Field operations weekly report, 2013 May 12-18

Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement Section
Field Operations
Weekly Report May 12-18, 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 May 18th, Cpl. Lee Burns, Cpl. Tommy Gentry, Cpl. James Keener, Cpl. Byron Young, RFC Brooks Varnell and RFC Barton Hendrix conducted a Hull Identification Number inspection site at the US Army Corp of Engineers office on Allatoona Lake. The DNR Rangers inspected one hundred and three vessels within a six hour period. The vessel inspections are required in some instances to register a boat in Georgia. Vessels owners came from the surrounding counties and northwest Georgia. DNR Rangers are starting to see some vessels come through for a second time as the vessel has changed ownership. For more information on registering a vessel in Georgia go to www.goboatgeorgia.com.
Personal Water Craft (PWC) coming through this process for second time
The inspection line was approximately mile down Spur 20

FULTON COUNTY On May 17th, RFC Daniel Gray received a request for assistance from a Trooper with GSP's Criminal Interdiction Unit in reference to searching for a stolen item on the Chattahoochee River. After many hours of searching for the stolen equipment the LowJack tracking device, which was mounted on the stolen equipment, was found floating in the river by RFC Gray. The tracking device was turned over to GSP for their investigation.
GILMER COUNTY On May 8th, RFC Joe Hill obtained an arrest warrant for unlawful hunting/possession of birds or parts for a subject found to be in possession of a mounted hawk and owl. The raptors were discovered by Gilmer County Sheriffs deputies while serving an arrest warrant on this subject for unrelated charges.
On May 18th, RFC Joe Hill patrolled the Cartecay Tract of Rich Mountain WMA for GORP compliance. RFC Hill checked a total of fourteen users. Only one user, a local tubing and kayak outfitter, did not have a GORP pass. This subject was issued a citation for entering a designated fee area without a GORP.
HARALSON COUNTY On May 14th, RFC Chad Cox completed a road hunting investigation. The incident occurred on April 26 in the western part of the county. With help from the landowner, GBI and other rangers, RFC Cox located the subject that killed a male wild turkey from the road. The subject was charged with hunting from a public road and hunting from a motor vehicle.

MURRAY COUNTY On May 11th, RFC Joe Hill patrolled the spillway area of Carters Re Reg Lake. While checking fishermen on the south side of the spillway, RFC Hill noticed a subject fishing with a stick and line on the north side. The subject saw the officer and dropped the stick and line. The subject walked away from the water and sat at a picnic pavilion. RFC went to the north side of spillway and found the subject did not have a fishing license. RFC issued the man a citation for fishing without a license. POLK COUNTY On May 18th, Sgt. Ricky Dempsey and RFC Chad Cox hosted the Annual Polk County Kid's Fishing Rodeo at Ken View Farms on Hwy. 113. Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors and volunteers this event was a great success. Kids ages 15 and younger were allowed to fish and received a free t-shirt. Everyone at the event got to enjoy free refreshments including: hot dogs, drinks, chips, cookies, and ice cream.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
DEKALB COUNTY On May 14th, Cpl. Eric Sanders talked with three different classes at Redan Elementary School on the job duties of a Conservation Ranger.

FORSYTH COUNTY On May 12th, Sgt. Lee Brown patrolled parks around Lake Lanier. A written warning was issued for fishing without a license. On May 12th, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and RFC Mitchell Crump were patrolling Lake Lanier. Written warnings were issued by RFC Crump and Cpl. Loudermilk to two different subjects for fishing without a license. A citation was issued for operating vessel with insufficient PFD's. On May 18th, Sgt. Lee Brown and RFC Eric Isom patrolled Lake Lanier. The rangers checked 18 boats and 24 fishing licenses. Written warnings were issued for fishing without a license and allowing an underage child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a PFD.
Dad and son with his son's first fish caught on Lake Lanier.

GWINNETT COUNTY On May 17th, Captain Thomas Barnard and Sgt. Lee Brown attended the Down River Safety meeting at the Corp of Engineer Office. This meeting was attended by public safety officials that patrol and respond to incidents on the Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam.
ROCKDALE COUNTY On May 16th, Cpl. Eric Sanders patrolled Randy Poynter Lake. During the patrol several boats and fishermen were checked. Citations and warnings were issued for operating a vessel without registration.
On May 17th, Cpl. Eric Sanders patrolled Randy Poynter Lake. During the patrol several boats and fishermen were checked. Written warnings were issued for fishing without a license and operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's. Cpl. Sanders also sold three fishing licenses while on patrol at Randy Poynter Lake.
MADISON COUNTY On May 13th, RFC Shane Sartor was working the Broad River and at two different locations observed several people smoking what he believed to be marijuana. The subjects were confronted and admitted to smoking and having in their possession more marijuana. Three subjects were issued appearance citations for violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act and the drugs were confiscated and held for evidence. On May 17th, RFC Shane Sartor was working the Broad River at Hwy 172 where he observed two subjects fishing. The subjects were checked for the required licenses and neither subject had a fishing license. Both subjects were issued citations for fishing without license.
On May 18th, RFC Shane Sartor was working the South Fork of the Broad River where several subjects were fishing. The subjects were checked and one did not have a fishing license. The subject was issued a citation for fishing without a license
On May 18th, RFC Shane Sartor was working the Broad River at Hwy 172 and observed a group of people on a large rock in the river. The group was observed for a period of time and two male subjects were seen casting with a rod two times each during this time. Upon checking the subjects they had no tackle and the owner of the rod said he had just bought it and decided to take it down and see how it would cast. The line did have a hook and both subjects were issued warnings for fishing without a license.
STEPHENS COUNTY On May 18th, Cpl. Bill Bunch was working around the Bruce Creek area in Stephens County where he observed two subjects fishing. The subjects were checked for their fishing license and neither subject had one. The subjects were issued warnings for fishing without license.

On May 12th, RFC Tim Vickery was patrolling Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area when he heard a vehicle on an adjacent road revving its engine as if it were mud bogging. When the vehicle came back to the main road, RFC Vickery stopped the truck, which was covered in mud. RFC Vickery asked the driver what he was doing, to which he responded that he and his passengers were driving and spinning tires in mud holes. There was a female passenger next to the driver, and a male passenger in the passenger's seat holding a small child. The driver said that he thought that it was okay to drive through the mud holes and that he had driven through the roadside ditch and rutted it out also. The driver was issued a citation for a safety restraint violation under 8 years of age. He was also verbally warned about staying on the main road and not rutting out the ditches and tearing up the roads.
FRANKLIN COUNTY On April 22th,RFC Tim Vickery was contacted by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office about several large bags of trash being dumped on Gumlog Creek Road. A couple of days later RFC Vickery and Sgt. Stan Elrod followed up on the complaint. They dug through the trash until they found a name and began trying to figure out who had dumped it. After several phone calls and knocking on several doors, the Rangers found that the name in the trash belonged to a tenant who had left a rented residence, leaving the trash behind. The landlord then paid someone to get the trash and haul it off to the dump. The suspect who dumped the trash was finally talked to on May 12. He admitted to dumping the trash because he did not get paid for the job until after it was completed. He was issued a citation for unlawful dumping.
RABUN COUNTY On May 16th, Sgt. Steve Seitz, Cpl. Derek Dillard, and USFS officer Derek Breedlove investigated a complaint of a bear that was killed near a residence outside of Dillard, GA. The officers interviewed three people and determined a bear was in fact killed a few days before. The officers located several pieces of evidence including a bear paw that had been removed from the bear. The rest of the bear had been buried so no one would find it. The person who killed the bear was at work, but later returned and provided Cpl. Dillard and Breedlove a confession about the incident. The officers had to follow up on a few facts of the case before any charges are made.
Later this same date, Cpl. Dillard and Wildlife Tech Eric Wood assisted USFS officer Breedlove with a road check on Warwoman WMA. The officers checked several vehicles and the USFS officer wrote a few traffic citations.
UNION COUNTY On May 18th, RFC David Webb responded to a drowning on Lake Nottley that occurred sometime the night before. RFC Webb assisted the Union County EMS, Towns County Dive Team, and the Union County Sheriff's office search and recovers the victim. It appeared a 61 year old man from Florida got his vehicle stuck near the lake; he got out of the vehicle, wandered around the shoreline and fell into the lake where he drowned in about eight feet of water.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
RICHMOND COUNTY On May 18, DNR Rangers worked Outboard Boat Drag Races on the Savannah River in Augusta. Thirty-five boats from all over the country competed in 6 class brackets. This is the first year the races took place in Augusta.
WILKES COUNTY On May 16th Corporal Mark Patterson and Biologist I.B. Parnell presented a program on feral hog control for the Wilkes County Cattlemen's Association. Approximately 65 people were in attendance.
CLARK/OCONEE COUNTY On May 18th Corporal Mark Patterson and RFC Tim Butler patrolled parks and municipal lakes in the Athens area checking creel limits and fishing license. Several boating safety inspections were also conducted. During the course of the patrol, the Rangers documented violations for fishing without a license, operating a vessel without personal flotation devices, and operating a vessel without registration.
RICHMOND COUNTY On May 15th Captain Mark Padgett, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, Sgt. John Harwell, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, RFC Leroy Ficklin, RFC Phillip Nelson and RFC Jeff Billips assisted during a boating media event attended by Governor Deal on the Savannah River.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, Cpl. Ryan Swain, RFC Bobby Timmerman and RFC Brian Adams conducted over 45 vessel inspections at the Thomson office Saturday morning.
RFC Leroy Ficklin issued three citations at the McDuffie County Public Fishing Area.
Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, RFC Leroy Ficklin and RFC Brian Adams patrolled Clark's Hill Lake on Mother's Day. Several citations were given for towing skier without observer, insufficient life jackets, no registration and failure to obey regulatory marker (wake zone).
GLASCOCK COUNTY RFC Brian Adams finished the 17 Annual Kids Fishing Event. Approximately 200 kids caught over 950 catfish.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, RFC Bobby Timmerman and RFC Brian Adams patrolled Clark's Hill Lake. Several citations were issued for littering, insufficient life jackets, no registration and possession of alcohol by an underage person.

WALTON COUNTY On May 18, RFC Niki Spencer, RFC Ricky Boles, RFC Tim Butler, Cpl. David Allen, and Cpl. Mark Patterson participated in 45 vessel inspections at the WRCC building in Social Circle.
NEWTON COUNTY On May 18, RFC Niki Spencer patrolled Newton County for fishing/boating activity. Two individuals were warned for fishing without a license and operating a vessel without a throw device.
LAKE OCONEE On Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16, Cpl. David Allen and RFC Richard Tanner taught a boating education course at Crowe Marine. During the course, the officers taught the students safe boating techniques as well as laws that pertain to boating on waters of the State of Georgia.
HANCOCK COUNTY On May 16, Cpl. David Allen responded to Hancock County in reference to a dumping complaint off Highway 22. Upon arrival, Cpl. Allen met with Deputy Richard Mayweather. They were able to find names and addresses in the trash bags on site. Citations were issued for illegal dumping.
GREENE COUNTY While patrolling Lake Oconee, CPL Derrell Worth and RFC Ricky Boles checked several vessels for boating violations. Citations were issued for allowing underage child to ride in vessel without wearing a PFD and allowing child 12-15 to unlawfully operate a PWC. Lesser infractions were given verbal guidance.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
MERIWETHER COUNTY On Saturday, May 18th, Sergeant Brent Railey and Corporal Keith Waddell patrolled Pike and Meriwether counties. The rangers concentrated on ongoing complaints. They caught two fishermen fishing on Flat Shoals on the Flint River in Meriwether County. The two men had been warned before that the area was private property and to not fish there. Both men were cited for fishing without permission. They also patrolled the boat ramp at Joe Kurz WMA and gave a boater verbal guidance for not having PFD's in his boat.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On May 14th, Sergeant Jim Bradfield, Corporal Jeremy Bolen, Corporal Mitch Oliver, Corporal Keith Waddell and Ranger Russell Epps all participated in DNR's statewide media event on the new boating under the influence law changes which was held at Lake Oliver Marina. DNR's Command Staff presented the program, which was attended by local officials and various media.

After this media event, Corporal Jeremy Bolen presented a boating safety program at Lake Oliver Marina to a local Columbus TV station. Corporal Bolen discussed the BUI law changes and the Blood Alcohol Concentration reduction to .08 grams for persons age 21 and over.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On May 18th, Cpl. Randy Davis conducted educational programs at a safety fair which was hosted by the Corp of Engineers. The topics discussed were on Boating Safety and Wildlife Education. CRISP COUNTY On May 18th, RFC Clint Martin, Ranger Jesse Harrison, and Cpl. Bob Holley conducted a Boating Safety and Education Class at Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park. LAKE BLACKSHEAR (Crisp, Sumter, Lee and Dooly Counties) On May 18th, Sgt. Al Greer and Cpl. Bob Holley conducted a vessel patrol of Lake Blackshear. During the patrol three citations were issued to vessel operators for operating a vessel with improper lights, failure to obey regulatory marker and for allowing an underage person on a moving vessel without wearing a PFD.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
IRWIN COUNTY On May 18th, RFC Allen Mills and Sgt. David Reckley conducted an area patrol of angler access points along Turkey Creek in Irwin County. The officers checked two vessels for boating safety equipment and six anglers for license requirements. Two violations were documented for fishing without a license and verbal guidance was given for minor violations.
WHEELER COUNTY On May 15th, RFC Rodney Horne was working a hunting hogs without permission complaint in Wheeler County. Six people were located and given guidance about hunting without permission. Five violations for hunting without a license were documented.
COFFEE COUNTY On the 18th, RFC Hilton was conducting a boating safety patrol on the Ocmulgee River. RFC Hilton was conducting a routine safety check at Barr's Bluff landing and documented several violations. RFC Hilton issued two warnings for not having a fire extinguisher on board and operating a vessel without a registration. Also, RFC Hilton observed an individual operating a PWC above idle speed within 100ft. of shore/object. RFC Hilton made contact with the operator and initiated a safety check. While performing the safety check RFC Hilton observed the PWC wasn't registered. RFC Hilton noticed the operator was extremely nervous and agitated and became uncooperative. RFC Hilton interviewed the suspect and discovered he had taken methamphetamines and marijuana prior to operating the PWC. RFC Hilton discovered what appeared to be methamphetamines on the subject. RFC Hilton arrested the subject and charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, BUI (drugs), operating a vessel above idle speed within 100ft. shore/object, and operating a vessel without registration.
APPLING COUNTY Corporal Chase Altman attended the CHAMPS Picnics on the 7th and 9th at the Plant Hatch Recreational Center. Fifth grade students from all the elementary schools graduated from the program, which included Hunter Safety, ATV Safety, and Boating Safety. Also on the 7th, Corporal Altman conducted an I/E program at the Appling High School.
On the 11th, Sgt. Barnard, Cpl. Altman, and RFC Brannen patrolled the Altamaha River from Deen's Landing to Carter's Bight Landing. Eight boats were checked, resulting in 4 documented violations, including operating a vessel w/o registration and operating a vessel within 100 feet of an object in the water.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY On the night of the 10th, Sgt. Barnard and Cpl. Altman assisted the Montgomery Sheriff's Office with serving search warrants on three different stores located in the county for illegal gambling.

TATTNALL COUNTY On May 18, 2013 RFC Clint Jarriel and RFC Debbie Brannen patrolled the Altamaha River in for boating and fishing activity. The patrol resulted in six boats checked and a citation for operating a vessel with no registration.
On May 18, 2013 RFC Clint Jarriel and RFC Debbie Brannen checked Hwy 147 Bridge area for fishing activity. One citation was written for fishing without a license.
JENKINS COUNTY On Sunday, May 19, Cpl. McNeely, Cpl. Akins, and Cpl. Wilcox were checking river landings on the Ogeechee River. Violations that were addressed were fishing w/out a license.
EMANUEL COUNTY On Sunday, May 19, Cpl. McNeely, Cpl. Akins, and Cpl. Wilcox were checking river landings on the Ogeechee River. Three boats were checked. Violations that were addressed were operating a vessel w/out registration.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On Friday, May 10th, RFC Jamey O'Brien patrolled the Savannah River and Ebenezer Creek areas by boat. A total of 8 boats and 7 fishing licenses were checked. Violations documented were for fishing without a license and operating a vessel without sufficient Coast Guard approved life jackets.
On Saturday May 11th, RFC Jamey O'Brien and SGT Don Dasher patrolled the Savannah River near Abercorn Creek and the Chatham/Effingham County line. A total of 8 boats and 12 fishing licenses were checked. No violations were detected.
On Sunday May 12th, RFC Jamey O'Brien patrolled the Ogeechee River by boat from Steel Bridge Landing downstream to Dasher's Landing. A total of 4 boats and 2 fishing licenses were checked, no violations were detected.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY On May 14th and 15th, Cpl. Jay Morgan assisted the Bryan County School Resource Officer with the presentation of six Information and Education programs on boating and swimming safety to 4th and 5th graders at Carver Elementary School in Richmond Hill.
On May 17th, the two DNR Region 7 Critical Action Teams conducted a training exercise at Ft. McAllister State Park. The training consisted of searching for a lost person at the park by using Search and Rescue techniques and use of the Future-Com radio which relays the signal from the rangers' portable radios to a repeater in a ranger's truck radio. CHATHAM COUNTY May 13th through May 17, Corporal Chris Moore and Corporal Craig Fulghum attended Advanced Training for Wildlife Crime Scene Investigators. The course was held near Missoula, Montana and focused on wildlife field forensics. Other organizations represented were USFWS, North Dakota Game and Fish, Arizona Game and Fish, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Idaho Fish and Game, Ohio DNR, Muckleshoot Indian Nation, Private Contractors, and Kansas Department of Wildlife. Corporals Moore and Fulghum also instruct a two week training course for all new DNR Law Enforcement

Officers. The officers were trained in forensic wildlife investigations and will soon develop a curriculum for all new DNR Rangers.
LIBERTY COUNTY On May 18th, Cpl. Phillip Scott and Ranger Jason Miller conducted a HIN/registration inspection detail at the Savannah Tech Campus in Hinesville, helping 10 boat owners with improper Hull Identification Numbers and with the registration of their boats.
GLYNN COUNTY On Sunday May 12, Sgt. Chris Hodge, Cpl. Chris Ridley, and RFC John Evans assisted the Brunswick Police Department with a search for a person who jumped from the Sidney Lanier Bridge in Glynn County. DNR officers, along with the United States Coast Guard, searched the area of the South Brunswick River for nearly three hours before they discovered the body of the missing female.
CAMDEN COUNTY On May 13th, Camden County Sheriff's Office requested the assistance of DNR Officers at the White Oak Creek Bridge on U.S. Hwy 17. An accident involving a tractor trailer on the bridge had caused nearly 100 gallons of diesel fuel to spill into the creek. Cpl. Chris Ridley responded to the area and assisted with evaluating the spill.
On May 18th, Cpl. Chris Ridley and Cpl. Craig Smith responded to a boating incident in the North River in St Marys. Officers responding learned that a female passenger on a PWC had been ejected from the vessel and struck her head on an embankment covered with large rocks. The victim was transported to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida for treatment. Officers continue to investigate the incident.