PAGE 8 - July 2, 2008
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
The Newscaster online: www.newscasterarchives.com
Dangerous Rescue: FWC biologist
Meth Bust  - Continued from page 1
The Levy County Drug Task Force had been contacted by Sgt. Brandon Roberts of the
saves drowning bear
Inglis Police Department to assist in a, Inglis/Levy County drug investigation. Two under-
cover deputies conducted a traffic stop near the VFW on Hwy. 40 East. The green, 2-door
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist was faced
green passenger car was stopped due to having a faulty brake and tag light.
with an unusual challenge, June 26 - saving a tranquilized 375-pound black bear from the Gulf
Sgt. Brandon Roberts responded to the area, and his K-9 partner, Dare, alerted to the
of Mexico.
presence of drugs on the car's passenger side. During the search, agents located 2.6 grams of
"I had a lot of adrenaline pumping when I saw the bear in the water," Adam Warwick
methamphetamine, a small digital scale (paraphernalia) and a loaded Smith & Wesson semi-
said. He wasn't sure what he was going to do when he jumped into the water. Saving the
automatic pistol that had been reported as stolen out of Collier County, Florida. The report
animal was a spur of the moment decision.
stated that Pimenthal told officers he had a gun in the vehicle that was concealed in a speaker
The incident occurred in a residential neighborhood of about 100 homes on a small
hole on the vehicle's passenger door.
peninsula called Alligator Point, about 40 miles south of Tallahassee.
According to the arrest report, Pimental told agents that he'd bought the "eight Ball"
The FWC had received reports of a bear in the neighborhood. They found the bear
(methamphetamine) earlier and that he'd purchased the handgun "from someone" for $300.
under a beachfront home. Their plan was to tranquilize the bear and move it to a remote
He stated that his passenger was unaware that he had the drugs and the gun. He was
location in the wild. The tranquilizer dart took longer to take effect than the biologists ex-
transported to the Levy County Jail and held on a $70,000 bond.
pected, and the animal bolted into the Gulf in an effort to escape. Warwick was worried that
Man Arrested for DUI After
the bear would be unable to swim back to land. He decided to go in after the bear, to keep him
from swimming into deeper water, as the bear was already about 75 feet out.
Fleeing Inglis Police
"He was now losing function in his arms and legs, and was obviously in distress,"
said Warwick, who splashed about and attempted to create commotion in an attempt to get
the bear to head back to the shore. Warwick said the bear was "clearly confused." After a few
On June 27th, 2008, Ernesto Cisneros of Wauchula, FL, was arrested by the Inglis Police
minutes, the bear reared up on his hind legs as if to lunge at him, but instead fell straight
Department for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Fleeing and Attempting to
backwards and was submerged. "At that point," said Warwick, "I knew I had to keep the bear
Elude an Officer, Driving while License Suspended or Revoked, and Riding a Motorcycle
from drowning. After a few seconds, the bear popped his head up out of the water, and
without Endorsement.
thrashed around a bit, but could obviously no longer keep his head above water." Warwick
According to the arrest report, Sgt. Brandon Roberts observed a blue Harley Davidson
kept one arm underneath the bear and the other gripping the scruff of its neck, to keep its
operated by Cisneros, at the intersection of US 19 and County Road 40. Cisneros revved his
head above water, as he walked barefoot over concrete blocks crusted with barnacles in the
motor and then continued out of the light travelling northbound. Roberts then observed
4-foot-deep water, guiding and floating the bear back to shore.
Cisneros make a right turn onto E. Cason Blvd, where Roberts attempted to stop the vehicle
During Warwick's trek in the water, he and the bear were approached by a boat
for failing to signal. Cisneros then increase speed and attempted to Flee. After a brief pursuit,
manned with FWC Officer Travis Huckeba and a bystander, which startled the bear, causing
Cisneros attempted to stop the motorcycle, but dropped the bike as he came to a stop.
Warwick to lose his grip until the boat backed off. The bear's buoyancy made his job less
Field Sobriety Tasks were given to Cisneros and he was arrested for Driving Under the
difficult, said Warwick, "It's a lot easier to drag a bear in 4-foot water than move him on dry
Influence of Alcohol and Fleeing and Attempting to Elude an Officer. It was later discovered
land." Warwick had cuts to his feet from the barnacles, and the bear scratched him once on
that Cisneros had a suspended license and no endorsement for riding a motorcycle. He is
the foot, but he was otherwise uninjured. Area resident Wendy Chandler said that Warwick
being held at the Levy County Jail. Other officers involved were IPD Patrolman Al Gerogiannis
looked like a lifeguard, pulling a tired swimmer to shore.
and Levy County Deputy Allen Breeding.
FHP Enforcing Move Over Law
When Warwick and the bear made it to shore, "A bystander arrived out of nowhere
with a backhoe, and with some assistance, we were able to load the bear into the bucket and
then into an FWC truck," said Warwick.
The Florida Highway Patrol is taking a proactive stance by educating the public on
Thad Brett, a general contractor who lives in the area and had a backhoe for work he
Florida's Move-Over Law, implementing a state wide campaign in order to educate the public
was doing to his house. His wife had seen the commotion and told him that Warwick was
and create a safer working environment for our Troopers, police officers, deputies and other
trying to get the bear out of the water. "I knew how hard it would be to get that bear out," said
emergency workers
Brett. "I could see he was about waist-deep in the water, and I came down with the backhoe."
Florida law enacted in 2002 requires drivers to steer and changes lanes away from
The bear was relocated to the Osceola National Forest near Lake City by Warwick
law enforcement officers, ambulances, fire trucks and wreckers that are observed on the
and Ron Copley, FWC.
roadside with emergency equipment activated in order to avoid collisions that often injure or
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