Officers with Florida Fish and Wildlife responded to a call in reference to a man allegedly harassing two hunters in the Florida Everglades. >> It was this one here or down there? >> Okay, good deal. Hey, good morning. Sorry to meet on unfortunate circumstances. >> I really appreciate you coming this. >> How's it going? Nice to meet you. >> Thank you so much. >> Um, so look, uh, what I what I'll start with, um, pretty much I'm going to have you guys just give me some statements. Uh it'll be written though. >> Um it is a sworn statement under oath in case you know he goes to court or anything. We're going to see what he says as well. Um pretty much just as detailed as you can be. >> Um >> try not to cut corners. If you say something, reread it after and just try and be very clear. Um anything that pertain to him threatening you in the management area and anything he said pertaining to ruining your hunt specifically. Um, so just as much as you can document even any actions if he was hitting water, trying to mess with decoys, just anything at all. Um, so that way I can at least have that whenever I do go to talk to him. >> Um, but did he he didn't actually like make physical touch with anybody, nothing like that. >> So, as I was stashing my kayak, like I said, he's he's making his way in the middle of our um, so obviously I'm going to acknowledge him. You know, he's he's he's in our hole that we're about to hunt. So I go up to him from a distance. He's he's already, you know, shouting and screaming, "My hole. My hole." >> You have her lights on and I flashed it from the >> So he he had clear intentions to paddle up to us and and you know, give us trouble. >> So he I was sitting there. I had my gun unloaded, action open, pointed up the whole time. His spotlight was on and I could barely make him out. Um he was like in his kayak and he had he had both paddles. So on and off he would he would raise his voice, he would shout, curse, slurs. Um you know he's like youing Cuban you everything up, go back and just the guy is off the rails. So he he makes like a gesture like he's gonna hit me with the with with the uh with the paddle and and like I I back up a little bit and I put my gun down. I didn't have anything in it still. I you know I want the guy to know that. >> Yeah. Somebody's walking up on you. Yeah. >> You know, so so that was it. And I and she was in the blind probably like 20 yards away and I was like call the woman out here. >> That's the right thing to do. Um cuz we'll not only whatever happens today, but I'll write a report on him specifically and we'll document so whoever else is working out here knows this guy's. >> It's just crazy, man. Like we we put in the time to scout these holes just like everyone else. >> Trust me, man. I feel I feel I would have never expected this guy. >> He came out here like, "What time do I have to wake up to come out to my hole?" And I'm like, >> he's like, "Were you here the previous weekend, the weekend after that?" I'm like, "Dude, >> what are you saying? This is public land, man. Like, you can't claim this. as as as annoying as it could be, somebody could come and set up any time of the week. I'm just parked in front of his truck right now, so he comes back in a safe spot. I'm not here. Um, but if you want to pull your truck over and be behind me, so that way if he comes out, y'all can scoot. >> That's fine with me as well. I don't want you guys to have any more conflict than you already get. >> I'm sure once he gets on the levies, hold the meter. >> Oh, 100%. He'll be Yeah, he hope so. Anyway, >> it's like he was even shooting like and then the way that his >> he was sky busting the entire since legal shooting >> falling all in our hole all >> just ruined the entire experience as a whole. So it's it's the guy is dangerous dude. >> Oh no it is it be it's trust me I I I agree with you. We're going to handle it today. Um >> let's start with that though. Uh if you guys if you are loaded up do um do that and then if you don't mind just meet me by my if you want you can go a little bit past me. I'm going to move too so I'm not blocking the whole levy. Um but yeah uh IDs is your put it on there. Um and then I'll just have you write everything out. Like I said the more details the better. All right. I'll meet you over here. Is this him? You stay there. How you doing sir? All righty. Uh, so we we just need to talk a little bit this morning. Yes, we do. Yes, we do. >> All righty. So, look, if you could um hang out here one moment for me and then I'll come and speak with you. All right. >> Are you are you armed currently? >> No. >> Okay. Uh, you mind just do a quick pat on you? >> Go right ahead. Give me that for you so I can see. >> No, you're good. It's usually It's just a lot of people carry handguns. Oh, I don't have any handgun. >> Good deal. Thank you. >> Um, so I'll have you, like I said, just you can go probably >> 20 ft down, wherever you're comfortable. I'm going to give you guys those things so you can start writing. I'm going to bring him back over to his truck. All right. >> You want us to? >> Um, no. I'm I'm going to grab them, give you the paper now. Uh, do you have pens or you need pens? >> All right. I'll give you pens as well. Uh, but you can just go a little bit down and just start writing it, like I said, as detailed as possible. Okay. All righty. So, here you can take that clipboard and then that's just something for y'all to write on. Um hopefully these pens work and then I'll take your IDs real quick just to run them and then I'll give them right back. So, hang on one second. Uh >> yeah, pull up and then if you do have any questions, just give me a shout. But like I said, um I would be as detailed as possible from pretty much when you started putting into the area. And if you need more paper, let me know. Um you want to you want another one that's not wet? >> I hope so. >> No, you're good, man. >> Um so look, since uh from when you got when you entered the area pretty much um to when he first put that spotlight on you. Um, and you know, you don't have to put irrelevant information, but just like things that he said, actions that he did, and the intent of ruining your hunt. Um, just anything that you think is relevant, even if it's small, add it. But if you have any questions, just weigh me down. But I would just pull up maybe, you know, enough to where you're comfortable. I don't want him I don't want him to be in yelling distance in case he gets mad and Okay, >> really appreciate it. >> Yeah, no problem. But, uh, just yeah, hang out, knock that out. Um, you can ask them questions if you need as well. All right, sir. If you want, we can just walk over to your truck. We're just doing a bit of a swap right here. So, all right. And then, do you have your ID on you as well? >> Yeah, I do. >> It's in your truck. >> That's a shame all that happened. You know what I'm saying? >> Okay. Um, yeah. I I'm just here to collect stories. >> Straighten out the situation. >> Um, so >> I know you're just here to straighten out the situation. >> But what I will do is um anytime that I'm talking to people, >> Yes. >> I have to read Miranda. So, if you're familiar, I'll just let you know and then I'll get your side of the story as well. Okay. >> Well, there's not much to decide. >> All right. Uh, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and anything [clears throat] you say can and will be used against you in court. Do you understand these rights? >> Yes. >> Uh, with these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me now? >> Speak to you >> just about what went on today? >> Well, it's just was really a misunderstanding, you might say. If you >> uh what had happened was I set up here when I paddled out from my pond, it lit up like a city and uh >> from from the Okay, I'm just making sure you didn't mean like uh like shots. >> No, no, >> just head lampamps and stuff and spotlights, >> right? The his lights came on when I paddled into my pond. Hey, buddy, you're in my spot. Okay, well I was here last weekend. You saw me here last weekend? >> I saw you before. Yeah. No, I was here last weekend in the same spot. I said, "Okay, well, I don't know what time I got to get up to >> You're good, man." [laughter] >> I I said, "I don't know what time I got to get up to get to my spot." I says, "But okay, you're here first." I I said to him, I says, "But you you okay, no problem." I paddled away from him. I went to the next pond. >> Okay. >> He approached me. Okay. He approached me. Him and his girl approached me and Of course, he had his gun in his hand and he's flopping around in my face and it's dark and and I picked my paddle up. I was like, "Hey, put that gun out of my face, man. We we don't we don't need this. Okay, I'll just go to the next pond over." >> Okay. >> Okay. And uh so anyways, that's that's basically what happened. >> Okay. Um >> yeah, that's what happened. Then I moved to the next condo and I Oh. when I moved to the next pond over and I didn't think there would be any problem, but then when I saw you here, I was like, "Oh, problem." >> Yeah. Um, what I'm going to do though, I'm I'm going to have you put a if you don't mind writing a statement for me if that's all right. >> Write a statement >> just what what your side >> of writing. I can tell you what what had happened. >> Okay. Um, so whenever you entered though, at any point in time, the the interaction began with them turning their lights on, letting you know that they're in that spot. >> And then at any point, did you did you ever tell them, "Hey, this is my spot. You can't be here." >> Well, I said I told them this is my pond. You hunted there. You hunted there last weekend right there. You saw me over here shooting and you came into my spot. I didn't expect that. I saw his car right there. You can see You can see that you can see that I've been putting in right here. Quite obvious. Ben putting in here and I paddled out here. His car was there. When I paddled out, it lit up. Okay, you're in my spot. Oh, >> okay. Well, he's walking towards me. I'm in my canoe. He's walking towards me with his gun. >> They, you know, and I just So, >> I got scared and I told him, "Listen, whoa, whoa." >> Well, when you say walking towards you, he were Were they in a blind? >> Yeah. Yeah. They were in their blind. >> He was sitting over here and he was over here >> and they both come walking towards me. when I came into the pond. >> Okay. Um, so whenever they were walking towards you, were they saying anything? >> There was a lot of words going on. You know what I mean? It's like you think we'd be. >> You're ruining my hunt. You're this and that. You're this and that. Like, dude, here. >> I'm not ruining your I'm not ruining your hunt. You know what I'm saying? I'm not ruining your hunt. I'll move to the next pond over. >> So, that was There was no other words in that state that you walked there. And he's telling me it's public land, which I know that. >> Yeah, it is. >> But and and you know what, when you're shooting guns, we don't want to be at least a good 150, 200 yards away. I understand. You know, I understand all that. I'm by myself, >> okay? I'm 66 years old. I wasn't trying to ruin the man's hunt. >> Basically came out here in the dark, went directly to where my pond was at that I hunted last weekend and it lit up. Hello, here we are. >> Okay, >> great. But so of course obviously there's two sides and I'm hearing others but whenever you know there's two sides. >> So whenever you went in there were you were you yelling and screaming when you went in? >> Oh yes there was cussing going on. >> Okay. Um and it was just because they were in the spot you've been hunting this season. >> No because he was flashing his barrel in my face and it scared me. >> What else do we need to see? >> He So you're saying just remember this is a a statement so it's under oath. when he said flash and barrel. He mounted his shotgun. >> No, he did not mount a shotgun to his shoulder. >> Okay. >> Okay. He was It was just flopping around in my face and Yeah. I >> Well, so this is this is important for me to >> Oh, if I'm not going to go there with that. >> Well, that's what I'm saying. So, he >> I'm going to tell you no, I just personally got scared. I wasn't uh he >> I get I get the if like hunting you assume everyone has a firearm out there but there's a difference you know for my job of shoulder it up and and pointed out if he was yet I'm not going to say that. No >> okay good deal. >> Oh thank you. This is this is I've checked you on this one before. You're good on you checked me before. Like I said I was already here last weekend and I'm just want to make sure all that to happen. >> I just want to make sure I'm more worried about the you know possible violence and stuff. So, not not on this one. But, but if we don't talk, you know, I don't want it to go. I understand. And no, there was no no one was hitting or anything like that. I just paddled out of their pond and went on down the road. Okay. Is what I did. >> All righty. Um, yeah, just hang out for me one second. I'm going to talk to them again and just make sure. All right. >> Um, >> I'll hold on to this just to add it to the call. Um, >> is all your gear you paddled out down there? >> Yeah, right. I paddled down to the next pond down and I pulled up to the bank there and when I got up on the levy, I saw you sitting here. I walk down here. You can come drive down there and pick my stuff up. >> Okay. >> I wasn't going to interfere with this guy. I wasn't going to interfere. I didn't want to get close to him any longer. >> Gotcha. >> I didn't want no more words. I didn't need no >> I'm an old man. I don't need to be in no fight with no young man. I hear you. >> You follow what I'm saying? >> I hear you. I don't >> I don't need that. >> So, yeah. Just uh if you don't mind, just for officer safety sake, make them not be on their toes, too. Uh whenever I leave to go to my truck, you can just close your truck door and just hang out with me for a bit. We'll uh we'll try and make them quick. Okay. >> Okay. Yeah, sir. >> Hey, in that clipboard, I actually need something out of it. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> I have a video of the guy as he was leaving the whole um >> when he was leaving after y'all's conflict. >> I have a video of him beaming. You can see a spotlight and then just cursing at us. Um I don't know if I should submit that or >> um I can definitely take it. Do you have a Is it an iPhone? 9. >> You can um 10:26. Um I'll give you a business card. That email will probably be the best for me to get. >> Okay. >> Um email or you can message that number too, but email will probably be the highest quality. Um so look, uh he obviously we're hearing stories. Um, at any point in time whenever he was entering off the levey, did you both start walking at him aggressively or anything or did you stay in your blind? >> We didn't. We didn't. So, our hole was about I want to say maybe 25 30 yards radius. So, we stayed within our hole the whole time. I walked outside of my hole to stash the kayak. >> Yeah. As I was stashing the kayak and walking back to the hole, >> he was already basically outside of our hole saying, "You've got company." I'm like, "Buddy, what are you doing? You're too close." And and dude, I know these holes. >> The second he pulled up in his truck, I I I kept telling her, I was like, "There's no other birds out here he can hunt. There's maybe one that's 25 yards in front of us that's big enough." >> So, I was like, "We're going to have problems with this guy." So he he had to walk across to get to where our blind was. Anyways, he was standing in the middle of where or the guy was in his kayak in the middle of where he was stashing our kayak and the blind. So he needed to walk that way. >> Gotcha. Yeah. I just want to make sure y'all y'all weren't walking at him like I just approached because I'm I was like, "Can we relax? Like let's let's deescalate this. Relax." And then he's like, "Ma'am, please get out of this." >> Okay, good deal. Obviously, there's two sides of everything and >> his is a lot calmer, but um just, you know, document it for me. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't all weren't >> absolutely >> walking out. I even I even fine my action was open. He's like, "You have your guns." And I'm like, I I said, >> "My action's open. I have no I have no shells in here." Like, I we were very transparent with him. So, >> no, that's that's fine. Just um I just wanted to check on that first, but keep up with that. He's doing one, too. But I'm going to try and get y'all out of here real quick. I don't I know you don't want me sitting out here. >> All right. Thank you very much. Sorry, I had to get a piece of paper for you. All right. So, um, obviously this is just your I know you said you don't like to write much and I got most of your story, >> okay, >> first person, but look, if you would for me, >> just put your side of this. Um, and look, no fabrication, but as because this is a sworn oath is a sworn statement. So, just >> I'm not going to have much to say about it. >> You don't want to fill one out? >> No, I don't have nothing to say about it. >> All right. It's just usually >> Yeah, it's you. I told you my story side of the story. It's just a shame this happened. I Well, I agree. >> And you know what I mean? It was just a bunch of words. No one got hurt and no one attacked anybody and and you know what and I moved on. >> Well, that's that's basically it. >> Well, that that's fine. But even even physicality aside, >> we know this is public land. So, the territorial stuff is is an issue as well. So, that's just what this was going to do. >> I told you I got enough yardage in where we wouldn't have any problems. >> Gotcha. Good deal. >> I I knew what was happening. Let me uh let me pick this up though and then we'll we'll we'll hurry up and try and cut you out of here. All righty. >> As best as we could do. >> That's That's good. Um I'll just look over them briefly. Um just to make sure that I can clearly understand everything. >> Um and then we'll get you guys out of here. Okay. >> Thank you. >> I already gave you back your IDs, correct? Okay, good deal. Um yeah, give me a second. I'll read over these if you want to hang out in your truck. Uh, I'll walk over and just let you know you're good to go. Okay. >> All righty. >> Wow. It's It's crazy how much nicer her handwriting is. >> It's really nice handwriting. There the other one. >> Yeah. Um, so look, if you want to just take a picture, this is just the the incident. So, it's the case number. So, if you do ever want to follow up on it or for your information, take pictures of your statement for your record. Um Justin, the chances he goes to court and you do get subpoenaed to say your side, this usually suffices. But just in case you wanted for your reference, do you want to take pictures? >> You do. All right. >> I'm sending you this video. >> Here is his. >> I'm trying to email it and I'm going to text it as well. >> Yeah. Um based off of your statements and his um I am going to charge him with pretty much uh it's interfering uh intentionally interfering um with a person's lawful attempt or take of game. Um so it's pretty much just hunter harassment. It's criminal offense. um his story was a little bit different, but then when I asked him to write it or say it under oath, he kind of changed up and didn't want to say anything. But uh based off of the beginning of his statement and >> it's it's a no-go. >> I also have this video as I'm looking back at it. We're basically at our blind and he's on outside of our hole just spotlighting everything. So it's it's clear as day. Yeah, I it it's pretty much comes out clear, especially um yeah, I don't want to get too into his side of things, but uh yeah, it's unfortunate this happened this morning, but he's going to be charged. Um so, sorry how your day started. Um but yeah, if uh and then just for for the sake of if you ever come out here and hunt again, um please do don't stop recreating in the area because of him, you know. Uh but definitely I would just advise of uh hunt any hole that you want to. But if that guy is coming in your hole again, call immediately. Don't don't even engage him. So >> that's going to be my direct. You can call that if you want. That's going to be my work phone. The problem with my work phone is I try to answer it 24/7, but usually it's when I'm on duty. You know, I don't bring it to dinner with my wife and stuff, but >> uh >> call that. If that doesn't answer, call the same hotline that you did. Um, they try and be clear about where it was. So, this call actually went to Dade County. >> Yeah, that's the thing. >> And so, they the our dispatch doesn't really know too well on the levy system. If you say I'm in very south Palm Beach County, that helps them. The levies, they that went right over their head. >> I know. I was like I was like, look, >> which is great. I knew ex I knew exactly where you were. to the public side. >> They as soon as they put the levies in, I was like, I know where they're at. >> But it was a mix up this morning. That's why it took me a while to even come out here. >> Yeah. Yeah. We figured and and we were glad he stayed. >> Like the fact that he even set up >> instead of and I told him I was like, "Okay, we're going to get the warden out here." He's like, "Okay, you freaking cry, baby." Blah blah blah. Just like >> out of control this guy. >> No, it's it's Yeah, but it's been handled. He is going to >> Yeah, >> we'll see what happens with him. But, um, he's being charged. >> Okay. >> You guys are good to go. >> Uh, if you need anything though, you can reach me phone or email. Um, that case number though at the top that you took a picture of, if you ever want like my report on it or, you know, if you do get a subpoena for for it and you want to just refresh, >> um, that case number is what you'll call our dispatch. >> Okay. >> And they can get you in touch with the right person. I don't think our dispatch would, but they'll get you to the right place. All right. Sweet. >> Uh, do you have any other questions for me? >> Appcate. >> Yeah. No, sorry this happened. It's It really grinds my gears. So, at least at least nobody got physical. >> Yeah. >> All righty. So, y'all take care. But like I said, if you need anything, feel free to reach out. All right. >> Thank you so much. >> All righty. >> Take care. >> Go. >> Yeah. I don't I don't think he's going to take this. Well, >> okay. So, Mr. Lawson, this is your ID and then this is your copy of what I'm going to go over with you here. Okay. All right. So, today you are being issued a citation. It's going to be a misdemeanor charge for interference with people attempting to take game. Okay? So, this is public area. You can't claim a hole is yours. You can't tell people that it's your hole. What time I have to get here in the morning. So, you're going to have a court date in Palm Beach County for it. All right. >> No way, dude. Come on. I >> You got to be kidding me. And what's he going to do? Is he going to be in Palm Beach as well? >> He's not. >> Why? >> Because he didn't commit a crime today. >> He did commit a crime. >> This sit in the courtroom. I need a signature from you. >> This is terrible. You're making me go to Palm Beach. >> You're going to have Palm Beach County Court. This is the address here. This is your court date and time. It's going to be on a Tuesday, March 5th at 9:00 a.m. All right. So, if you have any questions, you need to call the number on this to schedule if you can't make it, but you need to do it before the day before the week of. All right. I just need a signature from you right here. >> I disagree with this. You know that. >> That's fine. That's why you have a court date >> and and this guy just rides away and he he that's not that's not right. >> You fighting in court, sir. >> There's no fighting. I'm done fighting. Okay. That wasn't right. I moved out of the way. I moved to the next pond over. I just need a second. You shouldn't be doing all this to me. Okay. You know how many how many years I've been out here? >> That's fine. Thank you, sir. You have any other questions? >> No questions. >> Okay. This citation number at the top, if you do need to call and reference it, that's what you'll be able to reference it with. All right. >> Call that number. >> No, you'll call the court if you need to. If you need to reschedule the date, but they're going to reference everything by that citation number here at the top. All right. >> All right. This wasn't right, though. This ain't right. >> Well, that's what I I talked to everybody. I got sworn statements. The court will decide where to go from here. Okay. >> Well, >> I can only do so much on the ground. >> It was just a verbal It was a verbal uh confrontation and I and I and I during a lawful hunt >> and I moved out, you know. >> Okay. Well, >> I didn't have a weapon in my hand. They had the weapons in their hand >> because they're lawfully hunting. >> Well, so was I. I was lawfully hunting, but >> But you interfered with theirs. They didn't interfere with yours. All right. >> Oh, no, no, no, no. >> Have a good day. >> Okay. two in line, sir. >> But as I was paddling my canoe, they walked towards me. >> He was >> they approached me. >> He he was going to his blind. He put his kayak. Okay. All right. So, see, he he say I say I want you to understand my side of the story. >> Oh, well, I gave you that. That's why everybody there's this and then sworn statements under oath. That's what we did. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. In the end, the suspect was charged with intentionally interfering with or attempting to prevent the lawful taking of fish, game, or non-game animals. Although the body camera footage and arrest report both indicate the incident occurred in Palm Beach County, the case was initially tried in Broward County. During a non-jury trial, the state presented witnesses before arresting its case, and the defense argued lack of venue. The judge ultimately found the defendant not guilty. Before that ruling, the state had already filed the same charge in Palm Beach County based on the same incident. The defense moved to dismiss that case, arguing it violated double jeopardy. The court agreed, finding the Broward case was a full trial on the merits and dismiss the Palm Beach case. If you like this video and want to see more like it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.