Field operations weekly report [Feb. 2-8, 2014]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report February 2-8, 2014
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 Division.

Region I- Calhoun (Northwest)
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY On February 6th, at 2155 Ranger Kevin Goss received a phone call from Gainesville Police stating that two dead deer had been found in an apartment at a complex in Gainesville. Ranger Goss responded to the apartment where he found two does both of which had been shot recently with a high powered rifle. Ranger Goss interviewed the suspect who owned the apartment. The suspect claimed he found the deer on the side of the road and thought they were hit by a car until he saw the gun shots, but decided to keep the deer because "the meat was still good". Ranger Goss searched the suspects' car and apartment but was unable to locate a weapon. The suspect denied that he was with anyone else that night. Ranger Goss charged the suspect with possession of illegally taken wildlife and confiscated the deer.
DAWSON COUNTY On February 8th, While patrolling the delayed harvest area of Dawson Forest RFC Mitchell Crump and SGT Lee Brown checked multiple fishing licenses and GORP Passes. RFC Crump wrote one citation for a non-resident fishing without a license.
On February 9th, RFC Mitchell Crump, SGT Lee Brown and Ranger Shane Brown encountered a pickup truck with fresh killed turkey parts and a large quantity of surge stone in the bed. On investigation, it was determined the stones were taken from a stockpile of state owned stone. RFC Crump waited in the woods while Sargent Brown and Ranger Brown continued down the road. When the owner of the truck emerged from the woods, he appeared to be intoxicated. RFC Crump approached the gentleman who was carrying a rifle. The suspect performed a series of exercises that showed he was intoxicated. Upon further investigation, it was determined the turkey parts had been found and not killed by the suspect. RFC Crump cited him for hunting under the influence and theft of state property.
FORSYTH COUNTY On February 7th Ranger Shane Brown issued a citation for fishing without a license and a warning for fishing without a trout stamp.
On February 8th Ranger Shane Brown issued a citation for fishing without a license and a warning for fishing without a trout stamp.

ROCKDALE COUNTY On February 4th Cpl. Eric Sanders was on checking property in Rockdale County when he came upon a disturbing site. Cpl. Sanders found 6 Pit Bull Dogs chained to trees in a heavily wooded area. The dogs only had a blue 55 gallon water barrel to sleep in. The dogs showed sign of abuse and neglect and poor living conditions. Cpl. Sanders also found a fresh grave site where a dog was chained up. Cpl. Sanders followed the well beaten foot trail back to the main road and also found a 50 pound bag of dog food and two large bottles of water that had just been dropped off in the woods. Cpl. Sanders called Rockdale County Sheriff's office and they dispatched Rockdale Animal Control. Cpl. Sanders helped remove all six dogs and taken to the shelter for treatment.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
BURKE COUNTY On February 1 and 8, RFC Jeff Billips, RFC Grant Matherly and Wildlife Technician Steve Kyles taught hunter safety at the Corinth Christian Church in Girard. This is the fifth year hunter safety has been taught at Corinth Christian Church and the 24 students that graduated were treated to meals provided by Mr. and Mrs. David and Daphne Callison, Mrs. Finch and Mrs. Perry. The students also received new fluorescent orange vests. A special thank you goes to Mrs. Perry for her fried pies which are RFC Billips' favorite.
WASHINGTON COUNTY Corporal Micheal Crawley and K9 Storm patrolled south Washington County for small game hunting and trapping activity. A few hunters were checked and no citations were written.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On Saturday February 8th, RFC Brian Adams and RFC Robert Timmerman conducted a concentrated ATV patrol on Keg Creek WMA. The patrol was conducted based on a complaint passed down by Game Management Staff. The complaint consisted of subjects riding ATVs and off road carts on the Management Area illegally. After several hours of patrolling the two Rangers made no contact with any one violating the law.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
STEWART COUNTY Cpl. Steve Robinson and Ranger Quinn Fogle attended the "Kinchafoonee Longspurs" chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet Saturday night. The local chapter donated a flat screen television to Law Enforcement Division for Hunter Education.

DOOLY COUNTY On February 7th, Ranger Jesse Harrison encountered six subject's hunting feral hogs from a vehicle and from a public road. Cpl. Bob Holley responded to the scene, and using his patrol dog located weapons the violators had hidden in the woods. A total of fifteen citations were issued for discharging a firearm from a public road, hunting from a vehicle, hunting from a public road and hunting without licenses. Pictured with Ranger Harrison and Cpl. Holley is Holley's patrol dog, and the weapons recovered at the scene.
THOMAS COUNTY On the night of February 8th, RFC Jon Penuel, RFC Chris Carlisle, RFC Jim Atchley and Sgt. David Ruddell responded to a missing person call. An elderly man whom had spent an afternoon fishing on a large private pond, failed to return home by nightfall. When a family member visited the pond to check on the welfare of the man, an unoccupied boat was found adrift on the water. A preliminary search for the missing man was conducted by officers on foot and GSP air support. Rangers and members of the Thomas SO Thomasville PD Dive Team eventually found and recovered the victim. DOUGHERTY COUNTY On February 2nd, Cpl. Robbie Griner received a complaint in reference to a large amount of household debris that had been dumped in the middle of a county road. When the officer arrived, he found couches, large electronic appliances, a large amount of clothing and other household garbage in the roadway. After further investigation, the person responsible for dumping the debris was located and charged with unlawful dumping of egregious litter greater than 500 lbs., which is a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
SCREVEN COUNTY On January 26th, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely responded to a call from Tuckahoe WMA manager Howard Pope regarding a subject seen walking around a historic site on the management area. Cpl. McNeely encountered the subject as he was attempting to leave the WMA. Cpl. McNeely interviewed the subject and conducted a brief investigation resulting in the discovery of several artifacts in the man's possession. The man was charged with removal of artifacts from state owned land and released at the scene.
BULLOCH COUNTY On February 03rd, Cpl. Eddie Akins responded to a complaint of fishing without permission. Investigation of the incident resulted in two violations being documented. The violations were fishing without permission and fishing without a license.
JENKINS COUNTY On January 31st, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely and Sgt. Don Dasher assisted the Jenkins County Sheriffs' Dept. and the GA State Patrol with a road check detail on US Hwy 25 South of Millen. The detail resulted in 3 DUI arrests, 2 Violation of GA Controlled Substance Act Arrests, and numerous citations for seatbelt and license violations.
On February 7th, Sgt. Don Dasher checked the US 25 bridge landing on the Ogeechee River in Jenkins Co. for boating and fishing violations. He checked one fisherman and documented one violation for fishing without a license.
TOOMBS COUNTY On February 8th, SGT Jon Barnard, RFC Debbie Brannen, and Ranger Patrick Gibbs conducted a HIN inspection at the Georgia Forestry Unit in Toombs County. A total of 11 boats were inspected.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
GLYNN COUNTY On January 31 and February 1, Rangers from the Region VII Law Enforcement Division assisted the WRD Non-Game with Weekend for Wildlife.