Field operations weekly report [Feb. 12-18, 2017]

Field Operations
Weekly Report February 12 February 18, 2017
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- Acworth (Northwest)
No activity to report.
Region II- Gainesville (Northeast)
BARROW COUNTY On February 18th, Ranger Chris Kernahan conducted an investigation concerning the egregious dumping of littering on private property in Barrow County. Ranger Kernahan made contact with the subject who was responsible, and proceeded to conduct an interview. When confronted with the evidence, the subject admitted to dumping the litter. The violation was documented.
Region III- Thomson (East Central)
McDUFFIE COUNTY On February 19th, Game Wardens Sgt. Doyte Chaffin and RFC Bobby Timmerman conducted a concentrated patrol of the McDuffie PFA for fishing and boating activity. While on patrol Game Wardens Sgt. Chaffin and RFC Timmerman checked 17 fishermen and 6 boats. The PFA patrol resulted in Game Wardens issuing 1 citation and 6 warnings for various fishing and boating violations.
COLUMBIA COUNTY On February 20th, Game Wardens Sgt. Doyte Chaffin and RFC Bobby Timmerman responded to a call about shots fired at River Island on the Savannah River in Columbia County. Upon arrival Game Wardens Sgt. Chaffin and RFC Timmerman discovered two subjects from South Carolina hunting geese on the Georgia side of the Savannah River. Game Wardens issued 2 citations for hunting waterfowl out of season and hunting without permission. Game Wardens also seized 1 goose from the subjects.
NEWTON COUNTY On February 12th, Ranger Schay was patrolling Newton County for fishing activity. Violations for fishing without a license were documented.
On February 17th, Ranger Schay was patrolling Newton County for fishing activity. A violation for fishing without permission was documented.
HANCOCK COUNTY On February 11th, Cpl. David Allen and Sgt. Matt Garthright checked a residence in Hancock County that had a burn pile emitting black smoke. Upon further investigation the rangers discovered insulation and vinyl siding in the burn pile. The home owner was cited for illegal burning.
MORGAN COUNTY On February 12th, Cpl. David Allen checked the Swords boat ramp. Cpl. Allen cited two subjects for fishing without a license.
CLARKE COUNTY On February 17th , RFC Tim Butler patrolled local fishing and boating areas. Violations addressed were operating a vessel without personal flotation devices, operating a vessel without registration, and possession of undersized fish.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.
Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TELFAIR COUNTY On February 18th, Corporal Dan Stiles and Game Warden Allen Mills was conducting an after-hours patrol on Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area. While on patrol, a call from GSP troop F came out as a possible drunk driver between Jacksonville and Lumber City. Various units responded including Telfair sheriff's office, Georgia State Patrol and DNR. The vehicle was located just outside Jacksonville. The driver was charged with DUI (driving under the influence) and domestic violence; the passenger was charged with domestic violence.
WHEELER COUNTY On February 16th, Game Warden Lamar Burns and Sergeant James McLaughlin assisted Wheeler County Sheriff's office with the apprehension of a subject wanted for aggravated assault. After a short time searching for the individual, Sergeant McLaughlin located the person hiding in a deer stand. Sergeant McLaughlin arrested the suspect without incident and released him to the awaiting Wheeler County Deputies.
WILCOX COUNTY On February 17th, Sergeant James McLaughlin, Corporal Dan Stiles, and Game Warden Allen Mills responded to a call from the Wilcox County Sheriff's office in reference to a missing dementia patient. The 87-year-old male had wondered away from his home and had not been seen in hours. After a short search, the individual was located lying in a thicket along a clear-cut area. He was returned to his home and family uninjured.
On February 18th, Corporal Dan Stiles and Game Warden Allen Mills conducted a vessel patrol along the Ocmulgee River from Sandy Hammock landing to Half Moon landing. Two vessels were encountered and checked for safety equipment compliance. Violations were documented for fishing without a license, operating a vessel with an insufficient personal floatation device, operating a vessel without personal flotation devices, and operating a vessel without registration.
APPLING COUNTY On February 16th, Corporal Chase Altman responded to an illegal dumping site located off Morris Landing Road in Appling County. Several bags of house hold trash where found next to a creek. After a brief investigation, some items were located with a name and address on them, to a residence in the county. The owners of the residence were located and told of the violation. The investigation is still ongoing, depending on the removal of the trash site by the individuals involved.
LOWNDES COUNTY On February 17th, Sergeant Morty Wood, Corporal Tommy Daughtrey and Ranger First Class Daniel North responded to the Withlacoochee River bridge on Hwy 122 in reference to a missing person who had been swimming in the river. With the assistance of Lowndes County Sheriff's Department, Fire and Rescue and EMS the immediate area was searched and the victim was recovered from the river where he was last seen by his friends.

On February 18th, Ranger First Class Daniel North received information from an anonymous complainant that a poacher had been seen with a harvested turkey. During the brief investigation, the poacher was located and interviewed in the Lakeland area where he admitted to killing the turkey at a location in Lowndes on Val-Tech Road. Violations of shooting big game from public road, hunting from a vehicle, and hunting out of season were documented. The turkey meat he had already packaged for storage and the gobbler's beard were confiscated. The turkey meat was donated to a needy family in Lowndes county and the beard held for evidence.
Turkey beard taken from a poacher. CLINCH COUNTY From February 3rd thru the 10th, Game Wardens Mark Pool & Sam Williams assisted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Clinch County Sheriff's Department with searching a wooded area near Fargo for a missing man. The individual was part of a timber harvesting crew that was engaged in logging operations at the time of his disappearance. The game wardens recorded 79 hours looking for the missing man. To date, he has not been located. Foul play is suspected. WARE COUNTY On February 11th, Corporal Mark Pool received a call about hog hunters hunting on property without permission near Millwood. Cpl. Pool responded to the area and discovered the poachers had already left. Cpl. Pool contacted the complainant and was provided photos of the suspect's vehicle's tag numbers. Cpl. Pool learned through the tag numbers that those involved were from Atkinson County. Cpl. Pool contacted Cpl. Tim Hutto for assistance in locating the poacher's residences. After brief interviews and locating additional evidence, three citations were issued for hunting without permission.

ECHOLS COUNTY On February 17th, Sergeant Patrick Dupree & Game Warden Sam Williams participated in a career day at Echols County Schools in Statenville. Approximately 340 students from 7th thru 12th grades attended the event with several interested in becoming game wardens.
Game Warden Sam Williams speaking with an Echols County student about becoming a game warden. LANIER COUNTY On February 16th, Sergeant Patrick Dupree encountered a tractor-trailer on fire south of Lakeland on GA135. The driver had safely exited the truck. Sgt. Dupree notified Lanier 911 and additional law enforcement and fire units arrived on scene. The fire was extinguished.
Tractor-trailer fire in Lanier County.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRYAN COUNTY- OFF SHORE On February 17, 2017, Sgt. Scott, Cpl. Bryson, and RFC Toney conducted a Joint Enforcement Agreement patrol in St. Catherine's Sound and offshore area checking nearby reefs and sport fishermen offshore. Several fishermen were checked as it was a nice day with calm water offshore. One boater was found to have undersized Black Sea Bass. The incident was documented and will be turned over to the National Marine Fishery Service for prosecution.
On February 14, 2017, Cpl. Morgan found trash dumped on the Richmond Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Cpl. Morgan investigated the scene and discovered documents that included a person's name. Through further investigation he determined the information needed for the identity of the person. The investigation led to citing the individual for unlawful dumping.