Field operations weekly report [June 15-21, 2014]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report June 15-21, 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)
MURRAY COUNTY On June 21st, Cpl. Casey Jones and RFC Cody Jones patrolled Carter's Lake. They observed a boat violating a no wake zone area. It was determined that the operator was also under the influence of alcohol. The operator was arrested and charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, and violation of a regulatory marker.
HARALSON COUNTY June 8th, RFC Daniel Gray patrolled on the Little Tallapoosa River and on the Tallapoosa River in Haralson County. Three individuals were cited for fishing w/o license and 2 verbal warnings were given.
CARROLL COUNTY During the week of June 9th through June 13th, Cpl. Eric Brown conducted the 9th Carroll County Outdoor Day Camp. There were 41 youths that were certified in Hunter Education and Boat Georgia. Activities included shooting .22 rifles, shotguns, archery, geocaching, a snake show, tree ID, mammal ID, and a fishing trip. Volunteers from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Carrollton Police Department, Carroll County Fire and Rescue, and volunteer Hunter Education Instructors made the camp a success.
FULTON COUNTY On June 14th, Rangers First Class Chad Cox, Daniel Gray and Ranger Mark Puig held a vessel registration inspection for boat owners who were attempting to register their boats but lacked the proper paperwork or correct identification numbers to complete the process. The Rangers checked 34 vessels searching various databases via truck mounted computer, ensuring vessels were not stolen and assisting with the proper paperwork to authenticate ownership.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
ELBERT COUNTY On June 21st Cpl. Mark Patterson and RFC Tim Butler patrolled Lake Russell by vessel. During the patrol the Rangers addressed violations of failure to obey a regulatory marker, allowing a person to ride on the bow of a vessel, and operating a vessel without a fire extinguisher.
COLUMBIA COUNTY

On June 21st, Cpl. Brian Hobbins and Cpl. Julian Wilkins investigated a boating incident in Keg Creek on Clarks Hill Lake. The incident involved a skier being struck by the towing vessel's propeller. This occurred when the ski rope became entangled in the propeller and pulled the skier into the propeller. The skier was cut in the thigh region of his leg and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The victim required several stitches for his wounds.
LINCOLN COUNTY On June 16th, Cpl. Ryan Swain responded to a boating incident off the Savannah River on Clarks Hill Lake. Upon arrival at the incident scene, Swain observed a deck boat that was totally submerged. The vessel was retrieved by a towing service and brought to shore. The occupants of the vessel were unharmed. The vessel was pulled onto a rollback tow truck for storage. Once the vessel was on the rollback, several large holes made from a saw were observed all over the gunwale of the vessel. The subjects associated with the vessel stated that they did not know how the holes got in the vessel. The matter is still under investigation.
LAKE OCONEE During the weekend of June 20-22, Rangers saw a steady flow of activity on Lake Oconee. Among the violations cited was operating vessel with improper lights, operating vessel within 100' of object in water above idle speed, failure to obey regulatory marker, riding gunwale, towing skier without a PFD on, allowing underage child to ride in vessel without wearing a PFD, operating vessel with insufficient PFDs and operating PWC within 100' of object above idle speed. Cpl. Derrell Worth, RFC Ricky Boles, RFC Niki Spencer, RFC Phillip Nelson, and RFC Tim Butler were among the rangers patrolling the lake. With the increasing complaints of cast netting for game fish during the 2014 year, RFC Ricky Boles and RFC Niki Spencer patrolled areas where these fishermen were known to cast. Several groups have been cited and arrested this year but the activity still remains.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
HARRIS COUNTY On June 21st, Cpl. Mitch Oliver and Cpl. Jeremy Bolen were patrolling Lake Harding when they encountered various violations. The officers issued 2 citations for possession of alcohol by an underage person, 1 for operating a vessel without lights during the hours of darkness, 1 for operating a PWC without wearing a CGA PFD, 1 for allowing an underage child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a PFD, and 1 for towing a skier without an observer.
LAKE SINCLAIR On the evenings of June 16th and 17th, Ranger Matt Johnson, RFC Jeremy Reese, Cpl. Lynn Stanford and Sgt. Bo Kelly taught a boating safety course at Sinclair Marina. A total of five students were registered and passed the course.

On the evenings of June 20th and 21st, Ranger Matt Johnson and Sgt. Bo Kelly patrolled Lake Sinclair. Numerous vessels were stopped for various infractions and several citations and warnings were issued. The officers also assisted several stranded boaters with returning them to their dock safely.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY During a boating stop on June 15th, RFC Randy James and Ranger Steve Thomas arrested a boat operator for boating under the influence.
EARLY COUNTY On June 15th, Cpl. Steve Robinson responded to a drowning that occurred on the Chattahoochee River near the Andrews Lock and Dam. The victim had been swimming in the river and was pulled from the water by his friends after they noticed him unresponsive and lying in the water.
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On June 18th, Ranger Eric White located three subjects who were trespassing on posted property along the Flint River. As Ranger White approached the subjects, he observed a smoking device (bong) and other drug paraphernalia near the subjects. Ranger White collected the evidence, identified the subjects and notified the Albany-Dougherty County Drug Unit. The three subjects were charged with criminal trespass and one subject was charged with felony drug possession.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
LAURENS COUNTY On June 15th, Cpl. Dan Stiles conducted a vessel patrol on the Oconee River. Two vessels were checked for boating safety equipment and registration and four anglers were checked for fishing license and creel compliance. Two violations were documented for fishing without a license.
On June 21st, Cpl. Dan Stiles and Game Management Technician Bobby Sanders conducted a vessel patrol on the Oconee River. Twelve vessels were checked for safety equipment and registration and eleven anglers were checked for fishing license and creel compliance. One vessel with three occupants was found to be operating a vessel without any personal floatation devices (life jackets). The officers loaned the occupants of the vessel PFD's and escorted them to a boat landing. The operator was cited for operation of a vessel without CGA PFD and operating a vessel without registration. Other violations documented were fishing without a license, operating a vessel without lights after hours of darkness, and operating a vessel without registration.

WILCOX COUNTY On June 21st Cpl. John A. Stokes patrolled the Ocmulgee River below Half Moon landing by vessel. Violations documented include fishing without license, operating vessel without CGA PFD's, and operating a vessel without registration. WHEELER COUNTY On Saturday, June 21, 2014, RFC Rodney Horne conducted a night time vessel patrol on the Oconee River. Six vessels were inspected for fishing and boating safety violations. Verbal guidance was given for failure to display registration numbers on a vessel. PIERCE COUNTY On June 15th, Sgt. Patrick Dupree, RFC Mark Pool, and Ranger Daniel North patrolled the Satilla River at FFA Camp boat landing. Eleven boats and twenty fishing licenses were checked resulting in three written warnings for minor violations. LANIER COUNTY On June 10th, RFC Tim Hutto presented a wildlife program for the Lanier County 4H Club. Approximately twenty five young adults participated in the class in which they learned about wildlife identification, hunting safety, and boating safety. COFFEE AND JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES On June 21st, RFC Tim Hutto and intern Johnathan Day patrolled the Ocmulgee River from Ben-Hill County to Jeff Davis County for boating and fishing activity. Four citations were issued for illegal consumption of alcohol at the Rocky Hammock WMA boat ramp and one citation was issued for fishing without a license in Coffee County. A stranded boater was also located and towed safely to Barrs Bluff Landing. COOK COUNTY On June 21st, while patrolling Reed Bingham State Park, Cpl. Tommy Daughtrey checked a subject fishing that had two under size bass in his possession. The violation was addressed.
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Later in the day Cpl. Daughtrey was patrolling the Little River on the Colquitt/Cook County Line. Two subjects fishing out of a jon boat were checked. The boat was full of beer cans and taking on water. Violations of fishing w/o a license and operating a vessel w/o PFD'S were documented.
SCREVEN COUNTY On June 20, Cpl. Shaymus McNeely and Sgt. Don Dasher assisted the Screven County Sheriff's Dept. with a search warrant on Friendship Rd. The raid resulted in the seizure of 5 ounces of marijuana, ounce crack cocaine, 2 firearms, and $4500 cash. A total of three persons were arrested at the scene, and a two year old child was turned over to DFACS. EFFINGHAM COUNTY On June 21st CPL Eddie Akins and Ranger Jordan Crawford patrolled the Ogeechee River from Dasher's landing to Steel Bridge. A total of 16 vessels where checked and 1 violation was documented for operating a vessel with insufficient PFDs. On June 22nd CPL Eddie Akin and Ranger Jordan Crawford patrolled the Ogeechee River from Dasher's landing to I-16 Bridge. A total of 11 vessels where checked and 5 violations where documented. Violations included fishing without a license, operating a vessel with insufficient PFDs, and operating a vessel without proper registration.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
GLYNN COUNTY On June 19th, Cpl. Chris Ridley was checking boats at a ramp along the Turtle River when he encountered a subject fishing without a commercial crab license, commercial boat license, and commercial personal license. The subject was cited on the three charges and a bushel of crabs were confiscated and returned to the water.
CAMDEN COUNTY On June 21st, Sgt. Chris Hodge provided assistance to the St Mary's Police Department in apprehending a suspect wanted for aggravated assault. Earlier in the evening the suspect had pointed a gun at his girlfriend and threatened to kill her during a domestic dispute. When St Mary's Officers arrived the suspect fled on foot into a wooded area near the residence. Sgt. Hodge was able to assist officers with containing the suspect while Camden County Sheriff's Office blood hound teams tracked the suspect for several hours. The suspect was later apprehended in a residence near the area in which he fled.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On June 18th, RFC John Evans and CPL Chris Ridley assisted the Brantley County Sheriff's Office with their Junior Police Academy. There were about 50 kids in attendance. The Rangers taught firearms safety and boating safety.
At about midnight on June 18th, RFC John Evans was working a night hunting complaint. A man on an ATV came into the fields RFC Evans was watching and shined three of them. RFC Evans stopped the vehicle and noticed several empty beer cans in the bed. The suspect was over twice the legal limit. He had a loaded shotgun and a rifle. He was charged with hunting under the influence and driving under the influence in addition to hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road, and hunting from a vehicle.