These columns list arrests and not convictions, unless otherwise stated. Anyone listed here who is later found not guilty or has had the charges against them dropped is welcome to inform this newspaper. The information will be confirmed and printed.
FWC Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report from April 26 - May 2.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report from April 26 - May 2 includes incidents in the Lake Okeechobee area. This report represents some events the FWC handled over specified weeks; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement.
• Officer Ciprich was patrolling the Moore Haven area when he observed a vehicle parked in front of a “No Trespassing” sign leading to a water management structure. Officer Ciprich found a group of people fishing in freshwater with a cast net. One subject was found to have a largemouth bass. The subject was issued a notice to appear for harvesting freshwater gamefish by illegal method and warnings were issued for the trespass violations.
• Officers Ciprich and Pridgen observed two subjects in Stormwater Treatment Area 5. The subjects were fishing with a cast net in freshwater. The STA is currently closed to public access and is always closed to fishing. The officers conducted a resource inspection and found a bass hidden on the bank. Further inspection revealed five largemouth bass, a bluegill, and a crappie harvested with the cast net, which is an illegal method of taking freshwater gamefish. The subjects were issued citations for no fishing licenses and issued a notice to appear for harvesting freshwater gamefish by illegal method.
• Officer Sellers was patrolling South Florida Water Management District Property on the L8 levee when she observed a vehicle illegally operating on the levee. She conducted a traffic stop to address the violation and during the investigation, she found the subject had been issued two warnings for the previous violation. The subject was issued a citation for the violation.
• Officer Wences observed a vehicle parked outside of a closed area at Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West. Upon further investigation, Officer Wences discovered the owner of the vehicle inside a closed area on the STA. The subject had entered where there was posted signage stating the area was closed to public access. The subject was cited accordingly.
• Officer Harris observed a pickup truck inside Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West beyond all the locked gates. During his investigation, Officer Harris discovered the subject accessed the area via a closed levee. Furthermore, the subject had several prior charges for trespassing on South Florida Water Management District land. The subject was cited for both violations regarding illegal entry/exit on SFWMD land and unauthorized vehicle on SFWMD land.
