, Crowd Control formations, Tactical Awareness on ATV's, and much more. These instructors completed a one week Instructor's Course given by the SPECVOC Company from Michigan in August of 2012.