The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement Weekly Report from July 7 - July 13 includes incidents in the Lake Okeechobee area.

Glades County

• Officer Ciprich was on patrol during the early morning hours when he observed a vehicle parked on the side of a road. When he went to investigate, he observed lights being displayed from a pasture on private property and four people and three hunting dogs making their way back to the vehicle. Officer Ciprich learned the group did not have permission to be on or hunt that property. The group stated they followed a wild hog from the roadway and went over a fence onto the private property. The four subjects were all issued a notice to appear for trespassing.

Palm Beach County

• After a multiregional covert investigation spanning several months, South Region A investigators along with assistance from the Special Operations Group team and patrol units successfully concluded Operation Freezer Farm. Two individuals were arrested on a combined seven felonies and 52 misdemeanor charges in St Lucie County. Charges include illegal taking/harvest/possession of deer, alligator, and tarpon. The arrests are a victory in the ongoing fight against wildlife violations and send a strong message that those involved in such criminal activities will be punished. The case is open and awaiting the judicial process.

Okeechobee County

• Officers were on patrol at Nubbin Slough when they observed a subject hook a bass to the end of a rope with a large hook and begin to throw it at an alligator. The officers noticed the subject had a pistol in a bag around his chest. The officers contacted the subject, who admitted to attempting to catch the alligator. The subject was also a convicted felon and was not allowed to possess a firearm. The subject was charged with possessing a firearm as a felon, using a bass as bait, and attempting to take an alligator out of season without tags.

• An officer was on patrol in Taylor Creek when he observed a vessel with improper display of registration. The officer discovered a derelict vessel that was not registered and another vessel with several registration issues as well. The subjects received a notice to appear for storing a derelict vessel on the waters of the state and operating an unregistered vessel and was issued several boating citations and warnings for boating safety equipment and vessel registration issues.

• An officer was on patrol at the Nubbin Slough structure checking fishing licenses when he observed a vehicle pull into the parking lot and immediately turn around after seeing the officer. The officer identified the subject as someone he arrested earlier in the week. The subject has no valid driver’s license and has seven prior convictions for driving while license suspended. The vehicles tag was registered to a deceased person and was 38 months expired. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and booked the subject into the Okeechobee County jail.