FWC Law Enforcement Report
This report represents some events the FWC handled Sept. 15-21 in the Northwest Region. (There were no cases reported for Wakulla County.)
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
• Lt. Corbin and Officer Wilkenson were on patrol in Bayou Chico when they observed multiple vessels tied off to a floating structure. One was determined to be a derelict vessel and is being used to store items such as rims, tires, and other car and boat parts. The owner was unable to show the vessel was operational. Another vessel tied off to the floating structure, which the subject lives on, was found to not have an adequate means of propulsion, no permanently installed marine sanitation device, and no log for his MSD pump out records. The vessel has been on state waters for well over 90 days and the subject has failed to register the vessel with the State of Florida. The owner of the vessels was issued notice to appear citations for storing a derelict vessel on state waters and failure to register a vessel in the State of Florida that has been stored on state waters for more than 90 days. The owner of the vessels was also issued several uniform boating citations for the other violations.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
• Lt. Bartlett, Officer Oliver, and Officer Ates were on patrol when they observed an occupant on a moving vessel jump into the water from the back of the vessel, near the propeller. As the officers approached the vessel to make sure the subject was not injured, there was another occupant attempting to enter the water from the back of the vessel. There were multiple alcohol containers littered throughout the vessel. Multiple occupants on the vessel were exhibiting high levels of impairment. The operator agreed to conduct standard field sobriety tasks and performed poorly. The operator was placed under arrest for boating under the influence and agreed to provide a breath sample. The operator was charged with operating with a breath alcohol content of .08 or higher and transported to jail.