FWC Division of Law Enforcement. Weekly Report

Transcription

1 FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report August 23-29, 2013 This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Patrol, Protect, Preserve

2 NORTHWEST REGION ESCAMBIA COUNTY While on vessel patrol, Investigator Goley noticed a vessel violating the idle speed zone entering Bayou Grande. After stopping the vessel to conduct a safety and fisheries inspection, he noticed the operator displayed signs of impairment. Investigator Goley requested the operator to perform field sobriety tasks. The operator agreed and performed poorly on the tasks. Investigator Goley placed the operator under arrest for boating under the influence (BUI) and transported him to the Escambia County Jail. The operator refused to provide a breath sample. The operator was booked into the jail for BUI and issued a citation for the idle speed zone violation. OKALOOSA COUNTY Officers Rockwell and Jarvis and Lieutenant Glover received information regarding two subjects fishing on the west jetties inside the Destin Pass keeping over the bag limit and oversized redfish. From a concealed location, Lieutenant Glover and Officer Jarvis observed the two fishermen finish fishing and make their way off the jetties. One of the subjects appeared to be wearing a backpack and the other was carrying a redfish. The officers observed the subjects split up. The fisherman without the back pack walked directly to the parking lot where his car was parked. The second fisherman went the opposite direction the long way around the dunes toward Highway 98. The officers caught up with both subjects and found a total of seven redfish concealed in the subject s backpack. The first fisherman who went directly to his car was in possession of an oversized redfish. Citations were issued to both subjects for the violations. A few hours later, Officer Rockwell was watching several more fishermen on the west jetties from a concealed location. Four subjects exited the jetties and walked past Officer Rockwell s position. Officer Rockwell announced himself to conduct a fisheries inspection. One of the subjects was carrying a backpack and Officer Rockwell observed three fish tails protruding out of the top. The subject attempted to back up to the dunes and drop his pack in the dune line. The subject was in possession of three redfish, two of which were oversized. The subject was charged with over the bag limit and oversized redfish. GADSDEN COUNTY Officer Jones was on patrol when he noticed an individual who was selling what appeared to be fish from the back of his truck in a neighborhood. Officer Jones set up surveillance and was able to document the individual selling freshwater bream to an individual. At the conclusion of the sale, Officer Jones stopped the buyer and seller and identified himself. The fish were seized, and the individual selling the fish was cited for selling freshwater game fish. While wearing plainclothes, Officers Jones, Louque and Johnson were working a trespass complaint on a local lake. The officers set up surveillance on the lake when they observed an individual come onto the property and start fishing. They confronted the subject about the 2

3 trespass. A local warrant check revealed the individual had outstanding warrants. The subject was arrested and booked into the Gadsden County Jail. FRANKLIN COUNTY Officers Gore, Allen and Martin were working a complaint in Tate's Hell Wildlife Management Area regarding three subjects who were illegally killing deer and alligators at night. Surveillance was conducted for a period of time and information was obtained that one of the subjects had an alligator in the back of his truck. Shortly after the information was obtained, Officer Gore spotted the truck. Officers Gore and Martin, along with deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff s Office conducted a traffic stop on the truck, during which the officers noticed blood on the tailgate and bumper along with blood on the suspect s shirt. A subsequent search of the truck bed revealed alligator meat, alligator head, and other parts of the alligator. A rifle used to shoot and kill the gator was found in the front seat. The suspect is a convicted felon and cannot possess firearms. After the evidence was secured, another individual involved in the crime was taken into custody. During interviews, information was obtained that more evidence was located at the residences of the three individuals. A search was conducted at two of the residences. Additional alligator parts were located along with an illegal controlled substance. The subjects were arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail for illegal taking of an alligator, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation. Officers Gore and Cook received information regarding three individuals who had been harvesting oysters in a prohibited area. Following up on the information, Officer Gore located the oysters that were harvested. The oysters were stockpiled under an abandoned oyster house. He set up surveillance and, three hours later, three individuals showed up at the location and went under the house. Officer Gore was able to get closer and observe one of the individuals culling the oysters from the pile. A short time later, the officers stopped the individuals. The suspects admitted to harvesting the oysters the night before in a prohibited area of Apalachicola Bay. They returned 12 hours later to cull the oysters and take them to a dealer to sell. The officers obtained evidence to charge them with harvesting oysters from a prohibited area, harvesting between sunset and sunrise, possession of unculled and untagged oysters, and failure to deliver to the shellfish dealer same day of harvest. One of the subjects was arrested just weeks prior to this arrest for harvesting shellfish in prohibited waters. This individual was booked into the Franklin County Jail. A total of 25 bags of oysters were seized and returned to the bay. The Department Of Agriculture and Consumer Services was notified and is pursuing further penalties. NORTH CENTRAL REGION CITRUS During August 17-18, Officers Nasworth, Phillips, Van Ness, Reese, and Lieutenant Loyed were called to conduct four search-and-rescue missions out of Crystal River. Two of the search and rescues involved children under the age of ten. After searching for several hours, Lieutenant Loyed and Officer Nasworth located one adult male with an eight-year-old child stranded on a vessel approximately four miles off shore in rough seas. The two were taken off 3

4 of their vessel and transported to a local boat ramp. All of the other subjects made it back to shore safely. CLAY/BRADFORD COUNTY Officers Justus and Larosa were finishing up an alligator hunting detail when they observed several vehicles parked at the Main Street Boat Ramp on Black Creek where local ordinances prohibit overnight parking. On his way to pick up his truck and trailer, Officer Justus observed one of the individuals throw a beer bottle into the woods. Officers Larosa and Justus approached the individuals and discovered one of the individuals was driving with a suspended driver s license. Citations were issued for unknowingly driving with a suspended license and littering less than 15 pounds. Officer Justus was on foot patrol at CR 231 and Santa Fe River when he observed two individuals fishing. After observing the individuals for several minutes, Officer Justus watched the individuals pass a cigarette back and forth between each other. Officer Justus approached the individuals and detected a strong odor of marijuana. Officer Justus seized a marijuana cigarette and issued a citation for possession of cannabis less than 20 grams. COLUMBIA COUNTY Officer Stanley was on land patrol at Rum Island on the Santa Fe River. He observed three individuals consuming alcohol in a vehicle in the county park. Officer Stanley made contact and found that one subject was under age. As Officer Stanley was running names through FWC dispatch, one of the individuals ran from the area and swam across the river. Officer Stanley searched the vehicle and found the individual s ID card. Officer Stanley issued one criminal citation for underage drinking and will direct file three additional misdemeanors on the fleeing subject. The fleeing subject had an active warrant for VOP-battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. Officer Stanley was assisting Investigators Holmes and Sharp with a wildlife inspection. While on the property, Officer Stanley ran a warrants check on one of the workers. The subject had an active warrant from Suwannee County in reference VOP-petit theft. The subject was arrested and booked into the Columbia County Jail. DUVAL COUNTY Officer Troedson conducted a fisheries check on a male subject who was fishing off of a dock located on posted private property at the 10,000 block of Heckscher Drive in Jacksonville. The subject provided a current fishing license and stated he had not caught any fish. Officer Troedson requested permission to search the subject s backpack that he used for his fishing equipment. The subject verbally agreed to allow a search of the backpack. Officer Troedson observed in the large front zipper compartment a plastic sandwich Ziploc bag containing marijuana. In the main compartment, he found a small plastic pill bottle with a blue glass pipe in it and a small bag of marijuana, less than 20 grams. The subject was verbally warned for the trespass and issued a notice to appear for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and for possession of drug paraphernalia. 4

5 Officer Troedson observed a male subject fishing under the Intracoastal Bridge on Atlantic Boulevard in Jacksonville in a fenced-off, private property area. Contact was made with the subject advising him he was trespassing. A records check revealed that the subject had a suspended driver s license for unpaid child support. Further checks indicated a writ of attachment from Okaloosa County for non-payment of child support. FWC dispatch confirmed the writ with extradition if unable to pay the $3, purge amount. A written warning was issued for trespass and the subject was booked into the Duval County Jail in compliance with the writ. Lieutenant Arkin was on patrol in the area of Heckscher Drive and New Berlin Road when he observed a yellow Triumph motorcycle with a passenger that had no eye protection on leaving the Gate Station on New Berlin Road. Officer Arkin initiated a traffic stop on the yellow Triumph motorcycle and made contact with the driver. The registration on the motorcycle expired in The driver of the motorcycle also did not have the required motorcycle endorsement to operate. The driver stated that he didn t ride the motorcycle that much so he didn't register it, and he also never went to take the motorcycle class. The driver was issued a criminal uniform traffic citation for violation of Florida Statute (2) no motorcycle endorsement and two written warnings for expired registration over six months and no eye protection on passenger. NASSAU COUNTY Officer Troedson observed a male subject fishing and consuming alcoholic beverages on the George Crady Fishing Bridge in Amelia Island State Park. The subject was advised by Officer Troedson that alcoholic beverages were not allowed to be consumed in state parks. A records check was conducted through FWC dispatch which revealed an active warrant from Duval County for driving while license suspended. The subject also had a warrant from Georgia for failure to appear-driving while license suspended with extradition in Georgia only. The FWC dispatch confirmed the local warrant with bond set at $ The subject was arrested and booked into the Nassau County Jail in compliance with the Duval County warrant. The subject was also issued two written warnings for consumption of alcoholic beverages in a state park and for fishing without a resident saltwater shoreline fishing license. NORTHEAST REGION VOLUSIA COUNTY Lieutenant Baer was on his way home from working off-duty in his personal vehicle, in uniform. While driving through a local state park, he observed an individual exit the park woods carrying a pair of shears and a trash can full of saw palmetto berries. Lieutenant Baer stopped and identified himself. A second subject, who was also harvesting saw palmetto berries, was located in the nearby woods. Lieutenant Baer notified dispatch and requested an on-duty unit respond. Officer Ward arrived on scene and issued both subjects a criminal citation for collecting plant specimens in a state park without a permit. 5

6 SEMINOLE COUNTY Officer Tye was on airboat patrol checking gator hunters on the St. Johns River when she came upon a canoe with no one on board. Personal belongings were still in the vessel. Occupants of another vessel notified Officer Tye that there was a male lying in the water near shore several hundred yards away that appeared to be drunk. After a lengthy search, the male was unable to be located in the water. He was hiding from Officer Tye in an attempt to make it back to the canoe, which he later admitted he borrowed from a friend. Officer Tye finally located the male hiding in the water among a large group of lily pads with only his head exposed. He would not say how he initially ended up in the water, but was arrested for an outstanding warrant and booked into the Seminole County Jail. BREVARD COUNTY An alert St. Johns River Water Management District employee, who was in the process of grading the roads in the park, noticed some suspicious tire sign and stopped to check it out. He discovered toilet paper and human waste had been pumped into the wetland at two locations. The wetland is adjacent to the St. Sebastian River which flows into the Indian River Lagoon. Environmental Investigator B. Rutherford arrested a Brevard County man on one felony and three misdemeanor charges for the illegal dumping of over 500 pounds of raw human waste into a wetland within the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. The man had just pumped out a port-o-let at the park and decided to dump a portion of the waste from his tanker truck into a wetland on his way out of the park. Investigator Rutherford was assisted by FWC Officers Ash and Mendez. Officer Luce coordinated and implemented a resource detail for three consecutive days targeting red snapper enforcement for the Federal red snapper mini season. This detail included several officers from three squads resulting in 80 vessels and 300 users checked in Port Canaveral alone. Activity generated by the detail included three resource citations and eight resource warnings; however, officers encountered 100% compliance concerning red snapper regulations. This is a testament to the efforts of officers working the Port generating voluntary compliance. Overall, the detail was a great success with a high level of positive publicity for the FWC. Officer Buck responded to a complaint in Melbourne of a man in possession of a reptile of concern without a permit. With the assistance of Investigator Wayne, she performed a captive wildlife inspection revealing numerous caging and permitting violations. One citation and five warnings were issued. The snake was surrendered and turned over to a properly permitted facility. INDIAN RIVER COUNTY While on vessel patrol in Sebastian Inlet, during the red snapper mini season, Officers Lightsey and C. Rutherford conducted a resource inspection on a vessel returning from offshore. The inspection revealed that the operator and a passenger were in possession of 11 black sea bass, ten of which were undersized. Officer Rutherford issued a notice to appear for possession of undersized sea bass and over the bag limit of sea bass. 6

7 While on foot patrol in the area of Wabasso, Officer Lightsey conducted a resource inspection on an angler s bucket. Officer Lightsey observed five gray snapper in the male s white fivegallon bucket. A check of the snapper revealed that three of the five snapper were under the legal ten-inch minimum. Officer Lightsey issued the suspect a notice to appear for the violation. Officer Lightsey was on night foot patrol of Sebastian Inlet State Park using agency- issued night vision goggles when he overheard a group of males talking about a snook they had caught. After a period of time, Officer Lightsey approached the males from the woods and asked if they had caught any fish. They stated that they had caught a couple of catfish but that was all. Officer Lightsey asked the males about the snook they had caught earlier. One of them stated that they had caught a snook, but released it. The males offered to let Officer Lightsey check their coolers at their vehicles. A check revealed no fish in their possession. As one of them opened their door, Officer Lightsey observed a clear plastic baggy of cannabis. After being advised of his rights, the male admitted that the cannabis was his and that he had just gotten it earlier in the day from a friend. Officer Lightsey issued him a notice to appear for possession of cannabis under 20 grams. While conducting vessel inspections during red snapper mini season at Sebastian Inlet State Park s Boat Ramp, Officer Lightsey found an angler to be in possession of nine undersized black sea bass. The angler was also in possession of over the daily bag limit of black sea bass. Officer Lightsey issued him a citation for the undersized sea bass and a warning for over the bag limit of sea bass. While on patrol, Officer Lightsey conducted resource inspections in the area of Wabasso. Officer Lightsey approached an angler and asked if he had caught any fish. The male stated that he had. Officer Lightsey s inspection revealed the angler was in possession of one undersized mutton snapper. A check through FWC dispatch revealed the subject also had a warrant from Indian River County for contempt of court. Officer Lightsey placed the male under arrest for the warrant and issued him a warning for undersized mutton snapper. The suspect was delivered to the Indian River County Jail without incident. During red snapper mini season, Officer Lightsey was conducting resource inspections at the Sebastian Inlet State Park Boat Ramp. Officer Lightsey asked the Captain of one of the vessels if he had any fish on board. The Captain stated that he had caught some undersized fish, but returned them. Officer Lightsey asked to board the vessel and was told that he could and that there was a cobia on board. The Captain further stated that the cobia had been 33 inches when caught but had shrunk to 32 inches since it was on ice. A measurement of the cobia revealed that it was inches to the fork, well below the 33 inches to the fork legal minimum. The man was issued a notice to appear for the violation. Officer Platt was working alligator hunts late one night when he observed an airboat in the zigzag canal. A check of the hunter s permit revealed he was out of his assigned hunt area (Blue Cypress Lake). A citation was issued for the violation. While on patrol one evening, Officer Miller observed an ATV doing donuts in the roadway in Vero Beach. After stopping the ATV, a warrants check revealed the operator had active warrants for grand theft and fraud. He was subsequently arrested and transported to jail. 7

8 OSCEOLA COUNTY Officer Arendas taught a hunter safety course with four youths. SOUTHWEST REGION CHARLOTTE COUNTY Officer Howard observed two vehicles at the front of Cecil Webb Management Area while it was closed. They began to go to the grass and spin their tires which caused destruction to the property. Deep tire tracks were left as the grass was destroyed. They took turns as one truck would video tape the other. Officer Howard issued each operator a citation for damage to public lands. HIGHLANDS COUNTY Officer Ervin attended a hunter education class in Lake Placid where he taught laws relating to firearms and hunter ethics. Officer Ervin was on water patrol in C-Pool of the Kissimmee River working alligator hunting activity when he attempted to stop an airboat. One of the subjects in the boat jumped down onto the deck and attempted to attach a tag to an alligator, but was prevented from doing so by Officer Ervin. Upon closer inspection, it was found that the subjects had failed to kill the alligator upon capture as required by law. Two subjects received notices to appear for failing to tag the alligator and for failing to kill the alligator upon capture. Lieutenant Allen was patrolling the north boundary of Placid Lakes Scrub Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA) when he noticed fresh foot sign entering the WEA at an unauthorized entry point. He followed the sign and apprehended three subjects picking palmetto berries. The three men were arrested and booked into the Highlands County Jail for picking palmetto berries in the WEA and also for illegally entering the WEA. Approximately 300 pounds of berries were seized and destroyed. Lieutenant Allen received a complaint concerning subjects picking palmetto berries at Highlands Hammock State Park. Lieutenant Allen apprehended four subjects in the park picking berries. Officer Cloud also responded and apprehended four more subjects as they attempted to get to their vehicle parked on the side of a roadway. All eight subjects received notices to appear for petit theft. Park Manager Steven Dale retrieved 800-1,000 pounds of palmetto berries in bags that the subjects had picked. The berries were then donated to the Division of Forestry in Frostproof. 8

9 SOUTH REGION A BROWARD COUNTY Officer Warne was on park patrol at John Lloyd State Park in Broward County. While driving through parking lot 3, he observed a raccoon in the middle of the parking lot. Officer Warne noticed the raccoon was walking in a tight circle pattern occasionally stumbling and falling to the ground. The raccoon was heavily salivating and lethargic. Officer Warne captured the raccoon with his catch pole and caged it with the assistance of some area Park Rangers. The Wildlife Care Center was contacted and the raccoon was turned over to them. A Wildlife Care Center employee stated that there had been a high number of raccoons in the Dania area with distemper. Officers Forrest and Read were asked by U. S. Customs/Border Patrol to assist with inspecting a vessel that had many species of fishes on board. Officer Read boarded the vessel and found the subject to be in possession of three undersized mutton snapper and two undersized gray triggerfish. The responsible party was cited for the violation. Officer Nichole Rodriguez responded to John Lloyd State Park in reference to a burglary attempt that was noted by a Park Ranger. As the Officer arrived, the Park Ranger had located the owner of the vehicle and escorted him to his vehicle. An unknown item was used to smash out one of the vehicles windows. The owner confirmed that only one pair of sunglasses was taken. Officer Rodriguez took the information report for this burglary and the investigation is continuing. Officer Brock travelled to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Station Miami. At the station, he conducted training for 12 USCG law enforcement personnel. This training was the Seated Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks. Officer Brock ensured all trainees understood and were comfortable with administering the tasks. GLADES COUNTY Officer Greene was working night hunting in Glades County. Officer Greene observed a flashlight shining off of a paved county road. As he approached, he saw three males with a hunting dog catching a hog. After questioning the subjects on how they got out to this remote location, the subjects stated that they were dropped off. Officers Tison and Taylor were near the area and arrived on scene. The subjects that dropped them off arrived shortly after. The three subjects that caught the hog were cited for taking wildlife on a right-of-way, while the two that dropped them off were cited for principal in the first degree. Officer Tison arrested one of the individuals and booked him into the Glades County Jail. Officer Greene responded to a stolen boat complaint on Fisheating Creek. Officer Greene arrived and worked with Glades County Sheriff's Office deputies to determine that a subject participating in the Fisheating Creek quota hunt had his boat stolen while hunting. Officer Greene along with fellow FWC Officer Taylor Tison and the hunter searched for several hours and finally found the stolen boat, hidden on the creek nearly 8 miles away. The case is still under investigation. 9

10 Officer Miller attended the 4-H 3D Kids Bow Tournament held at the Fisheating Creek Campground. There were approximately 65 kids participating in the shoot, ranging in age from Officer Miller assisted as needed and answered many questions related to rules and regulations of the commission. OKEECHOBEE COUNTY Investigator Turner, while conducting fisheries inspections in the area of Little Jim Bridge, came across a subject and found him to have one undersized lobster. Investigator Turner used the subject s measuring device as well as his own, and both showed it to be less than the required three inches. The subject was issued a citation and the lobster was returned to the water. While patrolling the Avalon State Park, Investigator Turner came across a vehicle parked with numerous buckets outside the truck on the ground in an area known to have saw palmetto berries. Inv. Turner observed a subject throw a berry branch back into the bushes. Inv. Turner advised the subjects they could not pick berries from the state park and issued them a civil citation for not paying park fees. PALM BEACH COUNTY Investigator Garzaniti received information from an anonymous source that a Class III animal (Marmoset) was being housed in unsanitary conditions at a warehouse located in Palm Beach County. Investigator Garzaniti responded to the reported location and issued the subject in custody of the Marmoset a citation. Persons in possession class III wildlife must obtain a nocost permit from the commission and follow established caging/housing requirements. Investigator Garzaniti brought the subject into compliance by assisting the subject in obtaining the proper permit and providing pertinent caging/housing regulations. Officer LeBlanc responded to a beached whale on the north end of Boca Raton. Officer LeBlanc tended to the whale until rescue personnel arrived. Upon arrival of the veterinarian, it was determined that the eight-foot pygmy sperm whale needed to be euthanized. After the whale was euthanized, LeBlanc transported the whale to the Marine Life Center where a necropsy was to be conducted. ST. LUCIE COUNTY Officer Payne was doing fisheries inspections at a boat ramp in Ft. Pierce when a vessel returned from fishing. When asked if there were any fish on board, the operator stated no and left to get the trailer. One of the passengers was standing, blocking the view of the live well, and sat on the lid. When the officer asked to look in the live well, the passenger hesitated then stood up. In the live well were three, undersized mutton snapper and an undersized mangrove snapper. A citation was issued for the violations. Officer Payne checked a fisherman and found he had lane snapper that were undersized. When the officer asked about the lane snapper, the fisherman stated that he knew they were undersized but that it was ok because he was not keeping them, he was just using them for bait. A citation was issued for the violations. 10

11 Officer Pifer was on routine water patrol when he stopped a vessel violating a slow speed manatee zone in the ICW in the north part of St. Lucie County. Once alongside, Officer Pifer observed fishing gear on board the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection. He found the two individuals on board to be in possession of 19 spotted seatrout, 11 over the legal limit, 9 of which were undersized. Both individuals received a citation for possession of over the bag limit and possession of undersized spotted seatrout. SOUTH B REGION COLLIER Investigator Haney and Officer Van Trees responded to a call about a suspicious person entering a preserve area of a local development. From the description given to the officers of the suspicious person s vehicle, they determined that the owner of the vehicle had been cited previously for trespass and removal of plant life from a Department of Environmental Protection Preserve Area. From a concealed location, the officers conducted surveillance and observed the subject exit the private property with several bags of berries. He had removed over 400 pounds of saw palmetto berries worth a value over $300. After confirming that the subject did not have permission to be on the private property or remove the berries, he was arrested and charged with a felony of grand theft. Officer Harris arrived to assist with the vehicle and evidence. Officers Futch and Tolbert participated in a joint agency traffic enforcement detail in Collier County focusing on panther speed enforcement zones. The officers, along with deputies from the Collier County Sheriff s Office, were successful in educating the public on the importance of reduced speeds at night through panther habitat. During the detail, the officers issued 19 citations, 54 warnings and numerous verbal warnings. Lieutenant Barrett and Investigator Haney were on water patrol within Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve when they stopped a vessel for a boating safety inspection. During the stop, they detected signs of impairment from the operator and administered seated field sobriety tasks. The subject was arrested for BUI and refused to submit to a lawful breath test. He was arrested and taken to Collier County Jail. Lieutenant Barrett and Investigator Haney were on water patrol within Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve when they received a complaint of a vessel almost hitting another vessel that was stopped and fishing. Officer Stastny located the cruising vessel and stopped it. Lieutenant Barrett and Investigator Haney arrived to assist and detected signs of impairment from the operator. After performing seated field sobriety tasks, the subject was arrested for BUI. The subject refused to submit to a lawful breath test. 11

12 MIAMI-DADE Officer Pestka was on land patrol when she saw a vessel pull into the Haulover Marina Boat Ramp. Upon performing a boat inspection, she found an undersized sailfish along with some king mackerel. The two occupants of the boat admitted to catching and keeping the sailfish, and neither had a valid fishing license. Both were issued citations. Officers Padilla and Ingellis investigated numerous derelict vessel complaints during the week. During one such investigation, at the Watson Island Boat Ramp, the owner of one of the derelict vessels being investigated approached and stated that he had the title to the vessel. He also stated that the vessel was not a derelict in any way. The officers attempted to explain to the owner the definition of what a derelict vessel was but were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the owner was charged with two misdemeanors, failure to register and transfer ownership of a vessel within 30 days. MONROE COUNTY Officer Mattson was on land patrol when he observed a white sports car pass at a high rate of speed in a no passing zone cutting off another vehicle and almost causing an accident on the Channel 2 Bridge. Officer Mattson activated his blue lights and attempted to catch up to the vehicle, but the vehicle was traveling too fast and was too far ahead. Officer Mattson instructed FWC dispatch to contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office for assistance. The vehicle was finally stopped and the driver was arrested immediately and put into handcuffs. The driver, his wife and a five-year-old boy in the back seat were not wearing seat belts. The driver was transported to the Plantation Key Jail and was charged with child neglect and reckless driving as well as three other traffic citations. Officer Mattson and Investigator Daniels were called to a boating accident in the Islamorada area along with officers from the Monroe County Sheriffs' Office. The boating accident turned out to be minor and there were no injuries. During the investigation, Officer Mattson was speaking with the vessel operator and began to notice some signs of impairment. The operator had watery, glassy bloodshot eyes as well as the odor of an alcoholic beverage. The operator agreed to perform field sobriety exercises and did poorly. He was placed under arrest and, when asked, refused to submit a breath sample. A records check revealed that the subject had a prior refusal. He was taken to Plantation Key Jail where he was charged with BUI and refusal to submit to a breath test. Officers Cox, Dube and Lt. Riesz responded to a call of a man shooting a gun from his campsite at Long Key State Park. Officers arrived at the campsite along with Monroe County Sheriff's deputies where they found an intoxicated man who advised officers he was taking target practice by shooting at buoys offshore from his campsite. At the camp site, officers found a.45 caliber hand gun and several shell casings and the intoxicated man was arrested by MCSO for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and discharging a weapon in public. The man was also escorted from Long Key State Park by FWC officers. The offshore crew of the Peter Gladding issued a commercial fisherman two misdemeanor citations. While the patrol vessel was approaching from the east, the commercial vessel turned hard to port, altering its course and heading directly at the patrol vessel. The 12

13 commercial vessel then altered course again back in its original direction. This is a common maneuver done to hide the view of the back deck from the approaching patrol vessel allowing things to be discarded over the side. Once the commercial vessel straightened back up on its original course, a crew member could be seen holding an empty lobster basket and frantically sorting through another. Officers conducted a commercial fisheries inspection which revealed the vessel to be in possession of seventy-seven undersized Florida spiny lobster; over half of them were not being maintained in a circulating live well. The captain was cited for being in possession of twenty-seven, undersized Florida spiny lobster and not maintaining undersized Florida spiny lobster used as attractants in a circulating live well. The captain also received a citation for no marine sanitation device on a vessel over twenty-six feet in length with berthing facilities. COPS Officer Dube attended the much anticipated release of "Taco," the loggerhead sea turtle, after completing her rehabilitation. A gathering of approximately three hundred people attended the release of "Taco" at the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, which was a short distance from where she was first rescued. There were numerous news agencies on scene reporting the success story of her release back into the sea. "Taco" had been rescued by FWC and transported to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon for treatment on May 5. 13