Field operations weekly report [Aug. 21-27, 2016]

Department of Natural Resources
Law Enforcement Division
Field Operations
Weekly Report August 21 August 27, 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 August 26 and 27, Sgt. Derek Dillard, Cpl. Byron Young and RFC Bart Hendrix patrolled Red Top Mt. State Park. The officers made several cases for underage possession of alcohol, consuming alcohol on the State Park and possession of marijuana less than an ounce.
On August 27, Sgt. Derek Dillard and RFC Bart Hendrix located a large cabin cruiser sitting in the main channel on Allatoona Lake without lights displayed. The officers immediately detected the odor of Marijuana when they pulled up to the boat. A male and female onboard admitted to smoking Marijuana. The officers located a small amount of Marijuana on the boat. Citations issued for failure to display lights, improper registration and possession of Marijuana less than an ounce.
On August 27, Cpl. Brooks Varnell and Bartow County Deputy Sgt. Wesley Duncan issued several citations for PFD violation on PWC's and boats.
CHEROKEE COUNTY On August 27, Sgt. Derek Dillard and RFC Bart Hendrix responded to a call of a 10 year old that was thrown off a tube and suffered a neck injury on Allatoona Lake. The 10 year old was transported to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for treatment.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
HALL COUNTY On August 27, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and RFC Eric Isom patrolled Lake Lanier. During the patrol they issued several warnings for boating violations and one citation for possession of marijuana.
RABUN COUNTY On August 25, 2016, Ranger Tommy Crabb and Cpl. Anne Britt patrolled Lake Burton for boating and fishing activity. Two adult males were fishing without licenses with a fishing guide service. One adult male, a Georgia resident, was cited for fishing w/o a license. The other adult male was from California. He was cited for nonresident fishing without a license. Shortly afterwards, the officers stopped a pontoon boat that was pulling a tube with one adult male who was not wearing a personal floatation device (PFD). The operator of the pontoon boat was issued a citation for towing a skier/tuber without pfd. The boat was a rental boat from LaPrade's Marina which also had some issues with the rental process and required numbering on the vessel. The officers made contact with the rental agency and verbally guided them on the issues.
On August 26, 2016, RFC Joe Hill and Cpl. Anne Britt responded to Tallulah Gorge State Park for assistance with a long line extraction with the DNR LED Helicopter. A 42 year old female became exhausted on the Gorge floor hike and could not make it out on her own. The pilot, Capt. Steven Turner successfully extracted the patient with the assistance from Tallulah Gorge State Park Manager, Danny Tatum and other Park personnel, Jessica Weems and West Malenke. The patient was received by Habersham EMS and taken to Habersham Medical Center for treatment. Shortly after Habersham EMS left the scene, RFC Joe Hill and Cpl. Anne Britt responded to another call for assistance from a hiker at Tallulah Gorge State Park who was on the stairway (16 flights down) and was having difficulty breathing. Cpl. Britt walked down the stairs to locate the hiker. When she got down to where he was supposed to be he was not there. Evidently the hiker made it out with the help from other individuals who were with him.
On August 26th, RFC Chad Chambers and Ranger Tommy Crabb patrolled Lakes Rabun and Burton. The two officers addressed several violations including; Operating vessel with insufficient PFD's, operating vessel without a fire extinguisher and Operating without registration.

Later on this same date, RFC Chambers was dispatched back to Lake Burton in an attempt to locate an overdue boater in the late evening hours. Fortunately RFC Chambers discovered that the boater had only experienced engine trouble with his vessel while in route from the boat ramp to his vacation house. He was forced to tie up his disabled craft at a nearby dock and walk to his original destination. He safely arrived home approximately three hours after last being seen by his family.
On August 27th, RFC Joe Hill and Rabun County Sheriff's Office Deputy John Presti conducted two boating safety patrols on Lake Burton. The officers issued citations for allowing a person to ride bow/gunwale, failure to obey regulatory marker, and towing a skier without PFD. Warnings were issued for operating a vessel with improper registration, operating vessel with unserviceable fire extinguisher, and allowing another to operate vessel without complying with registration laws.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
NEWTON COUNTY On August 27th RFC Tim Butler, Retired Ranger First Class Larry Mills, and Adam Shiavone of the Georgia Wildlife Federation taught a hunter education course. Fifteen students successfully completed the course.
OCONEE COUNTY On August 23rd and 25th RFC Tim Butler presented a hunter education course. Ten students successfully completed the course.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
BALDWIN COUNTY RFC Ronnie Beard responded to a case of night deer hunting in Baldwin County. The investigation is ongoing. RFC Micheal Crawley was patrolling the Oconee River in Baldwin County when he stopped an individual for operating a vessel in a hazardous area without wearing a life jacket. The individual was fishing without a license and was also found to be in possession of marijuana. He was subsequently arrested for the violations.
HOUSTON COUNTY Cpl. Robert Stillwell assisted the Houston County Sheriff's Office with the searching of Oaky Woods WMA in reference to items taken in a burglary of a local farm.
Cpl. Robert Stillwell patrolled Oaky Woods during Small Game Season and no violations were detected.
PUTNAM COUNTY Cpl. Bubba Stanford certified 10 students at his Hunter Education class on August 25, 2016.
RFC Jeremy Reese participated in the Wallace/Sinclair Dam Emergency Action Plan Exercise on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.
TWIGGS COUNTY RFC Ronnie Beard checked the Ocmulgee River in Twiggs County for alligator hunting activity. One individual was found to be hunting without a license.
Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
JEFF DAVIS On August 21, Sgt. Jon Barnard and Cpl. Kevin Joyce responded to a car fire on Bullard Creek WMA. Upon their arrival the Jeff Davis County Fire Department had extinguished the fire. The car, a 2016 Dodge Charger was completely burned to the frame. Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by a phone charger plugged into the cigarette lighter. No one was injured and no other property was damaged. LAURENS COUNTY On August 26th Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area. Two violations were documented for illegal consumption of alcohol on a WMA and verbal guidance was given to one individual for a minor license violation. DODGE COUNTY On August 27th, Corporal Dan Stiles and Ranger First Class Allen Mills were inspecting dove fields for lawful preparation. Several fields were checked and one field was posted "No Hunting Baited Area". Cracked corn was discovered on a sunflower field.
Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
No activity to report.