Meth bust, armed robbery search, and boat stranding among other cases in Florida

Cover photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Find Rehab Centers | Flickr

The week of June 2 through June 8, 2023, appears to have been busy for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). A report from the Division of Law Enforcement reveals a multitude of actions taken by on-duty officers, including the rescue of stranded boaters and a meth bust, among other cases.

In Santa Rosa County on Memorial Day, Officers Burkhead and Roberson were patrolling Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when they noticed a truck parked with a male and female sitting on a closed road within the management area. Officers found the vehicle's registered owner to be on probation for a number of drug offenses, and that the female appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.

After gaining consent to search the vehicle, a large bag of a white crystal substance, as well as a glass smoking device, was found under the seat. The male immediately admitted to the substance being his. Further investigation resulted in a positive test for methamphetamine, the amount of which was over 14 grams in weight.

Officers arrested the male subject for possession of methamphetamine, trafficking of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as violation of probation. He was transported and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.

Traveling Eastward to Duval County, Senior Officer Stuhr, and Officer McGregor conducted a search and rescue mission for an overturned vessel with multiple people on the St. Johns River near the Buckman Bridge. Stuhr was able to locate the overturned vessel with three people stranded in the water.

Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets and were rescued and transported, along with the vessel, to Goodby's Creek Boat Ramp by both Officer Stuhr and McGregor without further incident.

Senior Officer Gill and his trusty K-9 sidekick, Camo, were called in by the Alachua Police Department to assist in the location of a firearm that was used in an armed robbery in Alachua County. K-9 Camo searched the median of U.S. 441 for approximately 30 minutes before locating the firearm suspected in the robbery.

The weapon search for the armed robbery wasn't the only time K-9 Camo was called to the scene.

Officer Gill and K-9 Camo also assisted in the location of another firearm in Bradford County that had been thrown out of a vehicle during a police pursuit. K-9 Camo located a 9mm pistol with its magazine missing along the shoulder of U.S. 301. Deputies had located the missing magazine prior to Camo's arrival.

Several boaters were arrested for boating under the influence, with 3 cases in Clay County, and two in Palm Beach. Multiple citations for exceeding bag limits were also issued, with two cases in The Gulf of Mexico over Memorial Day weekend resulting in a total of 28 citations each.

The above are just a handful of the actions taken by FWC officers state-wide. You can read the entirety of the June 2 through June 8, 2023 Weekly Division of Law Enforcement Report below:

Northwest Region
Bay County

• While on patrol at St. Andrews Bay and Econfina Creek, Officers M. Gore, Z. Rice, and D. Brady all made boating under the influence arrests over the Memorial Day Weekend. Officer Gore also made a driving under the influence arrest after a driver was showing signs of impairment following a traffic stop in St. Andrews State Park.
• Officers Z. Rice, C. Jarrell, and T. Basford were on patrol in Grand Lagoon. After conducting a saltwater resource inspection on a charter vessel, the captain was found to be in possession of over-the-bag limit of vermillion snapper and undersized vermillion snapper. The officers educated the captain and crew on the regulations for vermillion snapper. The captain was cited for the violations. 

Escambia County

• Officer Hahr was patrolling the Fillingim Landing recreation area within Perdido River Wildlife Management Area where many swimmers were present. The sandbars were heavily littered with beer cans and other trash. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all parts of the Perdido River WMA. In a few hours, the officer issued 14 citations for possession of alcoholic beverages and underaged alcohol possession. 
• Officer Corbin was on patrol when he observed a vehicle braking hard to avoid rear ending another vehicle. The vehicle then began driving down the middle of two lanes of traffic before failing to stay on the roadway during two turns. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver showed signs of impairment and had a strong odor of alcohol. The driver refused to perform the standardized field sobriety tasks and was arrested for driving under the influence.
• Officers Bower, Corbin, and Hahr were on patrol when they observed a derelict vessel on the shoreline of Ft. Pickens. The keel is buried in the sand and the only propulsion is the sail. The vessel owner was located and advised of the situaiton.  The vessel owner was unsure when he could remove the vessel. He was charged with storing a derelict vessel on state waters.
• Officer Hahr was on patrol in the Pensacola Pass when he observed a charter vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. He stopped the vessel to check their catch, and the captain stated they had caught a blacktip shark. When inspecting the shark, Officer Hahr identified it as a spinner shark, a similar species, and provided information about the difference between blacktip and spinner sharks. The spinner shark was approximately 10” under the legal size and the captain was issued a citation for possession of the undersized shark. 
• Officer Hahr was on patrol in the Pensacola Pass when he observed a vessel returning from the Gulf of Mexico. During a resource inspection, the occupants opened their fish box to display a large gag grouper and seven red snappers, both of which were possessed during closed season. The captain of the vessel stated his brother told him the seasons were open and was fishing with him and was following a short distance behind him. A few minutes later, the brother came by and was also stopped. He was also in possession of red snapper. The subjects were charged with possession of red snapper and gag grouper out of season.

Gulf County

• Senior Officer M. Webb was checking vessels returning from fishing at Davis Beach. A nonresident vessel returned with a few people on board. An inspection revealed the captain was in possession of redfish fillets. A citation was issued for failure to land redfish in whole condition.

Okaloosa County 

• Officers Senst and Mursch were conducting fishery inspections on incoming fishing vessels in the Destin Pass. A vessel was discovered with two 23” out-of-season red snappers in the live well. Officer T. Pritchard and Officer A. Pritchard were conducting vessel inspections in the same area and stopped a vessel and discovered eight red snapper filets in a cooler.

Santa Rosa County

• On Memorial Day, Officers Burkhead and Roberson were patrolling Blackwater Wildlife Management Area when they noticed a truck parked with a male and a female on a closed road inside of the management area. When the officers went to address the violation, they found the registered owner of the vehicle to be currently on probation for numerous drug offenses. Officer Burkhead noticed that the female appeared under the influence of some unknown drug. The officers gained consent to search the vehicle and located a large bag of a white crystal substance as well as a glass smoking device under the seat. The male immediately admitted the substance was his. Upon further investigation, they found that the substance tested positive for methamphetamine and the amount to be over 14 grams in weight. The subject was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, trafficking of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation. The subject was transported and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
• Officers Burkhead and Pettey were conducting an investigation involving deer depredation permits. While interviewing with the subject, they noticed he never closed out a current deer depredation permit he was using the night before. The subject was charged with failing to produce and keep a copy of the permit in his possession as well as other deer depredation permit violations.
• Officers Burkhead and Wilkenson received a report regarding a vessel that had recently become derelict in Indian Bayou. The officers located the vessel and found it to be in a submerged and wrecked condition. The officers learned the vessel had been sold recently. When the officers located the person who was in last control of the vessel, they conducted an interview and found the subject had capsized the vessel and left it in the water in a wrecked condition. Officer Wilkinson charged the subject with leaving a derelict vessel on state waters.

Community-Oriented Policing
Bay County

• Officers Z. Rice and T. Basford visited Lynn Haven Elementary School for an outreach event. They spoke with the kindergarten classes about the importance of wearing a life jacket when boating. They also shared information about some of the fish and wildlife species they work to conserve as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers. The officers brought a small alligator, deer antlers, a turtle shell, and some wild turkey feathers for the kids to experience. The officers spoke with approximately 90 children at the school.

Escambia County

• Officer Specialist Ramos was invited to speak at a livery where various power vessels are rented to the public on Pensacola Beach. Officer Ramos advised approximately 45 people about rental procedures and requirements and answered general questions about being a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer. 

Offshore Patrol

• Officers Cushing, Land, Matechik and Lieutenant Smith patrolled state waters in the Gulf of Mexico over Memorial Day weekend. They stopped numerous vessels that were in possession of closed season and undersized red snapper. The crew issued a total of 28 citations for closed season red snapper and 23 out-of-state, no saltwater fishing license citations.
• The Northwest FINCAT crewed by Officers Cushing, Land, Matechik and Lieutenant Smith worked state waters in the Gulf of Mexico over the Memorial Day Weekend. They stopped numerous vessels that were in possession of closed season and undersize red snapper. The crew issued a total of 28 citations for closed-season red snapper and 23 out-of-state saltwater fishing license citations to subjects fishing for red snapper in Florida state waters.

North Central Region
Alachua County

• Senior Officer Gill was called by Alachua Police Department to assist in locating a firearm used in an armed robbery. Officer Gill deployed K-9 Camo and searched the median of U.S. 441. The area to be searched was lengthy and after almost 30 minutes of searching, K-9 Camo located the firearm suspected in the robbery.

Bradford County

• Senior K-9 Officer Gill was called to assist Bradford County Sheriff’s Office in locating a firearm. The firearm was thrown out of a vehicle during a pursuit. Officer Gill deployed K-9 Camo and searched the shoulder of U.S. 301. K-9 Camo located a 9mm pistol with its magazine missing. The deputies had located the missing magazine prior to K-9 Camo’s arrival.

Clay County

• Officers from the Northeast and North Central regions teamed up for the annual Boater’s Skip Day, which occurs on the St. Johns River in Clay County. The annual event has grown over the past few years and now is attended by several thousand participants. Officers inspected 381 vessels, which resulted in 103 written warnings and 38 uniformed boating citations. There were also 18 arrests for boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol and two search and rescues conducted during the one-day event.

Columbia County

• Senior Officer Davenport received an anonymous report about a deer being shot. Upon arrival at the residence, Davenport observed a dead white-tailed deer by the fence. Senior Officer Yates and Davenport entered the property and located two subjects outside of a travel trailer. One of the subjects stated he had shot the deer in his yard for eating his peach trees and garden. The subject handed the officer a replica muzzleloader and stated he had killed the deer with it. After inspecting the muzzleloader, Yates and Davenport determined it had not been fired in quite some time. In plain view inside the travel trailer was a 12-gauge shotgun. When asked about the shotgun, the subject stated he had shot the deer with the 12-gauge shotgun. A check of his criminal history revealed he was a convicted felon. The taking of antlerless deer out of season, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and willful and wanton waste of wildlife charges will be directly filed with the State Attorney’s Office.

Duval County

• Officer Barry and Lieutenant Bridwell were on water patrol on the St. Johns River. A boating safety inspection was conducted on a vessel occupied by three people. Officer Barry detected signs of impairment from the operator. At the conclusion of an investigation, the operator was arrested for boating under the influence. He later refused to submit to a lawful breath test and was transported and booked into the Duval County Jail.

Nassau County

• Officer Barry and Senior Officer Stuhr were contacted regarding a possible trespass on Rayonier property. They both went to the reported location but the vehicle was gone. Officer Barry waited near the location and the vehicle came back. Officers stopped the vehicle and discovered the tag on the truck was associated with a Honda Civic. The operator admitted to placing the tag on the truck and knowingly driving around a posted gate of Rayonier property. The driver was charged for the attached tag not assigned and trespassing.

Taylor County

• Officers Robson, Rowe, and Lieutenant Ward were on water patrol on the Steinhatchee River when they observed a vessel returning from offshore. They conducted a fisheries inspection and located four triggerfish and a bag of red snapper fillets. The captain of the charter vessel was issued two citations for possession of triggerfish during the closed season and not landing red snapper in the whole condition.

Community-Oriented Policing
Baker County

• Officers Waychoff and Starling hosted a Learn to Be a Game Warden event for the Baker County Library’s Summer Program. The officers presented what Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers do to stop poaching. Officer Waychoff set up a mock poaching scene for the students to investigate including shell casings, animal fur, bait, fake blood, and fingerprints. The students earned their Junior Wildlife Officer badges.

Offshore Patrol

• Officer Hughes planned and coordinated “Operation Deep Drop” targeting the opening of the red snapper charter season. The effort was assisted by the North Central and Northwest Region Offshore Patrol Vessel teams, local officers, and offshore platforms from Citrus and Taylor counties. During the detail, numerous vessels were inspected for compliance in federal waters. Officers found and documented every violation observed. Some of the violations consisted of possession of not whole condition red snapper, out-of-season gray triggerfish, possession of closed season gag grouper, and other fisheries violations. A total of 25 federal citations, nine resource citations, 29 written warnings, and a few boating citations were issued by the teams during the detail.

Rescues
Duval County

• Senior Officer Stuhr and Officer McGregor conducted a search and rescue for an overturned vessel with multiple people in the water on the St. Johns River near the Buckman Bridge. Senior Officer Stuhr located the overturned vessel with three people in the water. All three people were wearing life jackets and were rescued and transported, along with the vessel, to Goodby’s Creek Boat Ramp by Senior Officer Stuhr and Officer McGregor.

Northeast Region
Clay County

• While on vessel patrol, Major Russel, Lieutenant Brock, and Officer Specialist Thomas conducted a boating safety inspection. During the inspection, Officer Thomas observed signs of impairment when speaking with the vessel's operator. After completing a boating under the influence investigation, Officer Thomas determined the operator's normal faculties were impaired. The operator was arrested for BUI and transported to the Clay County Jail.
• While on vessel patrol, Officer Specialist Lawrence and Officer Bernard stopped a vessel for a boating safety inspection. During the stop, Officer Lawrence noticed the operator showed signs of impairment. Officer Lawrence asked the operator to perform standardized field sobriety tasks and found the operator's normal faculties were impaired. Officer Lawrence placed the operator under arrest for boating under the influence. The operator refused to provide a breath sample and was transported to the Clay County Jail.
• While on vessel patrol, Officers Self and Officer Chamberlain performed multiple boating safety inspections and issued several boating safety stickers to boaters with all required safety equipment. However, during one vessel inspection, Officer Self observed signs of impairment. Based on his observations, Officer Self conducted standardized field sobriety tasks and found the operator's normal faculties were impaired. The operator was arrested and transported to the Clay County Jail without incident.

Flagler County

• Officer Bernard was on patrol when he observed an angler throwing a cast net at a local lake. He approached the subject to conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, he found the subject had harvested a black bass using the cast net. The subject received a citation for harvesting freshwater gamefish by an illegal method.

Indian River County

• Officer St. Martin was on patrol when he received information that someone was spearfishing at the Sebastian Inlet State Park. Officer St. Martin contacted the spearfisherman while he was still in the water with the spear gun. Violations were cited accordingly.

Monroe County

• Officer Dodd was on patrol when she observed an angler at a local bridge. She approached to conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, she located a goliath grouper in the subject’s cooler. The subject received a criminal citation for harvesting a prohibited species.

Osceola County

• Officer Nall responded to a report that a subject on West Lake Toho’s bank was keeping over his bag limit of bass. Officer Nall searched the area where the subject was last seen. A resource inspection was conducted on a subject matching the description given by the reporting party. Upon inspection, the subject was found to be in possession of 11 bass (six over his daily bag limit). Ten of the fish were over the 16-inch trophy size (nine trophy fish over bag limit of one per day). The appropriate notice to appear citations were issued.
• While on their way to patrol East Lake Toho by vessel, Officers Navarino and Hocker observed two vehicles blocking the turn lane at U.S. 192 and Narcoossee Road. The officers exited the vehicle and asked the individuals if they were okay. The individual operating an F-150 was the first car at the stop light and reversed into the front bumper of the second vehicle. Officer Navarino instructed the individuals to move to a nearby parking lot to clear the lane for the flow of traffic. While interacting with the individuals in the parking lot, the officers noticed the operator of the F-150 was showing signs of impairment and was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tasks. The individual complied and did poorly on the tasks. The operator was placed under arrest and booked into the Osceola County Jail for driving under the influence.

Seminole County

• Officer Wild assisted the North Central Region on the St. John’s River with enforcing boating safety laws at the annual Boater Skip Day. During the event, Officer Wild conducted a vessel stop for a boating safety inspection and observed signs of impairment from the operator. Officer Wild conducted standardized field sobriety tasks, which the operator was unable to perform. The operator was placed under arrest and booked into the county jail for boating under the influence.

Volusia County

• While on patrol in Daytona Beach, Senior Officer Wingard observed a sign at a local business advertising that royal red shrimp and lane snapper fillet were available. Upon conducting a marine fisheries and quality control inspection, Senior Officer Wingard observed a freezer in the business that had a sign displaying the prices for the shrimp, lane snapper fillets, and bait shrimp. In the freezer were bags of shrimp for sale. In the adjacent freezer were bags of frozen mullet, silversides, and shrimp. Senior Officer Wingard determined the business owner did not have a retail license to offer saltwater products for sale and failed to maintain records of where the products were purchased from. All the violations were addressed accordingly.

Directed Conservation Patrols
St. Johns County

• After identifying a need for additional shorebird nesting signs, Officer Chamberlain coordinated with FWC's shorebird biologist team and assisted with posting additional shorebird nesting signage at the Summer Haven nesting site.

Community-Oriented Policing
Brevard County

• Lieutenant Riley taught hunter safety to 15 students at the American Police Hall of Fame in Titusville. He covered rules and regulations as well as where to find regulations information at MyFWC.com/HuntRegs.

Southwest Region
Manatee County

• Officer Wesche was patrolling the South Skyway Pier when he noticed an individual fishing by the relief bridge. A resource inspection revealed the individual had caught and kept three undersized mangrove snapper and an undersized sheepshead. A citation was issued for the undersized mangrove snapper.

Pinellas County

• While on land patrol, Lieutenant Bibeau observed a large fishing vessel return to a nearby boat ramp. He contacted the operator of the vessel and conducted a fisheries inspection. While onboard the vessel, Lieutenant Bibeau located a large trash can filled with mostly unregulated fish. He inspected the contents of the trash can and located an undersized red grouper along with an undersized and out-of-season triggerfish at the bottom. Lieutenant Bibeau issued the operator of the vessel two citations and a warning for the fisheries violations.

South A Region
Broward County

• While on patrol in the A1 Flow Equalization Basin (FEB), Lieutenant McDonald came across three subjects in an area that is closed due to construction. When the three subjects observed Lt. McDonald’s marked patrol vehicle approaching them, they started quickly packing up their vehicle to leave.  Lt. McDonald approached on foot and obtained identification from the subjects. The subjects had to pass by two “no public access” signs notifying them of the area closure and a construction zone. All three subjects were issued citations for violation of the South Florida Water Management District rules. 

Martin County

• Officer Hudson was on patrol in Dupuis Wildlife Management Area when he observed two vehicles enter the WMA and pull off into the bushes. The subjects put GPS collars on hog dogs and began to drive slowly through the WMA shining lights into fields and oak hammocks. The officer stopped the two vehicle and the subjects admitted to hunting wild hogs from the WMA road while shining lights. All five subjects were issued notice to appear citations for hunting wild hogs out of season and at night in the WMA and for possessing hunting dogs out of season in the WMA.

Palm Beach County

• Officer Brevik responded to a call regarding an individual trapping birds and keeping them in cages at their residence. Officer Brevik met Lieutenant Padillia and Investigator Merizio at the location and found six illegal nonpermitted bird traps along with one mockingbird in a cage, five painted buntings, and five indigo buntings, all of which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Based on the owner being in possession of 11 migratory birds, six illegal traps and the traps not being properly marked, he was issued 23 criminal notices to appear.
• Officer Rea and Officer Harris were on vessel patrol when they noticed two jet skis violating the Peanut Island slow speed zone.  Upon inspection, the rented jet skis were missing safety equipment. The officers cited the livery owner for not having the necessary safety equipment and not having a livery permit.
• While on vessel patrol, Officers Schroer, Spirito and Stiltner observed a vessel towing a water skier who wasn’t wearing a life jacket. Officer Schroer initiated a vessel stop to address the safety violation. While talking with the vessel operator Officer Schroer suspected he may be intoxicated. After conducting standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was placed under arrest for operating the vessel with his normal faculties impaired. 
• Officer Stiltner, Officer Spirito and Officer Schroer were on vessel patrol and conducted a vessel stop to conduct a fisheries inspection. During the inspection, the vessel operator was found to be in possession of two undersized mahi-mahi. The operator was cited for possession of the undersized fish.
• While on vessel patrol, Officer Stiltner, Officer Spirito and Officer Schroer observed a vessel with four individuals in the Jupiter inlet. Officer Stiltner initiated a vessel stop to conduct a safety inspection. While the operator of the vessel was gathering the requested items, Officer Stiltner noticed signs of impairment.  After conducting standardized field sobriety tasks, the operator was placed under arrest for operating the vessel with her normal faculties impaired and issued a refusal citation.
• Officer David Morgan, Officer Michael Rea and Major James Bonds were on water patrol at the Palm Beach Inlet when an incoming vessel with fishing rods. Officers Rea and Morgan boarded the vessel, which was coming back from the Bahamas. Upon inspection of the resource, Officer Rea found they had wahoo not in whole condition in their ice chest. Officer Rea cited the captain for having wahoo fillets without the skin still intact.
• Officer David Morgan, Officer Michael Rea and Major James Bonds were on water patrol on the westside of Peanut Island. They observed a vessel on plane in the slow speed zone. After initiating a vessel stop to address the violation, the operator displayed signs of impairment and was asked to perform seated standardized field sobriety tasks. At the conclusion of the tasks, the operator was placed under arrest and booked into the Palm Beach County jail for boating under the influence.
• Officers Harris, Pecko and Wences conducted resource inspections that resulted in five cases pertaining to catching freshwater gamefish with a cast net and two undersize crappie. Appropriate citations were issued.

Community-Oriented Policing
Palm Beach County

• Senior Investigator Fowler and Officer Peters developed an outreach presentation for The Kings Academy Preschool in Palm Beach Gardens. The Kings Academy teachers wanted their students to learn about conservation and the duties of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer. Officer Peters brought an FWC boat to show the students and Investigator Fowler brought an Argo off-road vehicle. The students were able to see how FWC works on and off the water. The students got to see an FWC patrol truck and the various tools FWC officers use such as binoculars, PFDs, vests, and more. The students asked lots of great questions, both officers talked about boating safety, conservation, and day-to-day conservation officer duties. Thank you, Kings Academy, for having us!

South B Region
Collier County

• Officer Jackson observed a boat approaching the landing at Cocohatchhee River Park without an all-around white light displayed. During a safety inspection Officer Jackson observed three cast nets on the front deck and two 5-gallon buckets full of fish. A resource inspection yielded the subjects onboard were in possession of snook, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, mojarras, and catfish. Officers Stearns and Curbelo responded to assist. Three subjects were arrested, including one individual with a prior FWC arrest for taking gamefish with a cast net. The subjects were charged with out-of-season snook, undersized snook, illegal method of take and multiple infractions related to safety and licensing. The subjects were transported to the Collier County Jail.

Case regions, mapped. Photo by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Article by Rachael Volpe