Field operations weekly report [Jan. 24-30, 2016]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report January 24 January 30, 2016
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 activity to report.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
No activity to report.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
WALTON COUNTY On January 29, RFC Tim Butler documented two cases of hunting waterfowl after hours. One mallard duck was confiscated as evidence.
On January 30, RFC Tim Butler documented four cases of hunting waterfowl over bait. One mallard duck was confiscated as evidence.
LINCOLN COUNTY On Sunday, January 31, Cpl. Ryan Swain and Ranger Michael Madden conducted a concentrated patrol of Cherokee Boat Ramp. Several license violations were detected. Citations and warning were issued for the various violations.
WALTON COUNTY On January 30, RGR Schay and RGR Harrison apprehended two subjects hunting waterfowl after hours. They were citation and released.
On January 30, Cpl. Worth, RNG Schay, Lt. O'neal, and Sgt. Welch arrested one subject on a Morgan County warrant during an illegal dumping investigation. Another subject was cited for unlawful burning of egregious litter less than 500 pounds.
NEWTON COUNTY On January 31, RNG Schay and RNG Harrison finished up on an illegal dumping investigation. One subject was issued a citation for unlawful dumping of egregious litter greater than 500 pounds.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BIBB COUNTY On January 30th, RFC David Fisher was patrolling for fishing activity and contacted four individuals fishing in the Ocmulgee River. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fishermen did not possess a GA fishing license. RFC Fisher explained how they can buy a fishing license and issued warnings for the violation.
CEDAR CREEK WMA On the evening of January 30th, Cpl. Bubba Stanford checked fishermen along Murder Creek. All the fishermen were properly licensed and had several white bass and crappie.

HEARD COUNTY On January 24th, RFC Russell Epps patrolled the northern end of West Point Lake. He issued two warnings for
hunting without permission for duck hunters hunting on the lake without permits.

HENRY COUNTY On January 24th, Corporal Travis Sweat issued a citation to a duck hunter for hunting without a license.

MERIWETHER COUNTY On January 24th, Cpl. Travis Sweat patrolled Joe Kurz WMA and issued one warning for failure to sign federal
duck stamp.

OCMULGEE WMA

RFC Ronnie

Beard patrolled Ocmulgee WMA several times this week. Several small game hunters were checked and no

violations were documented.

PULASKI COUNTY On the morning of January 30th, RFC Ronnie Beard, Cpl. Bubba Stanford, Cpl. Robert Stilwell and Sgt. Bo Kelly
patrolled for waterfowl hunters. Numerous hunters were checked and no violations were detected.

TROUP COUNTY On January 30th, Sgt. Brent Railey was in the Hogansville area listening for an after-hours duck shoot. Sgt. Railey heard the first shot at about 1828 hours which was 18 minutes after legal shooting hours had ended. He heard several more volleys of shots over the next ten to fifteen minutes. Sgt. Railey located the hunters as they were walking out of the swamp and was able to make a traffic stop on the truck as they left the hunting area. Sgt. Jim Bradfield also responded to assist with the stop. They issued 3 citations for hunting ducks after hours and 1 warning for hunting with an unplugged shotgun. One hen wood duck was confiscated as evidence.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
DOUGHERTY COUNTY On January 25th, Ranger Eric White located a large amount of household garbage someone had scattered along a railway service road. The officer found evidence that identified a possible suspect. Ranger White located the individual, who when confronted with the evidence, admitted dumping the materials after being hired to clean out the contents of a storage shed. The subject was charged with unlawful dumping of egregious litter.

MITCHELL COUNTY On January 29th, Sgt. David Ruddell was checking a complaint area regarding after-hours duck hunting and heard shooting near his location. The officer located two juvenile hunters exiting a roost pond with several wood ducks. Sgt. Ruddell explained the laws and regulations to the young men and then sent them on their way with their ducks. THOMAS COUNTY On January 30th, Ranger Eric White participated with other Rangers in a concentrated patrol for waterfowl activity. Ranger White checked 10 hunters shooting 3 different ponds in his patrol area. Numerous license violations were documented as well as one subject for taking over the daily bag limit. The seized ducks were donated to a less-fortunate family in the community.
COLQUITT COUNTY On the evening of January 30, Ranger Eric White was patrolling for after-hours duck hunting when he heard shooting from several different locations. Moving to the closest shooting, Ranger White quickly located two juveniles hunting ducks. The officer advised the two subjects of the proper shooting hours and sent them home. Ranger White then moved to the next closest shooting and located another subject hunting ducks well after legal hours. This subject, an adult, was charged for hunting ducks after legal hours. On January 26th, the Moultrie Rotary Club held their annual banquet to recognize outstanding officers from the various law enforcement agencies that serve Moultrie and Colquitt County. Cpl. Bob Holley represented DNR LED Region 5 as their Officer of the Year and was presented with a plaque by the Rotary Club.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
WHEELER COUNTY On January 26th and 28th, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne investigated a dogging deer incident that occurred on January 16th. Nine violations were documented on three poachers for hunting deer with dogs out of season, hunting deer with dogs in a closed county/area, fleeing and attempting to elude.
TELFAIR COUNTY On January 28th, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne investigated an illegal dumping of oil. The investigation concluded with a citation for unlawful dumping of egregious litter less than 500 lbs.
WARE COUNTY On January 30th, Ranger Judd Sears patrolled Hwy 158 Bridge landing for fishing activity. During the patrol Ranger Sears encountered two individuals fishing from the bank. Ranger Sears checked for fishing license requirements and one of the individuals did not possess a fishing license. Ranger Sears asked the subject for his driver's license and told him to meet him at his patrol vehicle. This subject fled the scene on foot after giving Ranger Sears his driver's license. Ranger Sears later determined that the suspect had a felony probation warrant out of Coffee County. Ranger Sears left the scene to obtain warrants for the individual. On January 31st, Ranger Sears received information that the subject had spent the night in the woods and was trying to get a ride home. Corporal Jason Shipes was able to get an address to where the suspect potentially called from by utilizing a call trace through Ware County dispatch. Cpl. Shipes, along with two Ware County deputies and Ranger Sears, went to the address to attempt to locate the suspect. The suspect was later located walking down the highway near where he made the phone call and was taken into custody. The suspect was transported to Coffee County to face his warrants and will then be returned back to Ware County to face the charges that took place there. Violations documented were fishing without a license and interfering with performance of a ranger's duties.
Later on the night of January 30th, Ranger Judd Sears and Ranger First Class Sam Williams patrolled Hwy 158 Bridge landing for night time fishing activity. Two boats were checked during this patrol. One of the boats checked was observed operating a vessel during hours of darkness without lights. One violation for operating a vessel without lights during hours of darkness was documented.
SCREVEN COUNTY On January 29th, Sergeant Don Dasher, Corporal Shaymus McNeely, Corporal Mike Wilcox, and Ranger First Class Jordan Crawford apprehended three poachers shooting ducks on a roost pond near Rocky Ford. Nine wood ducks were confiscated and the violators were charged with: hunting waterfowl after hours, hunting without a license, hunting without federal and state waterfowl license, hunting with an unplugged shotgun, and taking over the limit.
EVANS COUNTY On January 30th, Ranger First Class Debbie Brannen checked duck hunters off of Hwy. 280 resulting in violations being documented for hunting without a license and hunting without the Georgia waterfowl license.
TOOMBS COUNTY On January 27th, Corporal Chase Altman responded to a dumping complaint on Sol Anderson Road. Cpl. Altman spoke with a home owner whose dogs were dragging up deer carcasses from another road at the intersection. The home owner stated that people have been dumping deer on the dirt road. The incident is under investigation.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
CHATHAM COUNTY On January 24th, Corporal Kate Hargrove and Ranger Tim Morris joined with United States Coast Guard to patrol Chatham County waters for recreational boating and commercial fishing activity. On January 25th, Corporal Kate Hargrove and Ranger Tim Morris patrolled offshore waters from Chatham County to McIntosh County, watching for North American Right Whales which migrate through Georgia's waters from December to March.
BRYAN COUNTY On January 21, 2016, RFC Toney responded to a call of illegal dumping off of Belfast River Road. Deputy Breen had a vehicle stopped for dumping commercial lawn debris. Investigation showed that the two men had dumped lawn debris from their lawn service business on private property. The two men were cited for unlawful dumping.
LIBERTY COUNTY On Saturday, January 30th, RFC Miller was patrolling for after-hours waterfowl shooting in the area of Flemington. RFC Miller responded to an in-progress call of a disturbance at a local convenience store close by. RFC Miller and a Liberty County Deputy calmed the domestic dispute between the three adults and one child. A brief investigation determined that one of the individuals was in possession of marijuana and was transported to the Liberty County jail. The remaining adults had no driver's license or car seat and had to wait for a licensed driver to arrive with a car seat for the child.
BRANTLEY COUNTY On January 21st, an off duty Brantley County Deputy heard a gunshot late at night and observed a truck in a nearby field off Raybon Road. He stepped out to the road and watched the truck speed off into the night. RFC John Evans responded to the area and began investigating the incident with the Sheriff's office. During the course of the investigation, Evan's was able to determine who the suspects were and that one had fled into the woods and hidden his gun. The suspects had also shot and killed the property owner's calf. At the time RFC Evans and the Brantley County Sheriffs personnel contacted the suspects it was determined that one suspect had an outstanding warrant for armed robbery out of Glynn County. Search warrants were served on the suspect's homes and vehicle where other evidence was located. Contact was made with the second suspect on January 27th, whom was arrested for hunting deer at night, hunting from a vehicle, hunting from a public road and theft of livestock. The gun used in the crime was located and seized as evidence.