Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – May 2018

Marion County: On the night of Oct. 1, 2016, DNR Law Enforcement Ranger First Class (RFC) Jesse Harrison was working a complaint about night-hunting activities on Blueville Road near Buena Vista.

The following account is from officer Harrison’s official Department of Public Safety incident report:

“At approximately 2151 hours (9:51 p.m.), I observed a black in color Toyota Tundra pickup traveling east on Blueville Road,” RFC Harrison said. “The vehicle turned into a soybean field approximately 200 yards east of my location. Approximately three minutes later, I heard one rifle shot come from the soybean field. As the vehicle exited the field, it stopped at an old barn. I saw the occupants exit the vehicle and unload an unknown object from the bed of the vehicle. The occupants then got back into the vehicle and started east on Blueville Road. I initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.”

RFC Harrison asked the driver, Bill Addison, who was then 38 years old, and two passengers, who were both 17 years old at the time (names withheld because of their age), to exit the truck.

Cpl. Clint Martin arrived on the scene to assist.

“I removed one rifle from the interior of truck,” RFC Harrison said. “A camouflage Browning .30-06 rifle was loaded with three rounds in the magazine, and one round was chambered. The rifle was located in the rear passenger’s seat. Three hand-held spotlights were removed by Cpl. Clint Martin. One spotlight was located in the rear passenger’s floorboard. A second spotlight was located in the front passenger’s floorboard. The third spotlight was located in the middle of the rear floorboard.

“Once the firearm was secured, I interviewed each individual separately. Addison stated, ‘I shot a deer, and it’s laying back over there on the edge of the bushes.’ Addison also stated he held the spotlight and shot a deer while leaning over the hood of the vehicle. Both (of the 17-year-olds) stated they were out looking for deer. They all said they were going to retrieve the deer later in the night. I had Addison (and the two 17-year-olds) follow me to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.”

Addison and the two teens were charged with Hunting from a Vehicle, Hunting Deer at Night and Hunting Without Permission. According to Marion County Probate Court records, Addison pleaded nolo contendere to the Hunting Deer at Night charge and paid a $500 fine, and he was guilty of Hunting from a Vehicle and Hunting Without Permission and paid fines of $400 and $500 for those charges. Total fines were $1,400.

Both 17-year-olds, one from Buena Vista and one from Box Springs, paid $150 fines each for Hunting Deer at Night and Hunting Without Permission. The charges for Hunting From a Vehicle were dismissed. Total fines were $300 for each teen.

Col. Henderson Earns Prestigious Award

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) presented Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Col. Eddie Henderson with the prestigious Guy Bradley Award for his lifetime contributions to wildlife law enforcement, wildlife forensics and investigative techniques. The award is only presented to one state and one federal recipient each year.

Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Col. Eddie Henderson

“This award, established in honor of the first wildlife law enforcement agent killed while performing his duties to protect the nation’s wildlife, recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to wildlife law enforcement,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF.

Henderson began his career with DNR Law Enforcement in 1982 and worked his way up through every position, from field level Ranger (Game Warden) until his promotion to Colonel (director of the Law Enforcement Division) in 2011. He currently oversees 204 Game Wardens and 19 support personnel.

The Colonel’s two most significant and long-lasting achievements are pay parity and the creation of the Law Enforcement Division.