Field operations weekly report [July 26-Aug. 1, 2015]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report July 26 August 1, 2015
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)
No significant activity to report.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
RABUN COUNTY On August 1st, RFC Joe Hill and RFC Anne Britt patrolled Lake Rabun for boating safety violations. The Rangers issued citations and warnings for violating rules of the road, operating a vessel without a throw able device, violation of 100 foot rule, operating vessel without displaying registration numbers, and towing skier without a mirror or observer.
TOWNS COUNTY On July 28th, SGT Steve Seitz, CPL Derek Dillard and RFC David Webb received a complaint of a subject who had killed a Canada goose in Towns County. The officers arrived on scene and located a male suspect sitting on his porch with a spotting scope and several firearms close by. The officers then located the dead goose laying in the suspect's yard down by Lake Chatuge. The suspect told the officers that he had right to protect his property. The suspect was told that he should have called to obtain a nuisance permit or wait until waterfowl season to open. RFC David Webb issued the suspect a citation for hunting out of season.
WHITE COUNTY On July 30th, RFC Joe Hill responded to a fishing without permission complaint in White County. Upon his arrival, the Ranger found one adult and two juveniles fishing in a private pond that they did not gain permission to fish in from the pond owner. The owner wanted the adult charged, so RFC Hill issued one citation for fishing without permission.
HART COUNTY On August 1st, RFC Brandon Pierce completed a dumping investigation that started on July 22nd on the Hart County WMA. RFC Pierce contacted several major cable companies during his investigation. As a result several cable technicians were interviewed, subsequently it was determined that one of the cable technicians dumped the trash. A total of one citation was issued for unlawful dumping of egregious litter.
On August 1st, RFC Brandon Pierce completed an investigation that started on July 30th on a dumping case in the Goldmine area of Hart County. The subject was interviewed and determined to be in violation. One citation was issued for the infraction. The violation consisted of unlawful dumping of egregious litter.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
BURKE COUNTY On July 28th RFC Matherly, RFC Billips and Cpl. Adams participated in the Plant Vogel reactor failure "drill". All three Rangers worked in the command center assisting Burke County EMA with the mock reactor failure.
On August 1st, RFC Billips checked several fishermen on Jones Lake and Brier Creek. RFC Billips also investigated several fishing without permission complaints with no activity.
RICHMOND COUNTY On July the 26th Cpl. Payne and Cpl. Adams were patrolling near the boat ramp on Broad St in down town Augusta. The two Rangers observed a vehicle drive off the road, across a grass berm and stop at the cat walk. A white female stumbled out of the vehicle with an open can of bud light. The Rangers observed the female throw her beer can on the ground and get another one from a cooler in the passenger seat. At this time the female tried to get back in the vehicle and leave but was stopped by the Rangers. It was determined that the female was under the influence and a Trooper was called to turn the female over to. While the female was being placed in the back of the Trooper's car another car drove off the road, across the grass berm and stopped at the cat walk. This vehicle was driven by the female's boyfriend. It was determined that the boyfriend was also under the influence and was turned over to the Trooper. At this time a vessel docked where the Rangers were standing and a strong odor of alcohol could be smelled coming from the vessel. Field sobriety was conducted and the vessel operator was placed under arrest for Boating under the influence.
LAKE OCONEE On July 29, Rangers David Allen and Richard Tanner worked with USFS officers patrolling Lake Oconee for illegal use of cast/gill nets. No illegal activity was observed. The rangers checked several fishermen during the early morning hours.
On July 31, Rangers David Allen, Ricky Boles, Jason Harrison, Richard Tanner and John Harwell patrolled Lake Oconee for boating violations. The rangers issued documented violations for 100 ft. violations on PWC's, operating vessels w/out lights, , wake zone violations, children under the age of 13 in a moving vessel w/out PFD's and operators towing skiers on PWC w/out observers.
MCDUFFIE COUNTY On July 30th, Cpl. Brian Hobbins, Sgt. Doyte Chaffin, Sgt. Matt Garthright, Sgt. John Harwell, Capt. Mark Padgett and Cpl. Mark Patterson responded to a drowning off of Iron Hill Rd in Southern McDuffie County. A male subject drowned in a Kaolin Chalk Pit while swimming. The subject was recovered by McDuffie Dive and Rescue. He was pronounced deceased.

CLARKE COUNTY On August 1st Sgt. Brian Carter and RFC Tim Butler patrolled municipal fishing areas. Violations addressed were fishing without a license, possession of illegal sized fish, and operating a vessel without personal flotation devices.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY DNR LED officers continued daily patrols on Harrisburg Road in Milledgeville in reference to the Gaboon Viper sighting from 2 weeks ago.
On the evenings of July 29th and 30th, Cpl. Lynn Stanford taught a boating safety course at Sinclair Marina. A total of 5 students received boating safety certification.
On the evening of July 31st, RFC Jeremy Reese and Sgt. Bo Kelly patrolled Lake Sinclair. The officers made one arrest for boating under the influence.
HARRIS COUNTY On July 26th, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen and RFC Russell Epps were patrolling a tract of property on South Miller Rd. A landowner affidavit is on file with the sheriff's office as well as the Region IV DNR LED office and states who has permission to access the property. Five of the thirteen people located on the property had permission. The other eight people were advised that the area was private property and that they needed to have permission to access the area. All eight of the people without permission were put on a criminal trespass identification list held by the Harris County Sheriff's Office and if caught on the property again will be prosecuted for criminal trespass. Of the thirteen people, two were issued citations. Citations were issued for fishing without a license and for operating a vessel without a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal floatation device.
On August 1st, Cpl. Mitch Oliver encountered various violations while patrolling Lake Harding. Cpl. Oliver issued written warnings for operating an overloaded vessel and allowing an underage child to ride in a moving vessel without wearing a life jacket. An individual also received a citation for towing a skier between the hours of sunset/sunrise.
MUSCOGEE COUNTY On July 29th, Cpl. Jeremy Bolen was invited to speak at a local youth detention center. Cpl. Bolen took his patrol boat to show the various forms of transportation Ranger's utilize. K-9 Ruger was also on hand to perform demonstrations for the youth as Cpl. Bolen explained the duties involved in day to day task of Conservation Ranger's.
PUTNAM COUNTY On the afternoon of July 31st, Cpl. Stanford supplied Putnam County Investigators with images of suspects he captured that will aid in an investigation of stolen ATV's and dirt bikes.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DECATUR COUNTY On July 28th, RFC Tony Cox responded to a complaint of subjects spear fishing in Spring Creek, which is closed to spear fishing until November. He located the two suspects and conducted an inspection of their gear and catch. The subjects were in possession of bass, catfish, and suckers. The two subjects were cited for spear fishing out of season, one was also cited for taking game fish by illegal methods and the fish were seized.
Illegally speared fish
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
WHEELER COUNTY On July 28th, at around 05:00 a.m. Corporal Kevin Joyce received a call from Montgomery 911 stating 3 tubers put in at State Route 46 Bridge at 01:00 a.m. with intentions of floating down to State Route 280 Bridge. Corporal Joyce contacted Ranger First Class Rodney Horne to respond to the incident. RFC Horne and Ranger First Class Allen Mills responded by vessel over stumps, log jams, and sandbars to three white males aged 12, 24, and 26 who were tubing on the Oconee River and came to a heavily congested stump and log jam down river of State Route 46 bridge on the Oconee River. The individuals were afraid to attempt to travel through the cut and go any further. RFC Horne and RFC Mills located and safely transported the 3 males back to State Route 46 landing at 8:45 a.m.

IRWIN COUNTY On July 29th, Ranger First Class Allen Mills received an illegal dumping complaint from the Metter office. RFC Mills made contact with the complainant and met with him on site. After gathering pertinent information, RFC Mills then drove to another location and met with the suspect. After a brief interview, the suspect admitted to dumping several large blocks of Styrofoam in a nearby creek. One violation for Unlawful Dumping of Egregious Litter (Less than 500lbs. / 100 cu. ft.) was documented.
Styrofoam blocks dumped into creek in Irwin County
LAURENS COUNTY Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area on July 26th and August 1st. Cpl. Stiles checked a total of eleven fishing licenses and documented two violations for fishing without a license and fishing without a Wildlife Management Area license. Cpl. Stiles also checked two vessels for registration and boating safety equipment. Twelve visitors were also checked for Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass compliance and given verbal guidance on how to obtain the proper licenses to utilize the PFA for activities other than fishing. On July 27th Corporal Stiles concluded an investigation that began on June 16th when the Area Manager of the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area discovered a loaded rifle unattended on the PFA. A subject was also witnessed leaving the scene at the time of the discovery of the firearm. Cpl. Stiles investigated the incident and located the suspect and charged him with Illegal Possession of a Firearm on a Public Fishing Area and Violation of Board Regulations on a Public Fishing Area. On the date of the incident the violator arrived at the PFA at approximately 3:00 a.m. to fish. The subject remained on the property until the early morning during daylight when he viewed Department of Natural Resources personnel arrive to work. The violator then left the scene, forgetting his rifle and was picked up on a dirt road near the PFA by his spouse.

On August 1st Corporal Dan Stiles completed an investigation that began on July 28th when a landowner discovered a large quantity of asphalt shingles and other roofing debris and trash that had been dumped on his property. Cpl. Stiles documented the scene and collected evidence from the location. After interviews with building supply vendors, a roofing company owner, and personnel of the roofing company; Cpl. Stiles charged a subject with Unlawful Dumping of Egregious Litter (Greater than 500 lbs. / 100 cu. ft.).
SCREVEN COUNTY On August 1st, Corporal Shaymus McNeely and Ranger Randell Meeks patrolled the Savannah River, in the Burtons Ferry area. Several boats were checked and Rangers issued citations for violating Georgia's 100 ft. Law.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY On August 1st, Ranger Jordan Crawford and Sergeant Don Dasher patrolled Effingham County looking for fishing and boating activity. During the patrol several boats and fishermen were checked with no violations documented.
BULLOCH COUNTY On July 28th, Corporal Eddie Akins worked a complaint about someone violating the conditions of a crop damage permit by shining and attempting to locate deer from a public road in the area of Ash Branch Church Road and Lawrence Baptist Church Roads. Shortly before 9:30PM, A vehicle was observed traveling down R.E. Lee Road with a light being shined from it. The vehicle was stopped and it was determined that the two subjects in the vehicle were listed on a permit in the area. A violation was documented against each of the individuals for shining/attempting to locate deer from a public road.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No significant activity to report.