Game Warden Blotter

Written by Administrator

Friday, 09 May 2008

Men caught hunting on game warden’s land •Game Warden James Cummings was getting into his patrol vehicle when he heard rifle shots from his southern pasture. He ob-served two individuals shooting at prairie dogs from the county road, back toward Cummings’ house and livestock. Cummings stopped the vehicle and found a man from New Mexico and his grandson. The man asked, “Do you even know who owns this?” Cummings responded, “Yeah, the landowner is standing in front of you.” The man was surprised to learn he was caught hunting on the game warden’s ranch. Men had no idea they were on property illegally •Trinity County Game Warden Donald Norred was called by the sheriff’s office regarding a landowner who had hunters trespassing on his property. Upon investigating, Norred found three trucks and horse trailers parked on the county road. He also found the party entered the property within 10 feet of a 3’ x 3’ posted sign. Six men on horseback, along with a dozen dogs, returned to the vehicles. They advised they entered the property to retrieve a couple of dogs that had strayed and they had no idea they were on property illegally. Citations for trespassing were issued. GPS instructions get students lost •Cherokee County Game Warden Brian Bearden received a call from the sheriff’s office requesting assistance locating three college students who were lost and had stuck their vehicle in a hunting club southwest of Alto. After two hours of searching, Bearden and several sheriff’s deputies located the three students. The students had been traveling from College Station to Kilgore when the GPS unit they were using instructed them to turn into one of the largest hunting clubs in the county. Several minor in possession charges filed •Hays County Game Warden James Michael was patrolling the Blanco River for fishing violations when he came across several youth who had alcohol and who were not identifying themselves. In conjunction with San Marcos police, Michael filed several charges of minor in possession of alcohol and obtained statements about the store that sold the youth the alcohol. Michael contacted TABC and learned they had been investigating the store for that same violation in other instances. Cases pending. Too many hybrids in the bag •Cherokee County Game Warden Brian Bearden observed several individuals violating the bag limit for hybrid striped bass below the spillway on Lake Palestine. Civil restitution and cases pending. Who’s really the owner of this boat? •While on Lake Conroe, Game Warden Alan Biggerstaff checked two men for fishing licenses. The boat they were in was not displaying registration. When asked which man owned the boat, both occupants looked at each other as if they were waiting for the other one to claim ownership. One said they owned the boat together and were in the process of purchasing it. The other man agreed. An inspection of the boat found the HIN removed. The boat had a fuel tank and a gallon jug of outboard motor oil, but was being operated with an electric trolling motor. Both men were arrested. Group receives numerous citations •Montgomery County Game Warden Brannon Meinkowsky was patrolling a Boy Scout camp near Conroe when he noticed a man with a firearm. When the man saw the warden, he ran into the woods. Meinkowsky contacted wardens Dean Fitzpatrick and Dornell Crist for assistance. While waiting, Meinkowsky encountered another man who claimed he and his buddies were camping on the river. The wardens were able to round up the entire group. Three bags of marijuana were found along with a switchblade knife, .357 pistol, sawed-off .22 rifle, fishing poles and trotlines. Citations included hunt without consent, evading, trespassing, possession of illegal weapon, unlawful carry, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, fish without consent, fish without license and untagged trotline. Men admit to hunting without permission •Grimes County Game Warden Jonny Heaton received a call from Grimes County Dispatch that a landowner had seen some hog hunters on his property on horseback. Heaton responded to the ranch and met with the landowner at the entrance gate to the property. While talking to the landowner, a truck and horse trailer pulled out of a gate to the east of the landowner’s property, leaving the gate wide open. Heaton stopped the vehicle, and both occupants admitted to hunting without landowner consent and one admitted to cutting the landowner’s fence to get the horses through. Cases pending. Warden arrests man with outstanding warrants •Aransas County Game Warden Scott McLeod responded to a call concerning some men in possession of several oversized redfish. McLeod located one man, who failed to ID himself and turned out to be a fugitive with outstanding warrants. The man was arrested and placed in the Aransas County Jail, and five cases of possession of oversized fish were issued to his accomplice. Angler flees warden, but later caught •Randall County Game Warden Frank Niemiec was checking for violations at Southeast Park when a man walked toward the parking lot. When the man saw Niemiec, he dropped his backpack and ran to an overgrown area of the park. Niemiec pursued him and then came back and checked his bag, which contained eight fish. Niemiec called the Randall County Sheriff’s Office for help, and the man was later caught and cited that evening. Warden helps catch reckless driver •Palo Pinto County Game Warden Cliff Swofford responded to back up a deputy who was on a call concerning a reckless driver. The driver had driven through a fence, across a pasture, into a tree, and then into a pond. Swofford, who was familiar with the ranch, was able to get to the driver before she got away. The trooper took the woman into custody while Swofford helped the landowner with driving T-posts and rewiring the fence. Gator involved in accident with semi •Game Warden Brian Scott was called at midnight to the scene of an accident involving a semi-truck and trailer and a 13-foot male alligator. The gator expired and the semi jackknifed and nearly flipped. The driver was transported to a local hospital for a minor leg injury.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 10 May 2008 )