Field operations weekly report [Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2017]

Field Operations
Weekly Report January 29 February 4, 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)
HALL COUNTY On February 1st, Cpl. Adam Loudermilk and Cpl. Eddie Tompkins responded to a possible drowning at Lazy Days Marina on Lake Lanier. The Game Wardens determined where the victim likely entered the water, and began searching with a remotely operated vehicle. They located the victim in approximately 8 feet of water. The victim was recovered by the Hall County Sheriff's Office Dive Team.

GWINNETT COUNTY

On

February 1st, RFC Eric Isom and his K9 partner Colt assisted in Operation Safe State. Operation Safe State was

a concentrated effort by multiple Law Enforcement Agencies to apprehend wanted subjects. The operation

involved multiple metro counties and was very successful apprehending multiple wanted subjects.

Region III- Thomson (East Central)
COLUMBIA COUNTY On February 1st at 3:15 PM, RFC Bobby Timmerman received a call in reference to a boating incident on Clarks Hill Lake at the Little River Bridge. Sgt. Doyte Chaffin and RFC Bobby Timmerman responded to the incident location. The Game Wardens found that two female subjects were fishing from a 1999 16ft Polar Craft Jon boat at the incident location. The operator of the vessel stated that the waves and wind were beginning to overtake the vessel. The vessel operator drove the boat to the base of the bridge and the boat became lodged against the rocks. The occupants of the vessel were able to get out of the boat onto the rocks at the bank but were unable to climb the steep embankment. Columbia County and Lincoln County Fire Rescue responded to the scene. A ladder was lowered to the subjects. Sgt. Chaffin and members of both fire rescue teams assisted the subjects to safety.
WILKES COUNTY On February 4th , Cpl. Mark Patterson patrolled portions of the Clarks Hill WMA and public fishing access along the Little River. One subject was cited for over the daily creel limit of crappie.
NEWTON COUNTY On January 25th , Ranger Dan Schay patrolled Lake Varner and cited an individual for fishing without a license.
HANCOCK COUNTY On January 28th , Cpl. David Allen and RFC Ricky Boles patrolled the Oconee River above the highway 16 bridge. The Rangers cited three individuals for not wearing a PFD in a hazardous area.
MORGAN COUNTY On January 28th , RFC Ricky Boles checked seven duck hunters near the Morgan/Newton county line. RFC Boles cited one individual for hunting without a Federal duck stamp.
Region IV- Macon (West Central)
No activity to report.

Region V- Albany (Southwest)
No activity to report.

Region VI- Metter (Southeast)
TATTNALL COUNTY On January 29th Ranger First Class Clint Jarriel and Sergeant Jon Barnard patrolled Hwy 121 South for duck hunting activity. The officers heard gun fire coming from a location known to have ducks in the area and began to investigate the shots. After a brief investigation it was determined that the area had been baited for ducks. The hunters were charged for the bait and 5 birds were confiscated.
On January 29th Ranger First Class Clint Jarriel, Sergeant Jon Barnard, and RFC Randall Meeks checked a duck roost shoot off Eden Church Road. The hunters were charged for hunting waterfowl after hours and hunting without a federal duck stamp.
JEFF DAVIS COUNTY February 4, 2017 Ranger First Class Bobby Sanders was patrolling Hinson's Landing on the Ocmulgee River when violations were documented for operating a vessel during hours of darkness without navigation lights.
TOOMBS COUNTY February 1, 2017 Ranger First Class Bobby Sanders completed a trapping investigation which lead to violations being documented for trapping without a license as well as failure to affix stamped metal tag to the traps (which is supposed to contain the trapper's identification number).
EMANUEL COUNTY On January 29th, Ranger Randell Meeks was patrolling the Bishop Chapel Church Road area. Twenty-two minutes after legal hunting hours for waterfowl, Ranger Meeks heard shotgun shots coming from a nearby location. Ranger Meeks located the hunters off of Bishop Chapel Church Road. Two violations of hunting waterfowl after legal hours, one violation of hunting with an unplugged gun and one violation of hunting without Georgia waterfowl license were documented.
SCREVEN COUNTY On February 4th Corporal Shaymus McNeely conducted a patrol of Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area. During the patrol a number of small game hunters were checked. No violations were detected.
DODGE COUNTY On February 1st, Sergeant James McLaughlin, Corporal Kevin Joyce, and Ranger First Class Allen Mills were contacted by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office in reference to a missing person. The seventy-one year old Alzheimer and Dementia patient had wondered away from his home at approximately 6:30 AM. Along with other searchers and resources, Rangers deployed K-9 Briar and ATVs to look for the missing man. The individual was located at approximately 2:30 PM and was reunited with his family.
DODGE COUNTY On February 4th, Game Wardens Lamar Burns and Dan Stiles conducted a vessel patrol at the Dodge County Public Fishing Area. Four vessels were checked for registration and boating safety equipment and six anglers were checked for required licenses and creel limit compliance. One violation for operating a vessel with expired registration was documented.
LAURENS COUNTY On February 4th Game Warden Dan Stiles conducted a night patrol at the Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area. No violations were detected.

Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal)
BRANTLEY COUNTY On February 4th, RFC David Brady responded to a call for assistance from Brantley County Sheriff's Office. A deputy had spotted a subject with an outstanding warrant and attempted to make contact with him. A foot pursuit ensued in which Brady joined and was able to assist the deputy with the apprehension and arrest of the suspect.
GLYNN COUNTY On February 4th, Corporal Kate Hargrove, RFC David Brady and Ranger Judd Sears conducted a JEA dockside patrol in Glynn County. Several vessels were checked with no violations noted.