Officer Faris Livesay observed a vessel come into a local boat ramp along the Escambia River without navigational lights. The vessel operator and passengers stated they had been fishing and had caught only white trout. Officer Livesay inspected the vessel’s live well and discovered a small redfish. The subjects stated that they thought the redfish was at least 18 to 19 inches. The redfish measured 15 inches. Citations were issued for failure to display required navigation lights and possession of undersized redfish.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY COPS

On October 22-29, FWC officers assigned to Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, staffed an exhibit at the annual Pensacola Fair. Officers talked with the many fair attendees about fishing and hunting laws and becoming an FWC officer.

On October 29, Officer Fred Rondeau and Captain Mary Sumner attended the annual Pensacola Area Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) banquet where Officer Rondeau received the CCA’s Pensacola Chapter Officer of the Year award for his enforcement efforts over the past year.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

On October 23, Lieutenant Doug Berryman was conducting a wildlife checkpoint within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area checking archery hunter’s licenses, permits and game bags. At approximately 8:30 p.m., a truck, with an expired tag, stopped at the checkpoint. The driver and the passenger could not produce a driver license or identification. When asked to exit the vehicle, the passenger dropped a cigarette box on the ground that contained marijuana cigarettes. A computer check revealed the truck was registered to a subject who was wanted on three outstanding warrants for cultivation of marijuana, driving while license suspended and violation of probation. The description of the wanted subject matched the driver, who after some time, admitted that he was the wanted person. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on the three warrants and was issued two citations for expired tag and no driver license. The passenger was issued a citation for possession of marijuana under 20 grams and released.

On October 26, Officer Royce Johnson received a complaint from the FWC employees staffing the Hutton Unit, within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area, regarding an archery hunter who failed to check out of the Hutton Unit check station at closing time on October 22. On October 22, the 24-year-old archery hunter was dropped off by his dad. The father asked the on duty wildlife technician why he couldn't pick his son up at the east gate of the Hutton Unit at the end of the day. The tech explained for safety reasons, his son was required to check out at the check station at the end of the day. The techs got worried late that afternoon when the hunter failed to check out at the required time before 7:15 p.m. FWC employees drove around checking roads and fire lanes looking for the young hunter until 9:00 p.m. Two archery hunters also volunteered to stay behind to look for the young man without success. The hunter never checked out. Foot sign and vehicle sign at the east gate on Deaton Bridge Road suggested the hunter had climbed the gate and his father picked him up there. Neither the father nor the hunter called Dispatch to let the techs know they had gone home. The hunter has been identified, and Officer Johnson is filing charges against the hunter with the State Attorney’s Office for the misdemeanor charge of failing to check out at a management area check station as required.

On October 26, Officer Royce Johnson received an anonymous complaint regarding a man cleaning illegal redfish at a residence in Milton. When Officer Johnson arrived at the residence, he observed a man standing by a table cleaning fish. When the man saw Officer Johnson, he immediately ran into the nearby residence. Officer Johnson could see several large redfish lying on the table where the man had been standing. Officer Johnson heard people inside the mobile home residence running around and a pit bull dog was on a chain in the residence’s yard. The dog was very aggressive and lunging at Officer Johnson. Officer Johnson requested assistance. Officer David Jernigan was a short distance away and arrived to assist along with a Santa Rosa County deputy. Officer Jernigan spotted the man at the front of the residence apparently trying to slip away. The 28-year-old subject had changed clothes but forgot to wash the fish scales and smell off of his hands. The subject later told officers that he purchased four redfish from a man who came to his residence selling fish. The male had cleaned one of the fish before Officer Johnson arrived. The carcass of the cleaned redfish was in excess of 30 inches. The other three redfish measured 32 inches, 34 inches and 34 inches. Officer Johnson cited the man for possession of oversize and over-the-bag limit of redfish.

OKALOOSA COUNTY

On October 23, Officers Pete Rockwell and Ryan Nelson responded to a boating accident in Destin Pass. One subject was injured in the single vessel accident which occurred when the charter fishing vessel hit a large wave while exiting the pass. The subject was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with possible head injuries. He was later treated and released the next day. The accident is still under investigation.

On October 24, Officer Danny Arnette checked a stand that was previously discovered to be baited with corn within the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. Officer Arnette found a man, who lived in Baker, and his 13-year-old son hunting over the bait. Officer Arnette made contact with the subjects and issued the adult hunter a citation for hunting over bait within the management area.

On October 25, Officer Danny Arnette was on patrol in the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area. He heard an all terrain vehicle (ATV) operating within the management area. Officer Arnette tracked and located the subject on the ATV. Officer Arnette issued the subject a citation for operating an ATV within the management area.

WALTON COUNTY

On October 22, a deputy with the Walton County Sheriff's Department stopped a vehicle after observing a light being displayed from the vehicle in a manner capable of disclosing deer. When the deputy approached the vehicle, he observed three freshly killed doe deer in the bed of the truck that had been shot with a shotgun. Lieutenant Mark Hollinhead and Officer Ken White responded and charged the subjects for taking deer at night with a gun and light and road hunting. A shotgun and the three deer were seized.

GULF COUNTY

Officer Tony Lee located a tree stand that was baited with corn on the Apalachicola Wildlife and Environmental Area two days prior to the opening of archery season. Officer Lee conducted surveillance and observed three individuals arrive and set-up in two different tree stands on opening morning of archery season. Both tree stands were baited with corn and two individuals were issued citations for hunting over bait on a wildlife management area. The third subject was a non-hunter.

BAY COUNTY

Officer Neal Goss IV conducted an inspection of a commercial fishing vessel and found the captain in possession of undersize red grouper, seven undersize grey triggerfish and one grey tilefish. The captain was charged with possession of seven undersize triggerfish and written warnings were issued for the undersized grouper and tilefish.

Officer Neal Goss IV checked two subjects fishing from the Cooks Bayou Bridge. Officer Goss discovered they were in possession of undersize spotted sea trout. Both subjects were issued a citation for being in possession of undersize speckled trout. The subjects also did not have their shoreline fishing licenses and were issued warnings for the violation.

Officer Jim Moore observed the driver of a vehicle throwing items out of the window. Officer Moore stopped the vehicle and discovered the subject was driving on a suspended license and had an expired tag and no valid insurance. The subject was issued citations for all of the offenses and taken to jail for driving on a suspended driver license.

Officer Nick Price and Lieutenant Dennis Welsh were on patrol in St. Andrew Bay and conducted a vessel safety check. During the inspection, Officer Price found two greater amberjack. One of the amberjack was undersize measuring 21 ½ inches. The captain/owner of the vessel produced a registration that was not in his name or the other occupant/owner of the vessel. He advised he had just purchased the vessel and produced a bill of sale. The law was explained to them regarding the vessel and the greater amberjack. One of the occupants was issued a citation for being in possession of undersize greater amberjack, and the captain was issued a warning for the vessel not being registered.

Officer David Erdman made a vessel safety stop on St. Andrew Bay in the area of Redfish Point. The stop was for the vessel not displaying an anchor light. Further investigation led the officer to believe the subject might be operating a vessel while impaired. The officer conducted his afloat tasks and determined the operator was impaired. The subject was arrested and charged with operating a vessel while impaired, not displaying an anchor light and resisting an officer without violence. The operator refused both breath and urine tests.

GADSDEN COUNTY

On Friday, October 23, FWC officers from Gadsden County, the Aviation section, staff from the Academy and the current recuit class, assisted the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a missing Gadsden County woman. The woman was last seen getting into a patrol car of a Chattahoochee police officer on Wednesday night and had not been seen since. At approximately 1:00 pm, recruits Kevin Balfour, Joel Buckson, Kenneth Trussley and Traci Stubbins, located an area behind the suspect’s house which turned out to be the spot where the missing woman was buried. At about the same time, the suspect shot himself in the chest in his front yard at his home. Recruits Chad Weber and Adam Bonavature provided first aid until EMS arrived. The individual died enroute to the hospital.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION
UNION COUNTY

On October 20, Officer Bret Gill was traveling through Lake Butler and came upon a Trooper and a Union County Deputy on a traffic stop. After checking to see if they needed any assistance, Officer Gill saw a fist fight break out down the road from their location, as he made his way there one subject took off on foot. The second subject dove down behind his vehicle. Officer Gill drew his weapon and gave loud verbal commands to the subject behind the vehicle. As Officer Gill made his way around, the subject was on all fours picking up paper money that was strewn on the ground. As Officer Gill continued to give verbal commands for the subject to get on the ground, the subject yelled, “fine I will give it to you” as he reached around to his back pocket and pulled out a small handgun. The subject threw the gun towards Officer Gill and continued ignoring his commands as he was picking up his money. The gun was between Officer Gill and the subject and the subject was working his way towards the gun. Officer Gill used his legs to sweep the subjects arms out from under him causing him to go the ground. At that point the Union County Deputy arrived and hand cuffed the subject. They later learned the fight was over money and a woman. The armed subject was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting with violence and carrying a concealed weapon. The small handgun was seized and stored as evidence for trial. The Sheriff’s Office seized his vehicle as they found stolen property inside.

BAKER COUNTY

On October 23, Officers Don Pettyjohn, Todd Hoyle, Sandy Blackburn, Darrin Whitaker and Investigator Mike Pridgen worked a replica deer detail on private property near the Osceola National Forest. They were targeting illegal road hunting that the Baker County squad had been receiving information about. Muzzleloader season was open on Osceola and Archery was still open on private lands. At approximately 1000 hours, a vehicle pulled past the decoy and two subjects ran on foot back to where they had seen the deer. One subject raised his muzzleloader and fired. The shooter was charged with taking deer by illegal method, taking wildlife from a county road and discharging a firearm from a public place. The muzzleloader was seized as evidence.

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

On October 23, Officer Rodney Boone received a call from a local hunter in the Hatchbend area. The complainant stated that someone had stolen his tree stand and vandalized his game feeder. He also stated that he had discovered some foot sign around the area. Officer Boone responded to the location the next morning. He followed the foot sign across the property on to an adjoining piece of property, and eventually to a residence. Officer Boone met with the landowner that he knew, and inquired about his son who was not there. The property owner stated that his son was at a friend’s house down in the Old Town area. Officer Boone traveled to that location where he observed the subject and his friend standing in the front yard. After talking briefly with the home owner, Officer Boone interviewed the subject and his friend. through the interview Officer Boone discovered that the subject did in fact steal the tree stand and destroyed the game feeder. Officer Boone obtained a written statement, recovered the tree stand and returned it to the complainant, and he also filed charges for criminal mischief through the State Attorney’s office.

NORTHEAST REGION
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

While on patrol, Officer Curtis Suggs received a complaint that a subject was keeping oversized red drum at the Sebastian Inlet State Park. The complainant stated a subject had hidden a large red drum in the rocks. After arriving on scene, Officer Suggs moved to a position of concealment and waited for a subject fitting the description. Shortly after, the subject walked into the parking lot with fishing poles in hand and started his vehicle. After sitting in his vehicle and making multiple trips from the rocks back to his vehicle, Officer Suggs saw two subjects carrying a black plastic bin, then placed it in his vehicle and attempted to immediately leave. Officer Suggs made contact and an inspection revealed a 39-inch red drum hidden underneath a cast net. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.

MARION COUNTY

Officer Joe Simpson was patrolling in the Scrambletown area of the Ocala National Forest and came across some dove hunters. During his conversation with them, it was revealed the father had shot a deer a few days prior in the same area. The hunter advised he could not find the deer yet began acting nervous while discussing it with Officer Simpson. Officer Wayne Hargabus and K-9 Madison responded to assist. The carcass of the deer, without the head, was located. The following morning the officers returned and found the head of the deer, with antlers measuring less than 5 inches in length. The officers showed the skull and antlers to the hunter, and he admitted it was the deer that he shot. He advised he did find the deer and knew it was illegal so he left it in the woods. Officer Simpson issued the subject a citation for taking a short-horned buck.

Officers Kat Kelley and Emily Judd were on water patrol on the Withlacoochee River and observed a boat being operated after dark with no navigational lights. The officers made contact with the operator and it was soon evident he was possibly impaired. After field sobriety tasks were performed, the subject was arrested and booked into the county jail for boating under the influence.

Officer Simpson found a subject operating an ATV on water district lands. Officer Simpson learned the subject was wanted on an outstanding warrant and booked him into the county jail.

OSCEOLA COUNTY

Officer Paul Mendez responded to a single vessel accident on West Lake Toho. A tour airboat hit a submerged fence post and rolled on its side. None of the passengers were injured. Officer Mendez is completing the investigation in coordination with the Coast Guard.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Charges were formally filed last week in an investigation initiated by Officer Rich Wilcox in early January. He responded to a night hunting complaint in which the caller stated a suspect would be night hunting the DuPont area of the county. Officer Wilcox responded, but had no luck catching the suspect that night. The following morning he called the complainant and asked if the suspect had killed anything the night prior. The complainant said no but began telling Officer Wilcox the suspect had killed a spotted fawn in April. Officer Wilcox set up an interview with the complainant. At the residence, he noticed deer hair and blood on the ground under a boat garage and saw two sets of deer antlers in the rafters. Officer Wilcox took photos of the antlers and collected DNA samples of the blood and hair.
While interviewing the suspect, he admitted the two sets of antlers were from deer killed at night the month prior with another suspect. He stated the blood and hair were from a doe killed by a third suspect the weekend prior, and he admitted to killing a spotted fawn at night with a fourth suspect in April. As Officer Wilcox continued the interview, the suspect admitted to killing approximately 20 deer at night over the past several months. The suspect led Officer Wilcox to a dump site where he had dumped many of the carcasses. Officer Wilcox documented 14 deer carcasses at the site, including a small carcass believed to be the spotted fawn.

Over the next several months Capt. Gregg Eason, Lt. Ben Allen and the local FWC investigator assisted by interviewing numerous suspects and witnesses, documenting multiple areas where deer had been killed at night or illegally, documenting various sites where the carcasses had been dumped and seizing evidence, including numerous firearms.

At the completion of the investigation a total of 88 charges were submitted to the State Attorney’s Office against eight suspects. Forty-three counts were for taking deer at night or during the closed season, 22 counts of taking wildlife from a roadway, 12 counts of trespass, seven counts of taking deer by an illegal method and various other charges. Three trucks are also going to be subject to forfeiture.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

On October 25, Officer Audrey Zahn responded to the Turnbull Bay Bridge in New Smyrna in response to a report of adult males keeping illegal fish. After arriving, Officer Zahn observed five adult males fishing with cast nets from the bridge. When asked to show what they had harvested, they pointed to an empty ice bag with one blue crab inside. After further questioning, Officer Zahn was able to look into the trunk of the vehicle used by these individuals. Several species of fish including under the legal size limit of snook, mangrove snapper, sheepshead and black drum were found in a cooler. Three individuals were issued four separate criminal misdemeanor charges and a total of eleven written warnings.

SOUTHWEST REGION
HIGHLANDS COUNTY

On October 25, Lieutenant Joe Allen received a complaint concerning a subject who was archery hunting in Hickory Hammock Wildlife Management Area and had taken an illegal deer. Lieutenant Allen located the subject and was able to observe the illegal deer. The subject was issued a citation and released.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

On October 21, Officer Holcomb was conducting fisheries inspection at Picnic Island and discovered one subject in possession of a 16 inch red drum. The subject was charged for possession of undersized red drum and released.

On October 23, Officer Dieter Iten was on patrol at the south end of Picnic Island in South Tampa when he observed two individuals fishing on the rock jetty. Officer Iten waded into the water to conduct a fisheries inspection. His inspection revealed the presence of a 16 inch snook. The individual was cited for possession of undersize snook.

On October 26, Officers Holcomb, Thompson, Hart and Lt. Burton were conducting a net limitation detail in the vicinity of the mouth of the Little Manatee River. At approximately 0030 hours, a commercial net boat was seen travelling south towards Cockroach Bay from the mouth of the river. Approximately 20 minutes later, the vessel was seen traveling back north towards the mouth of the Little Manatee River. Officer Hart and Thompson attempted to initiate a stop with blue lights and the vessel fled in an attempt to elude. The vessel was eventually apprehended after a short pursuit and the operator taken into custody. The subject was in possession of approximately 500 yards of monofilament entanglement net. The subject was charged for fleeing to elude and failure to transit with gill net.

On October 28, Lieutenant George Wilson completed an internet crimes investigation where an individual was killing squirrels with a blow dart gun and posting pictures of his kills on the internet. Lt. Wilson and Investigator Amerson interviewed the suspect and obtained a confession. The subject was charged with one count of cruelty to animals and four written warnings for other wildlife violations.

This past week, Officers Iten and Holcomb issued a total of 11 citations for trespassing on the Friendship Trail Bridge that borders Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

LEE COUNTY

On October 23, Officer Brian Cazalot was conducting commercial fishery checks near Jug Creek and Pine Island. Officer Cazalot observed three individuals leave Jug Creek Fish House in a blacked out vessel with a large amount of gill net on board. Officer Cazalot followed the individuals for approximately two miles before attempting to stop them. When Officer Cazalot approached them, the three individuals jumped out of the vessel and fled through the mangroves. Officer Cazalot was unable to apprehend them. However, Officer Cazalot recognized the three individuals from past stops. A warrant has been issued for their arrest.

On October 23, Officers Justin Koble and Jay Ewing conducted panther patrol on Corkscrew Road. The officers issued 21 citations. The highest speed was 85 M.P.H. in a marked 45 M.P.H. zone. Officer Ewing also arrested one individual for driving without a license with knowledge and possession of an open container.

PINELLAS COUNTY

On October 23, Officer Dieter Iten was on land patrol at the Gandy Bridge Friendship Trail and observed two individual fishing on a catwalk in an enclosed fenced area marked “No Trespassing.” This closed area has been an ongoing issue due to the unsafe bridge structure. Both individuals were cited for trespass.

On October 23, Officer Holcomb was conducting fisheries inspection in the Snug Harbor area at the end of Paseo Del Rio. Officer Holcomb observed an individual fishing from a dock, catch what appeared to be an undersized red drum and place it in a plastic bag. An inspection of the bag revealed a 13 inch red drum. The subject was cited for possession of undersized Red Drum.

POLK COUNTY

On October 28 at approximately midnight, Lieutenant George Wilson responded to an alligator bite at Lake Parker in Lakeland. The 8-foot alligator involved in the incident had been unlawfully fed by patrons in the area. The alligator crawled up to a homeless camp on the lake shoreline and grabbed a 53-year-old individual on the left foot. The subject was transported to the Lakeland Regional Hospital with a laceration on his left ankle. The alligator was removed from the area.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY COPS

On October 24, Lieutenant Joe Allen, Pilot Mike Wood and Officer Kristen Gavagni attended an air show sponsored by the Okeechobee chapter of the Civil Air Patrol. A FWC Helicopter and patrol vessel were displayed. Approximately 100 people were in attendance.

SOUTH REGION A
BROWARD COUNTY

On October 23, Officers Nathan Brock and Matt Hopp were patrolling the L-5 levee when they observed a vehicle crash into a ditch. After responding and rendering aid, they discovered that the driver was impaired. The officers placed him under arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), called Florida Highway Patrol and turned the accident investigation over to them.

On October 25, Officers Craig Baker and Dale Twist were at a boat ramp and checked four occupants on board a vessel. The officers discovered that the subjects had taken an excessive amount of Lane snapper, landing a total of 55 fish. The captain of the vessel was cited for the over-the-limit violation.

HENDRY COUNTY

Officer Rockwell was on patrol when he observed a truck being driven down a road near a dove field with a subject in the back holding a shotgun. The officer stopped and inspected the vehicle. He advised both subjects that they were in violation of “rallying.” Both subjects said that they were dove hunting; however, neither had a valid migratory bird permit. Officer Rockwell also checked their two shotguns and found neither one plugged. He cited both subjects for the violations and warned them for rallying doves.

Officer Greg Louque was on patrol at night when he observed a vehicle turn around several times on a county road. Officer Louque watched these actions for about 40 minutes. Officer Louque stopped the vehicle and observed a spotlight and a .22 caliber rifle. Both subjects were cited for a gun/light violation.

Officer Greg Louque was investigating ongoing trespass complaints when he contacted Lieutenant Pam Steelman about some hunting activities taking place on an adjacent piece of property. Officer Louque and Lt. Steelman confronted two subjects that were hunting and observed deer hair and blood. Both subjects denied killing any deer. Later, Officer Louque and Lt. Steelman located a deer that had been shot. Both subjects were cited for possession of antlerless deer and one was also cited for hunting by illegal method.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

Officer Mike Davis was on water patrol in the Kissimmee River when he stopped and inspected a vessel. The two subjects on board were in possession of four undersized Black Crappies. One of the subjects was cited for the violation.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

On October 23, FWC received information about a large impromptu party, attended by high school students, that was going to occur in J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. Possible violations could include underage drinking and illegal off road. In response, Officers Mark Byers, Richard Cobo, Jeff Gouveia, Alan Webb, Jarrod Molnar, Reserve Lieutenant Mike Fulton, and Reserve Officer Edward Quinn, along with Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies, patrolled the area. Numerous alcohol, drug possession and management area violations were encountered.

On October 24, 2009, officers worked an enforcement detail targeting users who were hunting wild hogs during the deer dog training season in the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area. Officers issued 20 citations and 21 warnings for various violations. They checked approximately six groups of users that were engaged in wild hog hunting activities. FWC reserve officers, as well as investigative and aviation officers, participated in the detail.

On October 26, Officers Phillips and Bradford were checking fishing vessels at Palm Beach Inlet when they discovered one that had 26 undersize yellowtail snapper, one undersize mutton snapper, seven undersize triggerfish and one undersize red grouper. The vessel operator was cited for numerous violations.

COP

On October 23, Officer Mark Byers, Lieutenants Annie Plastic and Atwell Pride and Captain David Schaeffer participated in the annual Disabled Mentoring Day at the South Alpha Regional Office. Approximately 30 special needs children from county schools attended the event. Exhibits set up by the different FWC divisions included a manatee display by the Florida Marine Research Institute, a salt water fish display by the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, and a patrol equipment display by the Division of Law Enforcement. Officer Byers became the “star” of the event after he took most of the children on a swamp buggy ride. All student participants were photographed in front of the displays and then given the picture. They were treated to a pizza party, too.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Officer Brandon Lasher responded to a complaint of subjects catching undersized snapper at Fort Pierce Jetty Park. Lieutenant Douglas Rogerson assisted. Officer Lasher encountered two subjects in possession of undersize mutton snapper while Lt. Rogerson checked other fishermen. A total of two citations and two warnings were issued. Later in the evening, Lieutenant Rogerson responded to a call for assistance by Fort Pierce Police Department. At the South Bridge cat-walk, many subjects were fishing and there were seven ice chests full of fish. The subjects were checked for requisite licenses and the chests inspected. It was determined that none of the fish caught were of a regulated species so there was no violation. However, two citations were issued for fishing license violations.

In the early morning hours of October 24, Officers Brandon Lasher and Kyle Patterson were on patrol near Adams Ranch off of Highway 68. They observed a suspicious vehicle headed west bound apply its brakes and slow down as it passed several deer that were feeding on the side of the road. From a concealed position, the officers watched the vehicle drive back and forth and turn around three times to shine a light on the deer. The vehicle was stopped and a subsequent investigation determined that the driver was looking for a buck to shoot. He was in possession of several weapons in the front seat of the vehicle including a bow with an arrow knocked in position, ready for use. The subject was cited for hunting with gun and light.

On October 24, Lieutenant Douglas Rogerson and Investigator Mike Ornold assisted the St. Lucie County’s animal control division capture a large boa type snake spotted in the brush at the Spanish Lakes Country Club in northern Fort Pierce. Inv. Ornold climbed a tree and was able to use a catch pole to restrain the snake. It was then lowered to the ground and secured in a transport container. The snake measured approximately 5 to 6 feet in length.

On October 25, Officers Brandon Lasher and Kyle Patterson responded to a boating accident at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. The operator was apparently attempting to adjust some instrument controls when he struck the north jetty. No injuries were reported; however, the vessel sustained a significant amount of damage. The investigation is still underway.

SOUTH REGION B
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

On October 27, a complainant reported that her three pet Capuchin Monkeys escaped from their enclosure but were remaining nearby. Pinecrest Police Department called Lieutenant Pat Reynolds to advise that a subject had captured one of the monkeys and had brought it to their police station. The subject capturing the monkey was bitten in the process, and Lt. Reynolds advised her to seek medical treatment. The monkey was taken to its owner where it was secured in a cage to lure the other monkeys back. The following day, one of the other monkeys was spotted, and Lt. Reynolds was able to tranquilize and capture it. The third monkey was observed but eluded capture. The owner was cited for maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe manner by allowing the animals to escape and causing injury to the public.

MONROE COUNTY

Officers Rene Taboas and Jason Rafter arrested a subject based upon a warrant for hull identification number and vessel title fraud violations. FWC Investigations section discovered the violations and as one consequence, the suspect's vessel was civilly forfeited to the State of Florida. The subject was notified of the warrant and surrendered himself to officers at the county jail.

Officers responded to assist the U. S. Coast Guard after fishermen reported a suspicious object in Jewfish Creek, near the bridge. The object, wrapped in plastic, was later identified as a deceased 48-year-old female. Monroe County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation.

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