Field operations weekly report [Oct. 9-15, 2016]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report October 9 October 15, 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)
BARTOW COUNTY On October 11th, Cpl. Brooks Varnell and RFC Bart Hendrix responded to a shooting call at a residence in Acworth. Officers assisted Bartow County Investigators search the area around a residence. Cpl. Varnell and K9 "Rock" located a handgun used in the crime hidden in the area. The shooting was later ruled a homicide.
On October 11th, Cpl. Brooks Varnell responded with GSP and Bartow County units to a night hunting call on Cedar Creek Rd. Three 911 calls came in about a truck shinning small fields and shooting on Cedar Creek Rd. The officers located the truck at a nearby residence. A 65 year old male at the residence admitted to shooting at a deer but missing. The male was charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a public road and hunting from a vehicle.
On October 15th, Cpl. Byron Young and RFC Zack Hardy responded to a possible hunting without permission call on Old Alabama Rd. The officers checked the area and located a hunter in a ground blind with a muzzleloader. The officers located whole corn, sunflower seeds and a mineral block in front of the blind. The hunter was issued citations for hunting without permission, hunting big game over bait and a warning for hunting without required hunter orange.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On October 12th, RFC Bart Hendrix worked a boat incident on Allatoona Lake at Kellogg Creek. A fishermen in a small aluminum boat struck the side of a ski boat near the no wake zone. Both vessels sustained damage.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
RABUN COUNTY On October 15, Ranger Beth Gilbert encountered 5 adult males along a trout stream on private property adjacent to USFS property. The property was properly posted and the owner had previously filed numerous complaints of people fishing his property without his permission. One adult male was cited for fishing without permission and 3 rainbow trout were confiscated and donated to a family in need.
UNION COUTY On Wednesday, October 12, RFC David Webb was dispatched to Vogel State Park after midnight in reference to a possible suicide. Upon arrival, RFC Webb assisted Union County Sheriff's Office with collecting evidence and escorting the victim out of the woods from a picnic shelter. Later this date, RFC Webb met with Union County Investigators to talk to the father of the deceased. After the Union County Investigators completed their investigation, they determined the incident as a suicide and the family was notified.
WHITE COUNTY On October 9, Cpl. Anne Britt received an in-progress hunting without permission call from the White County Sheriff's Department. The complainant reported she had seen one adult male dressed in camouflage on her property and she didn't know what he was doing. White County Deputies responded and found an injured bear in the woods. Shortly after, two adult males approached the residence and claimed to have killed the bear and were looking for access to retrieve it. Cpl. Britt responded and talked with the adult males. One adult male claimed to have shot the bear with a bow and he said he finished it off with his Colt .45 handgun. Cpl. Britt advised him it was unlawful to use the handgun. Cpl. Britt walked down to where the bear was and inspected it. Cpl. Britt did not find any arrow entrance wounds. Cpl. Britt asked the male if he used his bow at all and he said he did not.

The Sheriff Deputies received notification from White County Dispatch that the male had warrants out for his arrest from Hall County for failure to appear for a seat belt violation. Both males hauled the bear out of the woods and loaded it into Cpl. Britt's patrol truck bed. Cpl. Britt cited the male for killing bear with an illegal weapon. The other male was warned for hunting without permission. White County Deputies transported the male to the White County Detention Center. The bear was given to a person in need to feed him and his family.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
OGLETHORPE COUNTY On October 14th RFC Phillip Nelson ran the laser shot at the Oglethorpe Children's Academy.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
LAKE SINCLAIR On the morning of October 15th, Sgt. Bo Kelly, Cpl. Robert Stilwell, Cpl. Lynn Stanford and RFC Ronnie Beard provided lake security to Georgia Power. The remaining smoke stack at Plant Branch was demolished.
PUTNAM COUNTY On October 15th, Cpl. Stanford concluded an investigation of unlawful dumping. A suspect confessed and a citation was issued for that offense. Later that evening, Cpl. Stanford worked night deer hunting and apprehended a suspect who shot at a deer. The subject was arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting from a public road and driving while license suspended.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
EFFINGHAM COUNTY At around 11:00pm on October 12th Ranger First Class Jordan Crawford received a call from the Effingham County Sheriff's Office regarding a possible night deer hunting complaint off Reidsville Road. RFC Crawford responded to the area where he met several deputies. The deputies were on an unrelated call when they heard a shot come from a vehicle just down the road from their position. One of the deputies stopped the vehicle which was occupied by two men. In the front seat of the truck was a loaded shotgun, a freshly fired shot shell and a hand held spotlight. After further investigation at the scene by RFC Crawford both men were arrested and charged with hunting deer at night, hunting big game from a public road and hunting from a vehicle.
On October 15th Sergeant Brian Hobbins and Ranger First Class Jordan Crawford patrolled Effingham County for hunting activity. During the patrol several hunters were checked with four violations documented. Violations included hunting without a license and failure to participate in migratory bird HIP program.
IRWIN COUNTY On October 15th, Ranger First Class Allen Mills conducted a patrol at the Alapaha Wildlife Management Area. Seventeen individuals were checked for license and regulation compliance. No violations were detected.
WILCOX COUNTY On October 14th, Corporal John A Stokes worked a complaint about a violator hunting with a rifle during archery season. The violator killed a doe and a thirteen point buck with a 30-06 rifle on October 13th in the northern part of the county. He was charged with hunting with an illegal weapon, non- resident hunting without big game license and possession of illegally taken wildlife.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.