SOUTHWEST REGION Weekly Violations - SOUTHWEST REGION Weekly Violations HERNANDO COUNTY On August 17, Officer Damon Pulaski was checking vessels returning to the Bayport boat ramp. One vessel that had returned from scalloping was in possession of five pin

SOUTHWEST REGION Weekly Violations

HERNANDO COUNTY

On August 17, Officer Damon Pulaski was checking vessels returning to the Bayport boat ramp. One vessel that had returned from scalloping was in possession of five pints of meat, which is over the limit for the five people on board, and another 10 gallons of unshucked scallops. The owner of the vessel told Officer Pulaski that it was not worth the gas to drive from Lakeland for only 10 gallons of scallops. He was cited and the scallops were seized as evidence.

On August 20, Officer Annie Plastic and Reserve Officer Bryce Phillippi observed three subjects who were picking palmetto berries adjacent to the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. They did not see the officers as they stopped with cutters in hand and began picking the berries. The subjects were cited for harvesting palmetto berries without a permit, and the berries were returned to the wildlife management area.

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

On August 15, the opening night of the public alligator hunt, Officer Joe Brooks took a Channel 2 news crew from Ft. Myers on patrol on the Kissimmee River. The NBC crew observed and recorded how alligators were taken, as well as our efforts regarding safety and enforcement. They were thoroughly satisfied with the experience.

On August 16, Officer Erika Zimmerman and Reserve Officer Dale Knapp were patrolling Lykes property when they saw a suspicious vehicle leaving the area. The officers stopped the vehicle and questioned the operator. They discovered the subject had an outstanding active warrant for driving under the influence with serious bodily injury. The subject was placed under arrest and turned over to the sheriff's office.

On August 17, Officer Zimmerman was on water patrol on Lake June and noticed a young looking child operating a PWC. She confirmed the operator was 11 years old and cited the father of the child for the misdemeanor violation.

LEE COUNTY

On August 15, Officer Jonathan Ruggiero was in the area of Dog beach and observed two people cast netting. Officer Ruggiero waited for them to return to the parking area before making contact with them. When questioned, the male subject was not truthful concerning their catch. Officer Ruggiero located an undersize snook in a bucket they had in their possession. The male subject was cited for taking snook out of season and an undersize snook.

PASCO COUNTY

On August 16 and 17, Officers Sean Smith, Donnie Jones, Joe Wolff, and Henry Perez, along with Reserve Officer Bryce Phillippi and Lieutenant Pam Hoback, conducted a deer decoy detail in an area where there were repeated reports of shots being fired at night. After retrieving the decoy at the conclusion of the detail, a truck that had passed by earlier in the evening returned, driving slowly as it shined the field where the decoy was located. Once the truck passed, the officers heard a shot come from the vehicle. A few minutes later, the vehicle was seen heading in the opposite direction. Officers stopped the vehicle and observed an enormous amount of blood spattered across the back of the truck and tailgate. A doe, still alive, was found in the bed of the truck. The subjects were arrested for illegally taking or possessing deer. One of the subjects was additionally charged with discharging a firearm from a right-of-way and possession of cannabis (less than 20 grams). The officers seized a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, approximately 20 shotgun shells, and a Black and Decker spotlight. The truck was impounded and the subjects were transported to the Pasco County jail.

POLK COUNTY

On August 15, Lieutenant Lee Birge received a complaint that several licensed alligator hunters had started their hunt early on Lake Hancock, but he was not able to arrive in time to observe any violations. He set up surveillance on one of the vessels reported to be involved and watched the occupants hunt for several hours. He later stopped the vessel to conduct an inspection. He observed a subject holding one end of a buoy line that was secured to a harpoon tip. The harpoon tip was protruding from a small wild hog that was swimming in the water in front of the vessel. During interviews, Lieutenant Birge learned the alligator hunters heard the pig squealing and when they went to investigate, they found a dog trying to catch the pig in the water. The man holding the buoy line harpooned the pig. The subject was charged with taking wildlife by illegal method and the pig was released.

On August 16, Officer Dirk Williamson observed three subjects hunting alligators in Pool A of the Kissimmee River. One of the subjects was shining a spotlight and holding a crossbow. The subject with the crossbow received a notice to appear for not having a license to hunt alligators.


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