Field Operations Weekly Report August 13 August 19, 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) FLOYD COUNTY On August 19th, Sgt. Mike Barr was patrolling Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area (PFA). He noticed a man and young child on a kayak. The child appeared to be under the age of 13 and was not wearing a life jacket. The operator stated their life jacket was on another boat which was headed their way. A vessel could be seen approaching. There were nine people in that vessel and three more children under the age of 13 not wearing life jackets. The vessel only had four adult life jackets. Sgt. Barr issued a citation to the operator of the vessel and gave them a boating safety handbook. Sgt. Barr later received a complaint on the same vessel pulling a tube and child without a life jacket. On August 19th, Sgt. Mike Barr was patrolling Rocky Mountain PFA and witnessed two people on a kayak and paddleboard fishing in East Antioch Lake. With the use of binoculars, Sgt. Barr could see a can sitting on top of the paddleboard. The young man and woman were called to the side to check their fishing licenses. The female first went to the kayak and put her can inside a cooler. When they arrived at the boat dock, Sgt. Barr asked about possession of alcohol and obtained consent to search their cooler where he found alcohol. Possession of alcohol is prohibited on Rocky Mountain PFA. Charges were issued for the alcohol violation on Rocky Mountain PFA and warnings for fishing without fishing licenses. On August 19th, Sgt. Mike Barr was checking fishing licenses on Rocky Mountain PFA. He spoke with a fisherman who caught a good catfish just off the point at the tent camping area. James Teems caught a good catfish using blood bait adjacent to the tent camping area of West Antioch Lake. GORDON COUNTY On August 16th, Cpl. Shawn Elmore and Game Warden Nolan Callaway responded to a fishing without permission complaint in the north end of Gordon County. The two game wardens observed two people fishing in the pond. One of the men said he and a friend of his had fished the pond about two weeks prior. Both men were issued citations for fishing without permission and told not to return. Region II- Gainesville (Northeast) RABUN COUNTY On August 19th, while on foot patrol at Tallulah Gorge State Park, Ranger Beth Gilbert issued citations to 7 adults for accessing the gorge floor without permits. On August 19th, Ranger Gilbert issued written warnings to 2 adult males who were fishing at Moccasin Creek for fishing without license on person when they were unable to produce proof of a fishing license. TOWNS COUNTY On August 16th, RFC David Webb assisted the Towns County Fire and Rescue with retrieving a 22 year old white male who had possibly drowned on Lake Chatuge. The Towns County Coroner had sent the victim to the crime lab to obtain the actual cause of death. WHITE COUNTY On August 13th, Cpl. Anne Wiley checked the Wildwood Outfitters boat ramp for boating and fishing activity. Cpl. Wiley cited two adults for operating a vessel without personal floatation devices (pfd). The two adults were kayaking on the Chattahoochee River with a group of four adults, all who did not have a pfd on board. The other two adults were verbally guided for not having pfd's. Region III- Thomson (East Central) Oglethorpe On Friday August 18, 2017 RFC Phillip Nelson responded to a call of subjects violating a deer kill permit. Two subjects were caught in possession of 8 white tail deer in which 3 of them were antlered bucks. The permit was issued for antlerless deer only. One of the subjects was not listed on the permit. Violations documented were violation of deer kill permit. CLARKE COUNTY On August 13th RFC Tim Butler checked local fishing and boating areas. Violations documented were operating a vessel without personal flotation devices, operating a vessel without registration, and fishing without a license. ELBERT COUNTY On August 19th Cpl. Julian Wilkins and RFC Phillip Nelson patrolled boat ramps at Lake Russell. Violations documented were failure to obey regulatory markers, operating a vessel with an improper PFD, and operating a vessel without a fire extinguisher. WILKES COUNTY On August 16th Sgt. Brian Carter assisted the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office in serving an arrest warrant on a murder suspect. COLUMBIA COUNTY On August 19th and 20th, Cpl. Ryan Swain and Game Warden Michael Madden conducted a concentrated vessel patrol of Clarks Hill Lake. Game Wardens stopped approximately sixteen vessels during the two day patrol. Game Wardens documented the following violations; towing skier without mirror/observer, allowing underage children to ride in a moving vessel without a PFD, operating a vessel with improper registration, failure to meet Boating Education requirements, failure to obey regulatory marker, allowing person to ride bow/gunwale, operating vessel with insufficient PFD and BUI. NEWTON COUNTY On August 18th, Rgr Schay was patrolling Newton County for fishing activity and a violation of fishing without a license was documented. LAKE OCONEE On August 13th, RFC Ricky Boles and Ranger Harrison Patrolled Lake Oconee for Fishing and Boating Activity. Violations for Allowing Underage Children on Moving Vessel without PFD were documented. On August 18th, RGR Schay and CPL Worth patrolled lake Oconee for fishing and boating activity. Violations of fishing without a license and operating a vessel without lights was documented. On August 19th, RGR Schay, RFC Tanner, and SGT Garthright patrolled Lake Oconee for boating activity. Violations for towing without an observer, fishing without a license, possession of marijuana less than an ounce, allowing underage children to ride in a moving vessel without PFDs, and operating a vessel under the influence were documented. Region IV- Macon (West Central) No activity to report. Region V- Albany (Southwest) LEE COUNTY On August 15th Game Warden Jesse Harrison, responded to Lee State Prison around 3:00 A.M to provide assistance to the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Correction Officers were conducting perimeter patrols and located two subjects throwing contraband into the fenced area around the prison. One of the subjects fled into the woods on foot and fired shots at the Correction Officers. The other subject fled in a vehicle and was arrested. The subject that fled into the woods was unable to be located. EARLY COUNTY On August 20th, Sgt. Bob Holley, Cpl. Tony Cox, and G.W. David Jones patrolled the Chattahoochee River in reference to a complaint of possible intoxicated boat operators. During the patrol a vessel with improper registration was stopped and after investigation it was determined the operator was boating under the influence. The subject was subsequently charged with boating under the influence and operating a vessel with insufficient PFD's. Region VI- Metter (Southeast) WHEELER COUNTY On August 13th, Ranger First Class Rodney Horne and Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Oconee River. Two vessels were checked for boating safety equipment. No violations were documented. LAURENS COUNTY On August 19th, Corporal Dan Stiles patrolled the Oconee River at night for fishing and alligator hunting activity. No violations were documented. Region VII- Brunswick (Coastal) LONG COUNTY On August 24 Game Warden Patrick Gibbs located a truck hidden in the woods across the road from a private fishing/hunting club. Gibbs located foot tracks leading across the road and onto the private land. After a brief search, Gibbs was able to locate a subject fishing without permission. The subject also had less than 1 ounce of marijuana along with a glass smoking pipe containing marijuana in his backpack. Violations were addressed for: Fishing without permission and VGCSA. On August 25 Game Warden Patrick Gibbs observed two fishermen drinking alcohol on the Buck Island track of Townsend WMA. While waiting to address this violation, Gibbs observed a truck coming in his direction. The driver rolled down the window to speak to Gibbs but never let the truck come to a complete stop. Gibbs could tell the subject driving was very nervous and noticed a rifle behind the seat. Gibbs asked the driver if the gun was loaded and the driver told him it was. Gibbs asked the driver to stop and exit the vehicle. Gibbs retrieved a loaded .22 caliber rifle. Gibbs asked the driver to empty his pockets, and discovered a glass pipe. The driver told Gibbs the pipe contained Methamphetamine. Gibbs also recovered a 4 inch straw from the passenger of the vehicle which contained Methamphetamine. While searching the truck, Gibbs located two small bags of marijuana and a small scale with marijuana debris on it. While waiting for a deputy for assistance, Gibbs encountered a separate vehicle coming out of the WMA. Gibbs could immediately smell marijuana coming from the vehicle. Gibbs asked the driver to empty his pockets and found Xanax and Percocet in an unlabeled bottle. The driver admitted to smoking marijuana moments earlier and taking Xanax. Gibbs called Trooper Glenn Walters to his location who conducted field sobriety on the Driver. The driver was arrested for DUI. Gibbs arrested the other two subject for VGCSA and possession of drug related products. The pipe and straw were sent to a lab for testing of Methamphetamine. Corporal Bobby White responded to address the violations of the original two subjects for illegal consumption of alcohol on the WMA. GLYNN COUNTY On August 14th, RFC David Brady and Sgt. Chris Ridley responded to a call concerning a car that had driven into the river in downtown Brunswick. Witnesses advised that the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed when it crossed a railroad track and launched into the river. With assistance from Glynn County Sheriff's Office divers, the Game Wardens were able to pull the submerged vehicle to a nearby boat slip where a wrecker hooked to it and hoisted it out of the water. The incident was investigated by Brunswick Police Department. BRANTLEY/WARE COUNTY On August 14th, Ranger Judd Sears and intern Austin Jarriel patrolled Dixon WMA for activity. During this patrol Sgt. Patrick Dupree contacted Ranger Sears with a complaint of illegal palmetto berry picking that was taking place in the WMA. Ranger Sears met with Georgia Forestry Investigator Leitch to gather more information. Ranger Sears and investigator Leitch began patrolling the Brantley/Ware county line of Dixon WMA in an attempt to locate these individuals. Ranger Sears came into contact with a passenger van that met the description from investigator Leitch. A traffic stop was initiated on this vehicle. Five subjects were found to be located in the vehicle with approximately 1800 pounds of palmetto berries. All subjects were arrested and transported to the Ware county jail, and berries were seized along with the vehicle. All charges were turned over to Georgia Forestry Commission.