On 5-28-23 around 2:30pm, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was on routine water patrol in Duval County. While on patrol we received a call in reference to a possible boating incident between a pwc and a vessel with no injuries  in the area of Fort George Inlet . We made contact with both parties and determined that V1 struck V2 causing damage. See detailed report for more information.  
At 2:59pm, we arrived on scene and spoke with multiple witnesses who stated that the pwc involved in the boating incident was on a nearby sandbar. They also stated that the other vessel was at a nearby location in the Fort George River. We made contact with the vessel matching the description and identified the owner and operator as OP2. OP2 stated they were at idle speed when a pwc came by striking their port side near the stern of their vessel causing damage. OP2 gave a description of the pwc operator. OP2 stated he had 2 of his friends following the pwc operator after the pwc operator struck his vessel and left the scene. I then observed the 2 friends of OP2’s begin pointing at the pwc operator on the sandbar across the inlet. FWC then dropped Officer off on V2 to gather witness statements from the people on board the vessel at the time of the incident. 
At 3:13pm, FWC LT and I made contact with the operator of V1 located on the same sandbar as the incident. The operator of V1 was later identified as OP1. When we made contact with OP1, he was on another one of his vessels on the sandbar. I asked OP1 if he was operating the pwc during the time of the incident and he stated that he was the operator of V1 at the time of the incident. He explained that the colliding vessel “cut him off and hit his jet ski.” I observed OP1 slurring his speech and unable to keep his balance while standing. OP1 kept trying to grab onto the T- top of his vessel. I placed a PFD on OP1 and asked him to come aboard my vessel to ask him questions to gather further information regarding the incident. While speaking with OP1, FWC LT began taking pictures of V1 and also spoke with someone who appeared to be an acquaintance with OP1. FWC LT asked to see boating safety equipment for V1. I asked OP1 if he had anything to drink today and he said he had two beers after the incident. The initial call of the incident came in to dispatch at 2:39pm, we arrived on scene at 2:59pm, and we made contact with OP1 at 3:13pm. Based on my observation, I asked OP1 to participate in standardized field sobriety tasks to make sure his normal facilities were not impaired. OP1 denied participating in standardized field sobriety tasks. I gave OP1 3 different opportunities to participate in standardized field sobriety tasks to which he refused. Based on my observations while speaking with OP1, I believed OP1s normal faculties were impaired. I placed OP1 under arrest and transported him to Jim King Boat Ramp where the intoxilyzer was located. 
Once at the boat ramp, FWC Officer 2 asked OP1 if he would provide a sample of his breath to determine his breath alcohol content to which OP1 refused. OP1 was transported to the Duval County Pre Trial Detention Center where he was booked and charged with BUI violation 327.35(3)(c)1- BUI with property damage or injury and for refusal to summit to a breath test.  OP1s’ pwc was released per OP1s request.
The witnesses on V2 stated that there were 3 occupants on board V1 at the time of the incident, 2 of which were thrown in the water and the other occupant was thrown inside OP2’s vessel. All 3 occupants on the pwc appeared to be uninjured and left the scene. 


Fort George River
JACKSONVILLE                  