If you like fish and wildlife content, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future videos. On February 2nd, 2025, an officer with Florida Fish and Wildlife received a call in reference to two individuals trespassing in a water management area. >> Recording. >> Hey, Red Shorts, come on over this way. Don't go that way. How you doing? I'm officer Philippy Fish and Wildlife. Yes, sir. >> The reason I'm out here is you guys are trespassing. I'm assuming you're not an employee with Swift Mud or have written permission to be out here? >> No, sir. My boat uh died and I had a buddy of mine bring me some fuel, but >> I I've stayed here and saw a whole bunch of giant snook. So, I'm sorry. >> Okay. Well, you came by boat? >> Yes, sir. Yeah. I I had to have a buddy of mine drop off fuel. >> Oh, I see the boat there. >> Yes, sir. Okay. Okay. But no excuse for No excuse for >> Okay. Are you guys together? You in this? >> Uh, negative. No, sir. >> No. >> No sir. >> All right. Were you here before him or is he here before? >> I was here. I was here before. I probably It's probably my fault that they came behind the fence. >> Okay. >> So, they're I don't think they're from around here. So, I It was probably my fault. >> Okay. How you doing? I'm Officer Philippy Fishwall. The reason I'm here is um Are you an employee with Swift Mud? >> No. >> So, you don't have an employee ID? Do you have written permission to be in here from Swift? No. Okay. So, this is a water restricted area. It's a water control structure. It's restricted to public access. No one's allowed in here unless you're an employee or contractor, which you would have written permission. >> Are they allowed right over there on that side of the fence? >> On the outside of the fence, you are. >> Okay. >> So, you can go on this one is blocked all the way, but that side you can walk to the freshwater side or the saltwater side. >> And it's probably my fault that he came back because I I walked back here. Okay. So they they they had been fishing on that side of the fence the whole time. >> Mhm. >> And like I said, I got the fuel and saw some giant snook and I said, "Well, I'm going to give it a try." >> I got you. >> I ended up >> realize how big the snook were. I was like, "Damn." >> But again, it's trespassing. So I got >> honest and forthcoming on you. You guys got fishing license though or you What are you fishing for? >> I have I have to I have to go back to my boat. I'm sorry. Yeah, that's what I went back to my get my uh >> uh I don't I just I'd rather not have people split up on me right now. Just we'll work through >> I went over there to get my wallet then I remembered I had it on my phone. >> Okay. I can look it up if it's in your >> You can scroll through there and find all of them. Got just about everything. Some >> Are you doing fresh water, salt water? What do you What are you guys looking >> salt water? >> Salt 725. All right, good. Let me just You don't have your driver's license over there. >> Where' you say you launched the boat at? Is it like Anderson or >> No, sir. It's just behind my house. >> Oh, okay. You live on Lake Tarpon? >> Yes, sir. >> Oh, okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Nice. >> Like I said, I'm the culprit for these guys probably walking back here. >> Well, I mean, how old are you? >> 18. >> 18. >> Yeah. They saw me catch a tarpon and I'm sure that that got them excited. I'm sure. But I mean, still no adult, six foot bar fence. And >> they set a good example. >> They I couldn't tell you how many size they got. They got so many sides on this place, it's it's ridiculous. >> Do you know how big the snook are in this thing? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. They come up. Uh, >> so I was born and raised. I've lived on the lake for four years, and I've I I got stuck down here, and this was the only place I could get fuel from a buddy of mine. When I walked over here, I've fished all over the world. I was like, "Are you kidding me?" >> Yeah. >> I didn't expect to catch the tarpon. >> Yeah. Not as much right now, but when uh the hurricanes come through >> and it gets flowing really >> the flowing the flows come through. But then that's when we get most calls because they can't control these water control structures if anyone's around. >> Oh, yeah. So when we had those hurricanes, we were getting calls all over because people were one, they're they're having they're trying to control water flow and so people's houses weren't getting flooded and we were having to come out and during right after hurricanes when we're trying to do responses and help people. >> I didn't think they'd call y'all. I thought they call >> they called they called us. They called the sheriff's office. They were calling whoever >> whoever is the closest one. Um not just this one. I mean we had 78 street. There's water control structures all up and down bypass canal. That's a huge water access they're trying to divert away from people's houses. I retired from Hillsboro County Fire Rescue. So, we would >> Oh, >> we we we had rolled during the storms, but it wasn't necessarily because of that. >> Yeah. But it was like the days afterwards. We're trying to like We're still getting waters coming up in people's houses. We're trying to get out and Yeah. >> Uh Cody, what's uh you're still What's your address? >> All right. Let me go back to my truck. Give me a couple minutes and uh I'll let you leave. We're on. So, >> okay. All right. Just hang tight. I'll be right back. I'll let you know what we're going to do. All right, Mr. Brian and Cody, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to I'm cutting you guys a pretty good break. All right, first of all, it's trespassing. You could be going to jail right now. We're not going to do that. Uh, so I'm going to give you guys the break is I'm going to give you a notice to appear. And I'm not even writing it for trespassing. Trespassing could be up. It's a first-degree misdemeanor up to $1,000 fine. I'm writing as a swift mud rule. It's entering closed district lance. It's a second degree misdemeanor up to $500 fine. So, it's not even trespassing. I'm trying to give it the lowest one I can possibly do to give you guys a break. And that's also, you know, not even a trespassing. So, if you ever run your your history, you don't see a trespassing in your history, it's an enter and closed list of glance. >> So, I have to go to court. >> You will have to go to court on it. Um, any fine, it'd be assessed by the judge. Um, but like I said, it could be up to 500 versus trespassing, which could be up to $1,000 fine. So, I'm trying to lower it as I can. Um, they're usually pretty good. They I've seen like the histories and stuff like that. Um, unless you have like some crazy trespassing history, >> right? >> Uh, it depends on the court. Sometimes they can do a withhold and stuff like that, you can talk to them about that. Um, >> if it's not if it falls south of a misdemeanor, it can be expuned. >> Uh, yeah, there's that's any of the misdemeanor can be withheld. I believe even a thirdderee felony could be withheld, but that's not a felony, it's a misdemeanor. So it's something I can't promise it but at you know when you go and talk to them >> appreciate the grace and >> you could talk to me >> room there. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. So I'm trying to give you and also your fishing license expired. So just a warning on that one. So not not even we're we're already into it pretty thick here. Let's not let's not go any further. >> Greatly appreciate. >> So like I said I'm trying to put it down as low as I can. I'm not going to go any lower than that as far as a warning because the warnings were that six foot barb bar fence and no trespassing signs like everywhere around here. So, >> not going to get a written warning on that, but I will. >> Is there anything you could do to get me his ticket? >> Well, he's got a it's a court. >> No, they're going to be two different They're two different cases because you guys are not linked to It'd be the same date, same time. It might be the same courtroom. It might not. >> Well, he's he's going to be at North County. >> I'm asking what's the date? >> The date? Um, it's uh March 3rd. Oh, nope. This one printed it wrong. Hold on. Let me correct this. Oh crap. I'll go. I corrected the date on that one. I put it for four Mondays, not five Mondays. What I need from both of you is just a signature. The signature is not admission guilt. It's just saying that in March 10th, you're going to show up for court. >> Yes. >> If you fail to show up, they issue a warrant for your arrest. So, just make sure you show up. If there's any issues uh with the time or something comes up, you can't make it. There is a phone number right on here. It's the click of the court. Call them. Especially from being out of town, if there's any issues or something like that, call them. >> They have the ability to pick a different date, different time, and work with you on that Zoom, what, whatever. I can't do that. >> So, just signature right here on the bottom. Sorry about that. Appreciate it. All right. Do you have any questions? That's not legal advice. >> No. >> So, I appreciate and like I said, I appreciate your grace and mercy. >> Absolutely. So, Cody, >> that's your copy. >> Brian, this is yours and also a warning for the fishing license. Okay. >> So, um >> Thank you, sir. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> Appreciate you. >> Um I'm going to get you guys back out. You probably want to go that side. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, you just hang kind of hanging out by the fence there. I'll open up the gate and let you through. I don't want you >> I don't want you tripping on the rocks, man. So So I I'll I'll pop the gate open. I can get you out, but let me >> I'll come around that way and just walk around on my boat. >> All right. It takes me two seconds. You sure? >> Yeah, I got the key. I'll drive right over for you. >> All right. And you got gas or Yeah. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Yeah, they brought it to me. And again, >> it's all right. Want to make sure you weren't stuck out here, you know. Appreciate where we try to get you get you some help. All right, there you go. safe rest of your shift. >> Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation. >> There you go, sir. >> I appreciate it. >> Yes, sir. >> You have a good night. >> Thank you. You, too. Both Cody and Brian worked out a plea deal and the state agreed to amend the charge to a level one violation. They each paid $50 in costs. We have a link to the statute below. If you like this video and want to see more like it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.