Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division Field Operations Weekly Report June 5 June 11, 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) RABUN COUNTY On June 11th, RFC Joe Hill and Rabun County Sheriff's Office Deputy Tony Parrish conducted a boating safety patrol on Lake Rabun. The Ranger and Deputy issued one citation for allowing a person to ride bow/gunwale and two warnings for failure to obey regulatory markers. TOWNS COUNTY On June 11th, RFC David Webb and Cpl. Britt patrolled Lake Chatuge. The officers warned several people on kayaks for not having personal floating devices, other boaters for not obeying regulatory markers, and light violations. The officers cited one adult for allowing his 13 year old son to operate a PWC without supervision, operating vessel without registration, and warned him for wearing an improper PFD and violation of the 100' law. Two other adults were cited for improper lights and jumping wake within 100 feet of another vessel. Region III- Thomson (East Central) RICHMOND COUNTY While working a fishing without permission compliant Cpl. Payne located two subjects fishing. When he tried to apprehend them both subjects ran in an attempt to get away. After an extensive foot chase Cpl. Payne was able to catch and arrest one subject. Cpl. Payne then interviewed the subject he caught and was able to determine the identity of the second subject. That subject was then arrested at his residence. The first subject that Cpl. Payne chased down also had an outstanding warrant for Homicide and was booked into the Richmond County Jail. On June 5th Cpl. Payne was investigating an ongoing vandalism problem at Spirt Creek WMA. Cpl. Payne located two subjects on ATV's that had driven around one of the Road Closed Signs. While dealing with the two subjects Cpl. Payne located a glass pipe containing Methamphetamine residue on one of the subjects. The subjects were arrested and booked into the Richmond County Jail. JEFFERSON COUNTY Sgt. Boswell, Sgt. Garthright, Cpl. Payne, Cpl. Hobbins, Cpl. Adams, RNG Madden and RFC Billips assisted the Air force in locating two F-16 fighter jets that collided in air near Louisville on June the 6th. Rangers provided ATV's, canoes and hours of foot patrol searching for the planes and pilots throughout the week. LAKE OCONEE June 3, Rangers John Harwell, Ricky Boles, David Allen, Jason Harrison, Dan Schay, and Tim Butler assisted Greene County looking for a missing person. The rangers patrolled the shore line using side scan sonar. The subject showed up three days later and was checked by medical personnel. June 6-10, RFC Ricky Boles, Cpl. David Allen, Sgt. John Harwell, and RFC Richard Tanner participated in the Morgan County Sheriff's Office Junior Deputy Camp. The Rangers taught gun safety, boating safety, took the cadets to the pistol range to shoot BB pistols. Also Rangers used the laser shot shooting simulator to teach the cadets marksmanship. June 9, Sgt. John Harwell, Cpl. David Allen, and Cpl. Derrell Worth responded to a boating incident on Lake Oconee in Putnam County. Two subjects were taken for medical treatment but was released a short time later. The operator of the at-fault vessel was cited for violating rules of the road. June 11-12, Sgt. John Harwell, Cpl. David Allen, RFC Richard Tanner, RFC Ricky Boles, and Ranger Jason Harrison patrolled Lake Oconee. The rangers made two boating under the influence charges, multiple citations were written for 100' violations on PWC, towing skiers w/out observers, and light violations. CLARKE COUNTY On June 10, RFC Phillip Nelson patrolled the Oconee River in the Athens area and various parks for boating and fishing activity. Violations documented during this patrol were operating a vessel without registration. MCDUFFIE COUNTY On June 6th and 7th, Rangers from various work units in Region III assisted McDuffie County Sheriff's Office in a continued search for a missing 79 year old male. The missing man suffered from Alzheimer's disease and was last seen leaving his residence on foot. After a very long two day search involving severe weather conditions. The subject was found alive in a heavily wooded area less than of a mile from his residence. Region IV- Macon (West Central) HARRIS COUNTY On June 11th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver and Sgt. Jim Bradfield were patrolling Lake Harding when the officer's performed a vessel stop for a violation of operating a vessel at night without lights. During the stop, Cpl. Oliver could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the operator and the operator admitted to drinking beer during the day. Cpl. Oliver administered field sobriety test to the operator and as a result of those exercises, the subject was placed under arrest for boating under the influence and operating a vessel at night without lights. MUSCOGEE COUNTY On June 6th, Cpl. Mitch Oliver presented the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division power point presentation to the Introductory to Criminal Justice class at Columbus Technical College. Region V- Albany (Southwest) No activity to report. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) WILCOX COUNTY On June 5th, Corporal John A Stokes patrolled the Ocmulgee River for boating safety and creel limits. One violation for insufficient personal floatation device was documented. DODGE COUNTY On June 5th, Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Ocmulgee River by vessel. Eight vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment and four anglers were checked for license and creel compliance. One violation for operating a vessel with insufficient personal floatation devices (life jackets) and one violation for fishing without license on person were documented. LAURENS COUNTY On June 11th, Corporal Dan Stiles conducted a vessel patrol on the Oconee River. Fifteen vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment and eight anglers were checked for license and creel compliance. Violation's encountered and documented were boating under the influence (alcohol), violation of the 100' law, and operating a vessel without registration. COFFEE COUNTY On June 4th, Corporal Tim Hutto patrolled the Ocmulgee River in Coffee, Ben-Hill, and Jeff Davis Counties for boating and fishing activity. Around 7:00 p.m., Corporal Hutto stopped a boat near the Barr's Bluff Landing due to a subject standing on the bow of the boat pointing a rifle into the water while the boat was in motion. After talking with the boat operator and performing a series of sobriety tests, Corporal Hutto determined that the subject was under the influence of alcohol. Further investigation revealed that the subject was under the age of 21 and so was his passenger. The driver of the vessel was arrested and charged with boating under the influence and underage consumption of alcohol. The passenger was ultimately arrested and charged with misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, riding the bow of a vessel, and underage consumption of alcohol. SCREVEN COUNTY On June 11th, Corporal Shaymus McNeely and Ranger Randell Meeks conducted a patrol of the Savannah River from the mouth of Briar Creek to Cohens Bluff. During the course of the patrol the Rangers checked a number of boaters and fisherman. One suspect was investigated and subsequently arrested for operating a vessel under the influence. Violations of allowing persons to ride on the bow / gunwale of a vessel were also documented. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) GLYNN COUNTY/ CAMDEN COUNTY From June 5th 11th, RFC John Evans, RFC Colte Shaske, Cpl. Kate Hargrove, RFC David Brady, RFC Jay Bright, RFC Patrick Gibbs, RFC Keil Toney, Sgt. Mark Carson, Captain Ed Watkins, GSP Sgt. Hamilton Halford and Captain Bob Lynn, conducted two separate searches for three missing boaters in Glynn and Camden Counties. For a total of seven days DNR Rangers, Glynn County EMA and the Camden County Sheriff's Office searched through inclement weather conditions (Tropical Storm Colin); abnormally high and low tides and finally caught a break after the storm passed to continue the search. Air support was provided by DNR Law Enforcement Aviation, GSP Aviation Unit and US Coast Guard Aviation. The three victims were recovered on three different days all in different locations. Because of the response and cooperation from the different agencies, closure was brought to the families of the victims.