"Lone Star Law" Caught Red Handed

1 00:00:10,811 --> 00:00:12,943 Narrator: Coming up on "lone star law"... 2 00:00:12,946 --> 00:00:14,478 Get over here! 3 00:00:14,481 --> 00:00:16,347 [ Bleep ] 4 00:00:16,350 --> 00:00:18,148 - Show your hands. - Driver, let me see your hands. 5 00:00:18,151 --> 00:00:19,483 Show your hands. 6 00:00:19,486 --> 00:00:20,751 Holy cra... 7 00:00:20,754 --> 00:00:22,220 I know that oil's in the sand. 8 00:00:22,223 --> 00:00:24,022 Man: We're concerned about shore birds 9 00:00:24,025 --> 00:00:25,890 and sea turtles. 10 00:00:25,893 --> 00:00:27,624 Unh-unh. Hold on, now. 11 00:00:27,627 --> 00:00:31,228 Who did all these shots? 12 00:00:31,231 --> 00:00:33,297 State game warden. You got your permit? 13 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:34,431 I don't have to have a permit for him. 14 00:00:34,434 --> 00:00:36,767 Yeah, you do. 15 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:38,102 [Bleep] All you mother [bleep]. 16 00:00:38,105 --> 00:00:40,437 You're a [bleep] [bleep]! 17 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,941 ♪♪ 18 00:00:48,248 --> 00:00:50,381 [ Flies buzzing ] 19 00:00:50,384 --> 00:00:51,383 [ Rattling ] 20 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:59,074 21 00:01:04,865 --> 00:01:07,532 Man: A Texas game warden's job is to protect wild animals 22 00:01:07,535 --> 00:01:10,000 in wild places, keep the public safe 23 00:01:10,003 --> 00:01:12,703 and every now and again, put a bad guy in jail. 24 00:01:16,410 --> 00:01:19,477 Captions by vitac... www.Vitac.Com 25 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,281 captions paid for by ♪♪discovery communications 26 00:01:23,284 --> 00:01:26,317 ♪♪ 27 00:01:28,956 --> 00:01:31,755 [ Exhales ] Morgan, we need a head for it. 28 00:01:31,758 --> 00:01:33,891 Is this gonna be the right head for that decoy? 29 00:01:33,894 --> 00:01:35,359 I don't know. Let's stick it on there and see. 30 00:01:35,362 --> 00:01:37,094 It's got short hair. 31 00:01:37,097 --> 00:01:40,031 Narrator: Texas game wardens Morgan inman and Ellis Powell 32 00:01:40,034 --> 00:01:43,568 prep for a nighttime operation to catch poachers. 33 00:01:43,571 --> 00:01:45,303 Gonna be a short-necked son of a gun, isn't it? 34 00:01:45,306 --> 00:01:46,704 Here, stick that on there. 35 00:01:46,707 --> 00:01:49,973 But it's got a long nose like a Doe. That'll look good. 36 00:01:49,976 --> 00:01:51,375 You know, as a game warden, 37 00:01:51,378 --> 00:01:53,311 there's nowhere I'd rather be than east Texas. 38 00:01:53,314 --> 00:01:56,914 There's lots of woods, lots of rural land. 39 00:01:56,917 --> 00:01:58,649 Just about every flagrant violation 40 00:01:58,652 --> 00:02:02,786 that a game warden deals with, we deal with it here. 41 00:02:02,789 --> 00:02:06,190 Deer poaching is a huge issue, especially in east Texas. 42 00:02:06,193 --> 00:02:07,525 A hundred years ago, 43 00:02:07,528 --> 00:02:09,527 the deer was almost harvested to extinction 44 00:02:09,530 --> 00:02:11,795 in this part of Texas. 45 00:02:11,798 --> 00:02:14,065 Narrator: The game wardens head out for a weekend patrol 46 00:02:14,068 --> 00:02:17,801 of Sam rayburn lake, the largest lake in Texas. 47 00:02:17,804 --> 00:02:19,871 So you're saying that Sam rayburn lake 48 00:02:19,874 --> 00:02:21,805 is 114,000 surface acres. 49 00:02:21,808 --> 00:02:23,941 And you're saying a 100... 100,000? 50 00:02:23,944 --> 00:02:25,543 - Yes, sir. - [ Laughs ] 51 00:02:25,546 --> 00:02:28,479 Here's the bet... if I'm right, 52 00:02:28,482 --> 00:02:31,748 you gotta do the leg work on the decoy. 53 00:02:31,751 --> 00:02:33,217 You're gonna have to help that decoy out there 54 00:02:33,220 --> 00:02:34,485 and move it and so forth. 55 00:02:34,488 --> 00:02:35,820 You know what it all entails. 56 00:02:35,823 --> 00:02:37,555 Let's shake on it. 57 00:02:37,558 --> 00:02:39,356 [ Laughs ] 58 00:02:39,359 --> 00:02:42,326 ♪♪ 59 00:02:44,364 --> 00:02:45,429 Rattlesnake island. 60 00:02:45,432 --> 00:02:47,631 Me and rattlesnake island. 61 00:02:47,634 --> 00:02:49,634 That's how it starts, right there. 62 00:02:49,637 --> 00:02:51,035 Narrator: Rattlesnake island, 63 00:02:51,038 --> 00:02:52,770 in the middle of Sam rayburn lake, 64 00:02:52,773 --> 00:02:55,306 is a favorite hangout for young locals. 65 00:02:55,309 --> 00:02:56,507 Look down here, straight ahead. 66 00:02:56,510 --> 00:03:00,911 Go on. God bless america. [ Laughs ] 67 00:03:00,914 --> 00:03:02,847 Narrator: With so many people out on the water, 68 00:03:02,850 --> 00:03:04,548 the game wardens are on hand 69 00:03:04,551 --> 00:03:06,917 to make sure everyone is playing it safe. 70 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:08,852 When you operate a boat and there's boats around you, 71 00:03:08,855 --> 00:03:10,320 there's skiers, there's swimmers. 72 00:03:10,323 --> 00:03:12,623 And when alcohol comes to play in that and impairs 73 00:03:12,626 --> 00:03:14,792 that ability, disaster happens. 74 00:03:14,795 --> 00:03:15,993 We've had numerous wrecks 75 00:03:15,996 --> 00:03:17,895 because of alcohol-related accident. 76 00:03:21,535 --> 00:03:23,267 Looks like a jet ski. 77 00:03:23,270 --> 00:03:24,868 Narrator: A woman appears to be having trouble 78 00:03:24,871 --> 00:03:26,204 controlling her jet ski. 79 00:03:26,207 --> 00:03:28,806 Ellis: Yeah, we'll check it. 80 00:03:28,809 --> 00:03:31,275 Just pull up right here. 81 00:03:31,278 --> 00:03:32,476 Pull your jet ski up right there. 82 00:03:32,479 --> 00:03:36,080 Or wait right there, and we'll come to you. 83 00:03:36,083 --> 00:03:37,548 - I got it. - Okay. 84 00:03:37,551 --> 00:03:39,550 - Hey, ladies. How are you? - Good. How are you? 85 00:03:39,553 --> 00:03:40,885 State game warden. Watch your fingers. 86 00:03:40,888 --> 00:03:42,553 I don't wanna see 'em get smashed. 87 00:03:42,556 --> 00:03:44,888 - Whose jet ski? - My fiancé's. 88 00:03:44,891 --> 00:03:46,624 Okay. Does it have a fire extinguisher and a whistle? 89 00:03:46,627 --> 00:03:48,693 Yes, sir, right here in the back. 90 00:03:48,696 --> 00:03:50,561 - How old are you? - Um, 19. 91 00:03:50,564 --> 00:03:53,631 Okay. Did y'all have anything to drink today? 92 00:03:53,634 --> 00:03:55,166 Um, no, sir. I have not. 93 00:03:55,169 --> 00:03:56,968 Okay. What... 94 00:03:59,039 --> 00:04:00,438 Who did all these shots? 95 00:04:00,441 --> 00:04:01,972 There's about a hundred of them down there. 96 00:04:01,975 --> 00:04:03,907 That's my fiancé's. 97 00:04:03,910 --> 00:04:05,643 What was in 'em? 98 00:04:08,315 --> 00:04:09,780 As I opened the compartment in the front 99 00:04:09,783 --> 00:04:11,448 to help look for the fire extinguisher, 100 00:04:11,451 --> 00:04:14,318 it was full of whiskey and syringes 101 00:04:14,321 --> 00:04:17,854 where they had been shooting alcohol as shot drinks. 102 00:04:17,857 --> 00:04:19,523 How much have you had to drink today, ma'am? 103 00:04:19,526 --> 00:04:22,593 I've had maybe two or three drinks, honestly. 104 00:04:22,596 --> 00:04:24,595 - How old are you? - I'm the same. I'm 19. 105 00:04:24,598 --> 00:04:27,598 19. Well, you understand that being 19, 106 00:04:27,601 --> 00:04:29,333 you can't have any traceable alcohol in... 107 00:04:29,336 --> 00:04:30,801 I understand perfectly. 108 00:04:30,804 --> 00:04:32,736 During the course of that water safety inspection, 109 00:04:32,739 --> 00:04:34,739 I could smell the alcohol coming off of her 110 00:04:34,742 --> 00:04:36,674 as she spoke to me. 111 00:04:36,677 --> 00:04:38,342 Narrator: It's illegal for anyone under 21 112 00:04:38,345 --> 00:04:39,743 to drink alcohol. 113 00:04:39,746 --> 00:04:42,013 The fact the woman was driving the jet ski 114 00:04:42,016 --> 00:04:45,750 while drinking is the warden's major concern. 115 00:04:45,753 --> 00:04:47,618 Let's make sure, first of all, that you're safe 116 00:04:47,621 --> 00:04:49,486 to operate this thing and you're not intoxicated. 117 00:04:49,489 --> 00:04:50,554 Do you feel like you're intoxicated? 118 00:04:50,557 --> 00:04:52,757 Okay. 119 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,092 Well, I'm gonna... 120 00:04:55,095 --> 00:04:57,428 Okay. Well, listen. I don't want... 121 00:04:57,431 --> 00:04:58,695 I don't wanna see that happen, 122 00:04:58,698 --> 00:05:00,097 but I don't wanna see you get hurt either. 123 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:02,300 Okay. Without singing your alphabet, 124 00:05:02,303 --> 00:05:04,167 just say it from a to z. 125 00:05:04,170 --> 00:05:06,504 A, b, c, d, 126 00:05:06,507 --> 00:05:08,171 e, f, 127 00:05:08,174 --> 00:05:12,176 I, g, h, l, j, k, 128 00:05:12,179 --> 00:05:14,445 l, m, m... 129 00:05:18,786 --> 00:05:24,054 Narrator: 340 miles west, in central Texas hill country, 130 00:05:24,057 --> 00:05:26,791 captain Greg williford drives to San Antonio 131 00:05:26,794 --> 00:05:29,059 to head up a special operation. 132 00:05:29,062 --> 00:05:31,996 I really like being able to work cases involving people 133 00:05:31,999 --> 00:05:35,466 that are making money illegally off the natural resources. 134 00:05:35,469 --> 00:05:37,868 Narrator: Today, the criminal investigation unit 135 00:05:37,871 --> 00:05:41,071 is targeting people selling wildlife on websites 136 00:05:41,074 --> 00:05:44,008 like craigslist and online hunting and fishing forums. 137 00:05:44,011 --> 00:05:46,009 Could be anything from snakes to turtles 138 00:05:46,012 --> 00:05:49,146 to alligator parts, illegal birds. 139 00:05:49,149 --> 00:05:51,014 You never know what you're gonna run into. 140 00:05:51,017 --> 00:05:53,951 Narrator: In Texas, the buying and selling of wild animals 141 00:05:53,954 --> 00:05:56,354 and their parts is highly regulated. 142 00:05:56,357 --> 00:05:58,221 The illegal commercialization of... of... 143 00:05:58,224 --> 00:05:59,757 Of our wildlife resources, um, 144 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:01,559 could be a really significant threat. 145 00:06:01,562 --> 00:06:03,761 You think about it. If somebody finds out 146 00:06:03,764 --> 00:06:08,899 that they can sell turtle "a," you know, for $10, $20 apiece, 147 00:06:08,902 --> 00:06:11,635 and they start pulling turtle "a" out of the wild 148 00:06:11,638 --> 00:06:13,103 and demand keeps going up, 149 00:06:13,106 --> 00:06:15,572 you run the risk of depleting that resource 150 00:06:15,575 --> 00:06:18,042 and making that resource go extinct. 151 00:06:18,045 --> 00:06:19,777 Narrator: Williford meets up with his partner, 152 00:06:19,780 --> 00:06:24,315 lieutenant Brent satsky, to plan today's operation. 153 00:06:24,318 --> 00:06:26,183 We found some snakes, 154 00:06:26,186 --> 00:06:27,984 alligator parts in San Antonio area, 155 00:06:27,987 --> 00:06:30,521 specifically a 5-foot hide that he's offering up for sale. 156 00:06:30,524 --> 00:06:32,589 There's a lead at corpus we're working on. 157 00:06:32,592 --> 00:06:33,991 Okay. 158 00:06:33,994 --> 00:06:35,459 Narrator: Undercover agents will meet up 159 00:06:35,462 --> 00:06:38,195 with three different sellers to buy an alligator hide, 160 00:06:38,198 --> 00:06:40,798 a live python, and some snapping turtles. 161 00:06:40,801 --> 00:06:43,534 We'll just print 'em out, stack 'em up and, uh, 162 00:06:43,537 --> 00:06:45,069 we'll get everybody together. 163 00:06:45,072 --> 00:06:46,603 And we'll get it done. 164 00:06:46,606 --> 00:06:49,273 Narrator: If any of the sellers don't have a proper permit, 165 00:06:49,276 --> 00:06:53,677 they face serious fines and possible jail time. 166 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,813 Williford and satsky gear up and head out 167 00:06:55,816 --> 00:06:58,916 to meet the rest of the team for the first buy bust. 168 00:07:05,358 --> 00:07:08,024 Back at rattlesnake island, 169 00:07:08,027 --> 00:07:11,262 the driver fails the first part of the sobriety test. 170 00:07:17,437 --> 00:07:19,370 You wanna try it again, start at a? 171 00:07:19,373 --> 00:07:20,837 You missed several letters in there, and... 172 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:25,442 - I know I did. - Okay. 173 00:07:25,445 --> 00:07:27,444 Obviously you seem like you've had a little bit to drink. 174 00:07:27,447 --> 00:07:28,779 I told you from the beginning I had. 175 00:07:28,782 --> 00:07:30,181 That... that's clear, and I appreciate your honesty 176 00:07:30,184 --> 00:07:31,381 and cooperation. 177 00:07:31,384 --> 00:07:33,317 Um, but I wanna give you some more tests, 178 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:34,852 and I'll need to do it on a bank. 179 00:07:34,855 --> 00:07:37,387 Narrator: The game wardens release the passenger 180 00:07:37,390 --> 00:07:41,124 and bring the driver to shore for more tests. 181 00:07:41,127 --> 00:07:42,593 We're gonna give her 15 minutes. 182 00:07:42,596 --> 00:07:44,060 We do that to get them off the water, 183 00:07:44,063 --> 00:07:47,398 to let their equilibrium and their inner ear calm down. 184 00:07:47,401 --> 00:07:50,133 I mean, we all make decisions, and we were all youths. 185 00:07:50,136 --> 00:07:52,736 I was 19 one time, too, but I want you to be safe. 186 00:07:52,739 --> 00:07:54,538 And bad things happen to good people 187 00:07:54,541 --> 00:07:56,240 all the time. 188 00:08:00,547 --> 00:08:04,415 Narrator: Back in central Texas, williford and satsky 189 00:08:04,418 --> 00:08:07,417 drive to the location of the first buy bust. 190 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:09,219 Uh, we're headed just north of San Antonio. 191 00:08:09,222 --> 00:08:10,420 Got some u.C. Guys, 192 00:08:10,423 --> 00:08:12,490 that they're gonna hook up with a, uh, 193 00:08:12,493 --> 00:08:14,825 fellow that's selling an alligator hide. 194 00:08:14,828 --> 00:08:17,027 Narrator: Boots and shoes made from alligator skin 195 00:08:17,030 --> 00:08:18,762 are popular in Texas, 196 00:08:18,765 --> 00:08:23,167 but hides can only be sold through permitted dealers. 197 00:08:23,170 --> 00:08:26,036 Two undercover game wardens posing as buyers 198 00:08:26,039 --> 00:08:27,504 are already in position, 199 00:08:27,507 --> 00:08:30,508 waiting in their truck for the seller to arrive. 200 00:08:30,511 --> 00:08:33,444 Williford and satsky, the take-down team, 201 00:08:33,447 --> 00:08:36,580 park nearby in an unmarked s.U.V. 202 00:08:36,583 --> 00:08:40,517 They check in with the undercovers. 203 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:41,785 Woman: Hello? 204 00:08:41,788 --> 00:08:43,120 Hi, this is Brent. 205 00:08:43,123 --> 00:08:44,387 Can you give us a vehicle description, please, ma'am, 206 00:08:44,390 --> 00:08:45,456 of... of the meet vehicle? 207 00:08:50,664 --> 00:08:51,996 - Oh, cool. - Cool. 208 00:08:51,999 --> 00:08:53,730 That ought to be recognizable, then. 209 00:08:53,733 --> 00:08:55,733 All right. Bye. 210 00:08:55,736 --> 00:08:57,868 Narrator: Williford fills in the uniformed back ups 211 00:08:57,871 --> 00:09:00,470 stationed a block away. 212 00:09:00,473 --> 00:09:02,072 Yes, sir. 213 00:09:02,075 --> 00:09:04,675 We'll sit back a little bit, let our u.C.'S make contact 214 00:09:04,678 --> 00:09:07,678 and... 215 00:09:07,681 --> 00:09:08,812 Okay. 216 00:09:08,815 --> 00:09:10,347 Narrator: Once money changes hands, 217 00:09:10,350 --> 00:09:12,683 the teams will move in for the bust. 218 00:09:15,689 --> 00:09:18,122 Here he comes, I think. 219 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,360 Yeah. That's a red Indian. 220 00:09:23,363 --> 00:09:24,395 That's gonna be him. 221 00:09:27,233 --> 00:09:28,298 Mm-hmm. 222 00:09:28,301 --> 00:09:29,566 That's the only thing I was thinking of. 223 00:09:29,569 --> 00:09:32,670 If he saw something, and he just wants to book, he's out. 224 00:09:34,508 --> 00:09:36,973 Narrator: The undercover wardens wearing hidden mics 225 00:09:36,976 --> 00:09:40,644 move in to buy a hide the man is selling for $500. 226 00:09:43,450 --> 00:09:44,715 Woman: We were looking for some alligator stuff 227 00:09:44,718 --> 00:09:48,786 for decoration, and I saw that. 228 00:09:48,789 --> 00:09:49,987 This guy knows a lot about alligators. 229 00:09:49,990 --> 00:09:52,156 He does. He's very knowledgeable. 230 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,866 Narrator: Back at the lake, game warden Powell 231 00:10:02,869 --> 00:10:05,135 conducts another round of sobriety tests 232 00:10:05,138 --> 00:10:06,737 on the teen driving the jet ski. 233 00:10:06,740 --> 00:10:08,205 When I ask you to, I'm gonna have you take 234 00:10:08,208 --> 00:10:12,142 nine heel to toe steps down this line. Okay? 235 00:10:15,482 --> 00:10:17,548 The test did not go well for her. 236 00:10:17,551 --> 00:10:20,750 There's numerous indicators of intoxication. 237 00:10:20,753 --> 00:10:22,152 Nicole, you... 238 00:10:22,155 --> 00:10:23,821 You had a little bit too much to drink, okay? 239 00:10:23,824 --> 00:10:25,222 - I know. - Okay. 240 00:10:25,225 --> 00:10:26,623 You... You're obviously intoxicated. 241 00:10:26,626 --> 00:10:29,693 You need to consider yourself under arrest, okay? 242 00:10:29,696 --> 00:10:31,027 You're gonna... You're gonna be transported 243 00:10:31,030 --> 00:10:34,031 to Jasper county jail for boating while intoxicated. 244 00:10:36,436 --> 00:10:37,768 Okay. We'll work on that in a minute, 245 00:10:37,771 --> 00:10:39,903 but we have to take this step by step, okay? 246 00:10:39,906 --> 00:10:41,171 You know, lessons are hard-learned. 247 00:10:41,174 --> 00:10:42,772 And I'd rather give her this lesson 248 00:10:42,775 --> 00:10:43,974 than go call her parents and say, 249 00:10:43,977 --> 00:10:46,043 "look, she's been killed in a boat accident." 250 00:10:52,052 --> 00:10:54,250 Narrator: Back near San Antonio, 251 00:10:54,253 --> 00:10:55,652 williford and satsky 252 00:10:55,655 --> 00:10:58,789 wait for the sign to move in. 253 00:10:58,792 --> 00:11:01,225 Is he getting the money? 254 00:11:03,196 --> 00:11:04,728 We're good? 255 00:11:04,731 --> 00:11:08,465 He's counting the money out now. Call John. 256 00:11:08,468 --> 00:11:10,200 Come up. 257 00:11:21,281 --> 00:11:23,480 ♪♪ 258 00:11:23,483 --> 00:11:24,682 We've got some u.C. Guys 259 00:11:24,685 --> 00:11:26,417 that they're gonna hook up with the fellow 260 00:11:26,420 --> 00:11:28,752 that's selling an alligator hide. 261 00:11:28,755 --> 00:11:31,354 He's counting the money out now. Call John. 262 00:11:31,357 --> 00:11:32,956 [ Cellphone rings ] 263 00:11:32,959 --> 00:11:35,692 Come up. 264 00:11:35,695 --> 00:11:37,628 State game warden. 265 00:11:37,631 --> 00:11:38,962 Narrator: In San Antonio, 266 00:11:38,965 --> 00:11:40,897 the criminal investigation team 267 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:42,632 confronts the seller to determine 268 00:11:42,635 --> 00:11:44,368 if everything's on the up and up. 269 00:11:44,371 --> 00:11:45,869 So you just sold them alligator hide? 270 00:11:45,872 --> 00:11:47,971 Yes, sir. 271 00:11:47,974 --> 00:11:49,439 Actually, yes. 272 00:11:49,442 --> 00:11:51,375 I did alligator nuisance control for the state of Texas 273 00:11:51,378 --> 00:11:53,243 for six years. 274 00:11:53,246 --> 00:11:55,111 Narrator: Licensed nuisance control agents 275 00:11:55,114 --> 00:11:58,715 are allowed to kill alligators that present a threat to humans, 276 00:11:58,718 --> 00:12:02,052 but the hides must be tagged with a special permit. 277 00:12:02,055 --> 00:12:04,088 Think you can grab that hide out of there for... 278 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:07,724 You can't have those things 279 00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:08,992 unless you've had permission to have these. 280 00:12:08,995 --> 00:12:11,662 That's what I'm gonna have you show me. 281 00:12:11,665 --> 00:12:13,663 Well, I don't actually have the old... 282 00:12:13,666 --> 00:12:14,998 See, I haven't... 283 00:12:15,001 --> 00:12:16,734 I haven't done an alligator nuisance call in years. 284 00:12:16,737 --> 00:12:19,336 Yes, sir. - Okay. 285 00:12:19,339 --> 00:12:20,470 He knew he was supposed to have permits. 286 00:12:20,473 --> 00:12:21,805 Didn't have the permits. 287 00:12:21,808 --> 00:12:23,673 Narrator: Without the permit, there's no way 288 00:12:23,676 --> 00:12:26,342 to confirm whether the hide was obtained legally. 289 00:12:26,345 --> 00:12:28,145 You don't have anything to show to us right now, though, 290 00:12:28,148 --> 00:12:30,413 that... that can prove that you have lawful ownership of it. 291 00:12:30,416 --> 00:12:33,083 No, sir. 292 00:12:33,086 --> 00:12:36,553 Roland, run his d.L. And stuff, just to find out who he is, 293 00:12:36,556 --> 00:12:40,824 confirm who he is and check that out for me, please. 294 00:12:40,827 --> 00:12:42,559 Would you, uh, run someone for me? 295 00:12:42,562 --> 00:12:46,029 Uh, first name David. 296 00:12:46,032 --> 00:12:50,366 Narrator: While one buy bust operation wraps up, 297 00:12:50,369 --> 00:12:53,170 another one unfolds 140 miles south 298 00:12:53,173 --> 00:12:56,640 in the port city of corpus christi. 299 00:12:56,643 --> 00:12:58,908 Right now, Carmen's at the location 300 00:12:58,911 --> 00:13:01,111 just waiting for the seller to show up. 301 00:13:01,114 --> 00:13:03,179 She's trying to get an idea of who's there. 302 00:13:03,182 --> 00:13:05,448 Narrator: Texas game warden Jimmy Lindsey 303 00:13:05,451 --> 00:13:07,450 and an undercover agent target a man 304 00:13:07,453 --> 00:13:09,386 selling alligator snapping turtles 305 00:13:09,389 --> 00:13:12,455 as pets for $100 a piece. 306 00:13:12,458 --> 00:13:13,924 These people are going out, 307 00:13:13,927 --> 00:13:15,725 taking them from their natural environment, 308 00:13:15,728 --> 00:13:17,127 and making a profit from them. 309 00:13:17,130 --> 00:13:19,796 That's depleting the population of different types 310 00:13:19,799 --> 00:13:21,798 of endangered species out there, threatened species. 311 00:13:21,801 --> 00:13:23,466 So we gotta put an end to this. 312 00:13:23,469 --> 00:13:25,335 Narrator: Alligator snapping turtles are 313 00:13:25,338 --> 00:13:27,537 a protected species in Texas. 314 00:13:27,540 --> 00:13:29,205 And selling them is against the law, 315 00:13:29,208 --> 00:13:32,676 punishable by fines of up to $400 for each turtle. 316 00:13:40,887 --> 00:13:42,219 You never know who you're gonna come 317 00:13:42,222 --> 00:13:43,687 in contact with these sales. 318 00:13:43,690 --> 00:13:45,022 The guy might see, uh, 319 00:13:45,025 --> 00:13:47,223 an officer show up and decide to run. 320 00:13:47,226 --> 00:13:48,926 You always wanna be cautious. 321 00:13:56,970 --> 00:13:59,636 Narrator: The seller arrives with four small turtles 322 00:13:59,639 --> 00:14:01,038 in a plastic bin. 323 00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:08,245 All right. Wow. 324 00:14:08,248 --> 00:14:12,216 Narrator: The exchange of money is Lindsey's cue to move in. 325 00:14:17,123 --> 00:14:19,122 What do y'all got going on? 326 00:14:19,125 --> 00:14:20,524 I'm with the... i'm... [ Speaks indistinctly ] 327 00:14:20,527 --> 00:14:22,326 You're what? 328 00:14:22,329 --> 00:14:23,460 You're adopting them? 329 00:14:23,463 --> 00:14:25,395 - Mm-hmm. - No, you're not. 330 00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:29,933 Narrator: Back in San Antonio, 331 00:14:29,936 --> 00:14:34,004 the seller's background check turns up no violations, 332 00:14:34,007 --> 00:14:37,207 but it's still not clear whether the gator hide is legal. 333 00:14:37,210 --> 00:14:38,475 He's good on his d.L. 334 00:14:38,478 --> 00:14:39,609 What do you wanna do with this? 335 00:14:39,612 --> 00:14:41,611 We're gonna hang onto this right now, 336 00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:43,279 and we're gonna take that money back from him. 337 00:14:43,282 --> 00:14:45,949 Yeah. And this is coming as evidence. 338 00:14:45,952 --> 00:14:47,417 What we're gonna do with this, 339 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:49,018 until we can find out the disposition of it, 340 00:14:49,021 --> 00:14:51,154 basically, if you can lawfully possess it, 341 00:14:51,157 --> 00:14:53,623 we're gonna seize it as evidence in our ongoing investigation. 342 00:14:53,626 --> 00:14:55,692 He's gonna get your information and contact you. 343 00:14:55,695 --> 00:14:57,894 He's gonna have it. It's not a misunderstanding. 344 00:14:57,897 --> 00:14:59,830 We're game wardens. This is what we do. 345 00:14:59,833 --> 00:15:03,700 Oh. We need to get our money back. 346 00:15:03,703 --> 00:15:07,237 He was an interesting fellow. 347 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:09,906 But we'll, uh, we'll do a little digging on his story. 348 00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:12,642 Better to be safe than sorry. 349 00:15:12,645 --> 00:15:14,311 Narrator: Williford and satsky hightail it 350 00:15:14,314 --> 00:15:18,582 to their next operation in Austin, 85 miles away. 351 00:15:18,585 --> 00:15:20,249 They've arranged to buy a python, 352 00:15:20,252 --> 00:15:22,119 which is a restricted species. 353 00:15:22,122 --> 00:15:23,720 Usually in these situations, it's unlikely 354 00:15:23,723 --> 00:15:25,789 that they have the required permits. 355 00:15:25,792 --> 00:15:27,323 I don't even know how big a snake it's gonna be, 356 00:15:27,326 --> 00:15:29,559 but some of them get pretty big. 357 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:35,198 Narrator: Back down in corpus christi, 358 00:15:35,201 --> 00:15:37,333 the seller of the alligator snapping turtles 359 00:15:37,336 --> 00:15:39,002 is caught red-handed. 360 00:15:39,005 --> 00:15:40,670 As soon as he sees the marked unit, 361 00:15:40,673 --> 00:15:42,072 he's already heated. 362 00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:43,606 He... he knows he's in the wrong, 363 00:15:43,609 --> 00:15:45,408 but he's gonna claim that he's in the right. 364 00:15:45,411 --> 00:15:46,410 Where did you get the turtles from? 365 00:15:46,413 --> 00:15:48,011 - South Carolina. - South Carolina? 366 00:15:48,014 --> 00:15:49,212 - Yes. - You got a permit for 'em? 367 00:15:49,215 --> 00:15:50,546 I don't have to have a permit for 'em. 368 00:15:50,549 --> 00:15:51,548 - Yeah, you do. Yeah, you do. - No, I don't. 369 00:15:51,551 --> 00:15:52,616 - You got an I.D. On you? - Yes, sir. 370 00:15:52,619 --> 00:15:53,617 Let me see it. 371 00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:54,751 I don't have to have a permit for them. 372 00:15:54,754 --> 00:15:55,819 You're allowed to keep these turtles 373 00:15:55,822 --> 00:15:57,154 in south Texas, sir. - No, you're not. 374 00:15:57,157 --> 00:15:58,755 - Yes, you are, sir. - Let me see your I.D. 375 00:15:58,758 --> 00:16:00,156 Here you go. 376 00:16:00,159 --> 00:16:02,025 I already... I already... I'm covered for everything, sir. 377 00:16:02,028 --> 00:16:03,360 I already knew this was gonna happen. 378 00:16:03,363 --> 00:16:04,560 That's why I already told... 379 00:16:04,563 --> 00:16:05,695 The way that this was gonna work out... 380 00:16:05,698 --> 00:16:06,697 Sir, you were... You were selling them. 381 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:08,699 I... no. I'm adopting them out. 382 00:16:08,702 --> 00:16:11,768 And I wanted my money back that I've been caring for them. 383 00:16:11,771 --> 00:16:13,369 That's the way it's gonna go. 384 00:16:13,372 --> 00:16:15,171 You're just digging a hole, brother. 385 00:16:15,174 --> 00:16:16,773 Keep your hands out of your pocket. 386 00:16:16,776 --> 00:16:19,309 - I'm calling my attorney. - Call your attorney. 387 00:16:19,312 --> 00:16:22,178 - I'm calling my attorney. - How you doing? 388 00:16:22,181 --> 00:16:25,115 This is Jimmy, 8307. 389 00:16:25,118 --> 00:16:27,184 Hey. Can you run a 27 check for me? 390 00:16:29,789 --> 00:16:33,390 Narrator: 250 miles northeast on the coast, 391 00:16:33,393 --> 00:16:35,926 in the port city of galveston, 392 00:16:35,929 --> 00:16:38,462 Texas game wardens Jennifer provaznik, 393 00:16:38,465 --> 00:16:40,197 Mac chambers, and Travis fountain 394 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,799 work a busy beat. 395 00:16:42,802 --> 00:16:45,202 Read the name of that boat for me. 396 00:16:45,205 --> 00:16:47,204 Johnson, Johanna? 397 00:16:47,207 --> 00:16:48,671 - Santana. - Santana. 398 00:16:48,674 --> 00:16:51,141 Okay. That's, uh, that's our boat. 399 00:16:51,144 --> 00:16:53,276 I say let's head over and try to check everybody coming off. 400 00:16:53,279 --> 00:16:54,544 Sounds good. 401 00:16:54,547 --> 00:16:56,813 Galveston's a very touristy area 402 00:16:56,816 --> 00:16:59,616 that you can come out here and fish and swim and surf. 403 00:16:59,619 --> 00:17:01,751 Everybody loves to come to the beach. 404 00:17:01,754 --> 00:17:03,353 I'm ready for some red snapper. 405 00:17:03,356 --> 00:17:04,687 All right. Let's rock. 406 00:17:04,690 --> 00:17:06,222 There's a good chance in galveston 407 00:17:06,225 --> 00:17:07,957 if you come down here and you have a fish, 408 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,293 you have a crab, you have an oyster, 409 00:17:10,296 --> 00:17:11,694 or you're even at the beach, 410 00:17:11,697 --> 00:17:13,696 there's a good chance that I'm gonna come around 411 00:17:13,699 --> 00:17:15,165 and I'm gonna check you. 412 00:17:15,168 --> 00:17:17,533 Narrator: The trio of wardens will check every one 413 00:17:17,536 --> 00:17:21,104 of the recreational fishermen on the large charter boat. 414 00:17:21,107 --> 00:17:25,042 They're looking for licenses and a limit of four red snapper. 415 00:17:25,045 --> 00:17:26,909 If everybody could just go ahead 416 00:17:26,912 --> 00:17:29,379 and get their fishing license out for me? 417 00:17:29,382 --> 00:17:31,648 It's a lot easier to work in teams around here 418 00:17:31,651 --> 00:17:33,316 because there's a lot of people. 419 00:17:33,319 --> 00:17:35,819 Sometimes we check 150 people at one time. 420 00:17:37,724 --> 00:17:40,056 I'm Jennifer. 421 00:17:40,059 --> 00:17:41,257 No. [ Laughs ] 422 00:17:41,260 --> 00:17:44,594 You the captain? No? 423 00:17:44,597 --> 00:17:46,263 - Just a passenger. - Just a passenger. 424 00:17:53,073 --> 00:17:54,270 Narrator: Provaznik has worked with 425 00:17:54,273 --> 00:17:56,006 veteran game warden chambers 426 00:17:56,009 --> 00:17:59,342 since she graduated from the academy two years ago. 427 00:17:59,345 --> 00:18:03,746 Jennifer is bubbly, to say the least. 428 00:18:03,749 --> 00:18:06,883 She does not hold much back, which is a good thing. 429 00:18:06,886 --> 00:18:09,419 And also sometimes it may get her in trouble, 430 00:18:09,422 --> 00:18:10,620 which doesn't bother her. 431 00:18:10,623 --> 00:18:11,621 You're good. He's good. 432 00:18:11,624 --> 00:18:13,489 You're good. 433 00:18:13,492 --> 00:18:15,024 Thanks, man. 434 00:18:15,027 --> 00:18:16,559 Mac is not only our mentor. 435 00:18:16,562 --> 00:18:18,895 He's our leader of this little trifecta. 436 00:18:18,898 --> 00:18:21,498 And he knows just about everything. 437 00:18:21,501 --> 00:18:25,835 But you don't have a driver's license or anything? 438 00:18:25,838 --> 00:18:27,136 You ain't wanted, are you? 439 00:18:27,139 --> 00:18:28,572 No murders and all that good stuff? 440 00:18:28,575 --> 00:18:30,373 - Oh, my lord. - Yeah. 441 00:18:30,376 --> 00:18:33,843 Yeah, yeah, yeah. There you go. 442 00:18:33,846 --> 00:18:35,278 How many... how many you got without license? 443 00:18:35,281 --> 00:18:38,315 Three... four. 444 00:18:38,318 --> 00:18:40,517 Narrator: Game warden fountain was in the same class 445 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:42,986 as provaznik at the academy. 446 00:18:42,989 --> 00:18:45,722 The three of us together work somehow in a weird way. 447 00:18:45,725 --> 00:18:47,457 Our personalities are completely different. 448 00:18:47,460 --> 00:18:50,660 But when you put us together, we mesh very well. 449 00:18:50,663 --> 00:18:53,196 Five people don't have license, so go ahead and grab your fish 450 00:18:53,199 --> 00:18:56,266 and then come back and holler at us. Okay? 451 00:18:56,269 --> 00:18:58,201 Narrator: After writing the unlicensed fishermen 452 00:18:58,204 --> 00:19:00,537 $150 tickets, 453 00:19:00,540 --> 00:19:02,738 the trio jumps in their trucks and heads 454 00:19:02,741 --> 00:19:04,474 to the next pier. 455 00:19:07,346 --> 00:19:11,615 Hey. Right where the nesting turtles are. 456 00:19:11,618 --> 00:19:13,350 Great. 457 00:19:13,353 --> 00:19:14,351 Just got a call 458 00:19:14,354 --> 00:19:16,819 that there has been a pipeline busted 459 00:19:16,822 --> 00:19:19,622 and it is spilling oil all over the beach. 460 00:19:19,625 --> 00:19:21,157 In that particular area, 461 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,893 we do have a lot of nesting sea turtles. 462 00:19:23,896 --> 00:19:25,762 Narrator: There are thousands of oil pipelines 463 00:19:25,765 --> 00:19:27,097 under galveston bay. 464 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:30,099 And leaks are a constant concern. 465 00:19:30,102 --> 00:19:32,502 The beach is only accessible by ferry, 466 00:19:32,505 --> 00:19:34,704 so they race to the ferry dock. 467 00:19:34,707 --> 00:19:37,173 Travis, can you ring me on five? 468 00:19:37,176 --> 00:19:39,509 - Go ahead. - Is the ferry there yet? 469 00:19:48,054 --> 00:19:49,018 Crap. 470 00:19:49,021 --> 00:19:50,387 The main challenge is this ferry. 471 00:19:50,390 --> 00:19:53,122 It only comes by every 15 to 30 minutes. 472 00:19:53,125 --> 00:19:55,325 And if you miss it, you gotta wait a long time 473 00:19:55,328 --> 00:19:57,527 because it's already gonna take you a 30 minute 474 00:19:57,530 --> 00:20:01,731 to 45 minute travel over. 475 00:20:01,734 --> 00:20:04,734 I need to get on this ferry, please. 476 00:20:04,737 --> 00:20:08,071 Thank you. 477 00:20:08,074 --> 00:20:09,673 Narrator: All the game wardens can do now 478 00:20:09,676 --> 00:20:12,542 is wait and hope the damage isn't severe. 479 00:20:12,545 --> 00:20:15,812 The possibly of a contamination to the animal population, 480 00:20:15,815 --> 00:20:17,747 it could be devastating. 481 00:20:17,750 --> 00:20:20,016 [ Bird caws ] 482 00:20:20,019 --> 00:20:25,087 Narrator: Back down south... 483 00:20:25,090 --> 00:20:27,157 [Bleep] All you mother [bleep]. 484 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,492 [Bleep] [Bleep] You're a [bleep] [Bleep]. 485 00:20:29,495 --> 00:20:32,162 Narrator: Game warden Lindsey calls for back up. 486 00:20:32,165 --> 00:20:35,298 In the meantime, he's gotta get the turtle seller under control. 487 00:20:35,301 --> 00:20:37,300 - Okay, dude. Calm down. - No, dude. 488 00:20:37,303 --> 00:20:38,434 You're trying to set up a sting on me. 489 00:20:38,437 --> 00:20:39,635 No. Hey. 490 00:20:39,638 --> 00:20:41,104 There's nothing even [Bleep] going on, dude. 491 00:20:41,107 --> 00:20:42,706 Hey. Calm down. I'm talking to you right here in this... 492 00:20:42,709 --> 00:20:43,840 You are blowing this [Bleep] out of proportion. 493 00:20:43,843 --> 00:20:45,175 No, you are blowing this out of proportion. 494 00:20:45,178 --> 00:20:46,509 No, you are! You're looking at a ticket. 495 00:20:46,512 --> 00:20:47,777 You're not going to jail. 496 00:20:47,780 --> 00:20:49,111 - Give me the ticket, man. - Okay. 497 00:20:49,114 --> 00:20:50,380 Well, look. This is what we're doing. 498 00:20:50,383 --> 00:20:52,248 - I'm gonna fight it. - Just calm down, okay? 499 00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:53,583 You got your kids right there, okay? 500 00:20:53,586 --> 00:20:55,118 I'm being straight with you right now, okay? 501 00:20:55,121 --> 00:20:56,719 I need you to be straight with me. 502 00:20:56,722 --> 00:20:57,787 - Sure. - You don't need to be cussin' 503 00:20:57,790 --> 00:20:59,655 like that to my officer over there. 504 00:20:59,658 --> 00:21:01,424 You don't need to be doing that. 505 00:21:04,063 --> 00:21:06,062 As an officer, you've gotta be one step above. 506 00:21:06,065 --> 00:21:08,064 So if he... If he's bringing up the tempo, 507 00:21:08,067 --> 00:21:09,466 you've gotta bring up the tempo. 508 00:21:09,469 --> 00:21:12,268 If he was to push myself or the other officer, 509 00:21:12,271 --> 00:21:13,603 he was going to jail. 510 00:21:13,606 --> 00:21:15,338 Narrator: The man receives a ticket. 511 00:21:15,341 --> 00:21:18,541 He's facing fines of up to $1,600. 512 00:21:18,544 --> 00:21:20,476 These were from south Carolina. 513 00:21:20,479 --> 00:21:22,245 You can tell the judge, partner. 514 00:21:28,887 --> 00:21:30,886 Narrator: 200 miles north in the outskirts 515 00:21:30,889 --> 00:21:33,222 of the capital city of Austin, 516 00:21:33,225 --> 00:21:35,424 game wardens williford and satsky arrive 517 00:21:35,427 --> 00:21:38,894 for the final buy bust operation. 518 00:21:38,897 --> 00:21:41,163 Undercover game wardens are already in place 519 00:21:41,166 --> 00:21:42,832 to buy a python. 520 00:21:42,835 --> 00:21:43,900 Not a big snake fan. 521 00:21:43,903 --> 00:21:46,636 But, uh, we are here to protect 'em. 522 00:21:52,178 --> 00:21:53,977 What I heard was we have a volunteer 523 00:21:53,980 --> 00:21:56,446 to handle this large... Large python. 524 00:21:56,449 --> 00:21:58,114 That's what you're taking from what I'm saying? 525 00:21:58,117 --> 00:21:59,849 - That's what... Yes. You know. - Yeah. 526 00:21:59,852 --> 00:22:03,253 Narrator: Reticulated pythons are native to Southeast Asia 527 00:22:03,256 --> 00:22:04,920 and can become an invasive species 528 00:22:04,923 --> 00:22:07,723 if they escape into the Texas wild. 529 00:22:07,726 --> 00:22:09,792 There are strict laws limiting their ownership 530 00:22:09,795 --> 00:22:12,995 and sale to prevent this from happening. 531 00:22:12,998 --> 00:22:15,598 More traffic on the, uh, toll road today than I anticipated. 532 00:22:15,601 --> 00:22:18,134 Yeah. Me, too. 533 00:22:18,137 --> 00:22:20,269 Narrator: Williford calls his undercover agent 534 00:22:20,272 --> 00:22:21,871 to let her know they're running late. 535 00:22:21,874 --> 00:22:25,208 We're getting close to i-35, I think. So... 536 00:22:25,211 --> 00:22:26,876 I hope. 537 00:22:26,879 --> 00:22:30,680 Narrator: The call is cut short when the seller arrives early. 538 00:22:30,683 --> 00:22:32,081 They're already meeting with the violator. 539 00:22:32,084 --> 00:22:35,552 I don't like not having eyes on 'em, though. 540 00:22:35,555 --> 00:22:37,354 Better hurry, dude. 541 00:22:45,665 --> 00:22:48,565 ♪♪ 542 00:22:50,670 --> 00:22:52,602 They're already meeting with the violator. 543 00:22:52,605 --> 00:22:54,470 I don't like not having eyes on 'em, though. 544 00:22:54,473 --> 00:22:56,473 Better hurry, dude. 545 00:22:56,476 --> 00:22:59,275 Narrator: In Austin, Texas game wardens williford and satsky 546 00:22:59,278 --> 00:23:03,212 race to an undercover operation that's already going down. 547 00:23:03,215 --> 00:23:05,348 Okay. They're just now looking at it. 548 00:23:05,351 --> 00:23:07,016 Damn it. 549 00:23:07,019 --> 00:23:08,951 All right, if I take this loop, do you think I can get there? 550 00:23:08,954 --> 00:23:10,019 Yeah, I think you... 551 00:23:10,022 --> 00:23:12,088 You should be able to get on service road. 552 00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:22,699 Narrator: The team needs to stop the sellers before they leave. 553 00:23:22,702 --> 00:23:24,567 They're over there. 554 00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:26,202 Oh, I see 'em. 555 00:23:33,179 --> 00:23:36,980 State game warden. Just need to visit with you a little bit. 556 00:23:36,983 --> 00:23:38,848 You got your permit? - Yes. 557 00:23:38,851 --> 00:23:40,716 Narrator: Selling a python without a permit 558 00:23:40,719 --> 00:23:43,653 is punishable by a $500 fine. 559 00:23:46,892 --> 00:23:49,058 You're good to go. 560 00:23:49,061 --> 00:23:51,594 Narrator: The seller's permit is valid. 561 00:23:51,597 --> 00:23:53,730 Out of about 20, I've seen 1. 562 00:23:53,733 --> 00:23:57,200 One good permit. 563 00:23:57,203 --> 00:23:59,469 Well, yeah. But you know how many people out there 564 00:23:59,472 --> 00:24:02,204 in the industry that don't care about them. 565 00:24:02,207 --> 00:24:04,407 It's refreshing that somebody does it right. 566 00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:07,676 I love to be surprised in a positive way. 567 00:24:07,679 --> 00:24:09,479 People who are selling these animals illegally 568 00:24:09,482 --> 00:24:10,746 are just endangering our hobby. 569 00:24:10,749 --> 00:24:12,749 Our hobby is under fire enough as it is, 570 00:24:12,752 --> 00:24:14,817 and the people that are doing this illegally 571 00:24:14,820 --> 00:24:17,019 are just hurting us and the animals. 572 00:24:17,022 --> 00:24:19,288 Narrator: The couple returns the money 573 00:24:19,291 --> 00:24:21,024 and takes back their snake. 574 00:24:24,630 --> 00:24:25,962 Narrator: The couple is advised 575 00:24:25,965 --> 00:24:27,564 to mention their permit in their next ad 576 00:24:27,567 --> 00:24:30,567 to avoid being targeted by the game wardens. 577 00:24:30,570 --> 00:24:33,035 Have a great day, guys. 578 00:24:33,038 --> 00:24:33,970 There's a direct impact. 579 00:24:33,973 --> 00:24:35,304 You can see it, uh, 580 00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:37,040 when you start working these types of operations. 581 00:24:37,043 --> 00:24:38,708 And if we weren't doing it, 582 00:24:38,711 --> 00:24:40,310 those types of illegal transactions 583 00:24:40,313 --> 00:24:41,978 would go unchecked. 584 00:24:45,918 --> 00:24:48,651 Narrator: Back near galveston, game wardens provaznik, 585 00:24:48,654 --> 00:24:51,053 fountain, and chambers arrive at crystal beach, 586 00:24:51,056 --> 00:24:53,056 the site of the oil spill. 587 00:24:53,059 --> 00:24:56,592 Here in galveston, we do have a lot of oil 588 00:24:56,595 --> 00:24:58,861 being transferred or shipped. 589 00:24:58,864 --> 00:25:01,464 Uh, we also have a lot of pipelines. 590 00:25:01,467 --> 00:25:05,801 If the Wells become weak or just wear and tear over the years, 591 00:25:05,804 --> 00:25:08,037 it creates oil spills. 592 00:25:12,144 --> 00:25:13,843 I could smell it. 593 00:25:22,755 --> 00:25:25,555 We can probably see it up there some more. 594 00:25:25,558 --> 00:25:27,823 Narrator: The game wardens look for affected wildlife 595 00:25:27,826 --> 00:25:29,092 while waiting for the coast guard 596 00:25:29,095 --> 00:25:31,494 to assess the clean up situation. 597 00:25:31,497 --> 00:25:33,763 We're concerned about shore birds 598 00:25:33,766 --> 00:25:35,631 and the, uh, sea turtles. 599 00:25:35,634 --> 00:25:38,300 It's definitely gonna be worse underneath the sand. 600 00:25:38,303 --> 00:25:40,102 Narrator: The oil is seeping to the surface 601 00:25:40,105 --> 00:25:43,306 from a pipe buried under the beach. 602 00:25:43,309 --> 00:25:44,707 Holy cra... 603 00:25:44,710 --> 00:25:46,175 I know that oil is in the sand. 604 00:25:46,178 --> 00:25:49,111 When I do this, you can see the oil already come up. 605 00:25:49,114 --> 00:25:51,847 When turtles come to nest, uh, they'll come on the beach 606 00:25:51,850 --> 00:25:53,950 and they'll dig into the sand to lay their eggs 607 00:25:53,953 --> 00:25:55,184 and then cover it back up. 608 00:25:55,187 --> 00:25:57,587 So if the oil is inside the sand, 609 00:25:57,590 --> 00:25:59,254 it's gonna be affecting the eggs 610 00:25:59,257 --> 00:26:01,324 'cause they dig down deep. 611 00:26:01,327 --> 00:26:02,458 And so the deeper it is, 612 00:26:02,461 --> 00:26:04,394 the more oil there's going to be. 613 00:26:04,397 --> 00:26:06,128 Narrator: The coast guard briefs the game wardens 614 00:26:06,131 --> 00:26:07,297 on the clean up plans. 615 00:26:07,300 --> 00:26:09,799 We'll have stakes to catch anything 616 00:26:09,802 --> 00:26:11,734 that's bein' drawn back out tidally. 617 00:26:11,737 --> 00:26:13,802 Okay. 618 00:26:13,805 --> 00:26:17,473 Gonna start digging 6-inch wide trench, 619 00:26:17,476 --> 00:26:20,676 soaking it up as they go until they can basically find out 620 00:26:20,679 --> 00:26:23,279 where exactly it's spilling from. 621 00:26:23,282 --> 00:26:25,014 They want us here in the morning as well, 622 00:26:25,017 --> 00:26:27,950 the coast guard, to make sure that there's no wildlife 623 00:26:27,953 --> 00:26:30,152 or, uh, vegetation damage. 624 00:26:30,155 --> 00:26:31,687 The goal for tomorrow is to make sure 625 00:26:31,690 --> 00:26:33,489 they don't come across any sea turtle nests 626 00:26:33,492 --> 00:26:34,757 or eggs and make sure 627 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,492 there's no injured seabirds, especially the... 628 00:26:36,495 --> 00:26:40,095 The plovers are especially nesting right now. 629 00:26:40,098 --> 00:26:41,430 Narrator: The game wardens will return 630 00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:43,966 first thing in the morning to lead a rescue operation 631 00:26:43,969 --> 00:26:45,901 if any wildlife is threatened. 632 00:26:45,904 --> 00:26:48,371 Jennifer: Seems like tomorrow's gonna be a fun day. 633 00:26:48,374 --> 00:26:50,840 Narrator: But the team's day isn't over. 634 00:26:50,843 --> 00:26:52,108 They'll spend the rest of their shift 635 00:26:52,111 --> 00:26:55,645 patrolling beaches in the area. 636 00:26:55,648 --> 00:27:00,583 175 miles north outside the small town of Jasper, 637 00:27:00,586 --> 00:27:03,786 game warden Powell sets up for a special operation 638 00:27:03,789 --> 00:27:05,788 to catch night poachers. 639 00:27:05,791 --> 00:27:09,859 It looks more real the further you get away from it. 640 00:27:09,862 --> 00:27:11,928 You know, we spend a lot of time 641 00:27:11,931 --> 00:27:13,929 in the woods tracking and trailing. 642 00:27:13,932 --> 00:27:16,065 Just not animals. It's humans. 643 00:27:16,068 --> 00:27:18,067 And they're breaking the law. 644 00:27:18,070 --> 00:27:19,802 Narrator: Deer season is months away. 645 00:27:19,805 --> 00:27:21,870 So anyone who takes a shot at the decoy 646 00:27:21,873 --> 00:27:25,408 is facing serious fines and possible jail time. 647 00:27:25,411 --> 00:27:27,477 - You ready? - Yep. 648 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,847 Narrator: Powell's joined by Texas game warden Sam Smith. 649 00:27:34,753 --> 00:27:37,019 This very road is where we get complaints. 650 00:27:37,022 --> 00:27:39,621 Whether they're doing it to eat the meat or sell the meat 651 00:27:39,624 --> 00:27:43,760 or for the sport, it goes on, and that's why we're here. 652 00:27:43,763 --> 00:27:45,360 Narrator: With their mechanical deer decoy 653 00:27:45,363 --> 00:27:50,099 in place near the road, the stakeout begins. 654 00:27:50,102 --> 00:27:52,035 A lot of times they'll spotlight a deer, and they'll shoot it, 655 00:27:52,038 --> 00:27:53,635 and they'll drive off immediately. 656 00:27:53,638 --> 00:27:57,106 So we'll have to get out there pretty fast and stop 'em. 657 00:27:57,109 --> 00:27:59,374 Narrator: Powell watches from his truck 658 00:27:59,377 --> 00:28:01,377 while Smith keeps a close eye 659 00:28:01,380 --> 00:28:05,248 on the decoy from just across the road. 660 00:28:05,251 --> 00:28:08,117 If hunters driving by give in to temptation, 661 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:11,520 the game wardens will catch them in the act. 662 00:28:11,523 --> 00:28:13,189 It's a waiting game now. 663 00:28:18,931 --> 00:28:21,063 Not everybody's huntin' there. 664 00:28:21,066 --> 00:28:23,866 Going to and from and carrying on about their way. 665 00:28:28,540 --> 00:28:30,379 They're turning around. They're turning around. 666 00:28:42,020 --> 00:28:43,786 They're thinking about it. 667 00:28:47,292 --> 00:28:49,925 Narrator: Back on the coast, game wardens chambers, 668 00:28:49,928 --> 00:28:53,362 provaznik, and fountain patrol the beach and boat landings. 669 00:28:53,365 --> 00:28:56,165 We're gonna go down to the, uh, end of the dike area. 670 00:28:56,168 --> 00:28:57,699 There's some recreational boats. 671 00:28:57,702 --> 00:28:59,702 So, uh, this is a-a prime time. 672 00:28:59,705 --> 00:29:00,970 We'll just make sure they're doing things 673 00:29:00,973 --> 00:29:02,371 in a legal way. 674 00:29:02,374 --> 00:29:05,040 Sometimes they think, "hey, the game wardens are going in. 675 00:29:05,043 --> 00:29:06,508 Uh, it's nighttime now." 676 00:29:06,511 --> 00:29:09,111 I like to work this... This time of the day, um, 677 00:29:09,114 --> 00:29:12,115 because you never know what you'll find. 678 00:29:12,118 --> 00:29:13,516 [ Woman speaks indistinctly] On radio ] 679 00:29:13,519 --> 00:29:14,650 What time is sunset? 680 00:29:14,653 --> 00:29:16,385 Uh-oh. We got him on one. 681 00:29:16,388 --> 00:29:18,387 Is that a jet ski in the water? 682 00:29:18,390 --> 00:29:19,789 Narrator: All personal watercraft 683 00:29:19,792 --> 00:29:22,325 are supposed to be off the water at sunset. 684 00:29:22,328 --> 00:29:24,994 [ Woman on radio ] For galveston, it's 8:23. 685 00:29:24,997 --> 00:29:27,730 15, you got a jet ski out there? 686 00:29:27,733 --> 00:29:31,200 Oh, I sure do. And he is cuttin' a rug. 687 00:29:31,203 --> 00:29:32,869 Narrator: Operating a jet ski after dark 688 00:29:32,872 --> 00:29:34,470 is extremely dangerous. 689 00:29:34,473 --> 00:29:36,339 Most don't have headlights, 690 00:29:36,342 --> 00:29:39,408 and drivers can't see swimmers or other hazards in the water. 691 00:29:39,411 --> 00:29:41,076 Is he endangering anybody? 692 00:29:41,079 --> 00:29:42,278 Jennifer: Oh, yeah. There's a bunch of children 693 00:29:42,281 --> 00:29:43,479 in the water. 694 00:29:43,482 --> 00:29:45,348 All right. When he comes in, you jump on him. 695 00:29:50,689 --> 00:29:52,288 Get over here! 696 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:04,166 15, you got a jet ski out there? 697 00:30:04,169 --> 00:30:07,836 Oh, I sure do. And he is cuttin' a rug. 698 00:30:07,839 --> 00:30:10,640 Narrator: Near galveston, game wardens spot a jet skier 699 00:30:10,643 --> 00:30:14,110 out on the water past legal time. 700 00:30:14,113 --> 00:30:15,311 - Come, pull it out. - Oh, okay. 701 00:30:15,314 --> 00:30:17,312 Do you know the rules and regulations 702 00:30:17,315 --> 00:30:18,914 of being on one of these? 703 00:30:18,917 --> 00:30:21,384 Yeah. 704 00:30:21,387 --> 00:30:23,652 You know what time you're supposed to be? 705 00:30:23,655 --> 00:30:26,856 Um, sun... sundown? Yeah. 706 00:30:26,859 --> 00:30:28,991 You know you were supposed to be off, like, 40 minutes ago, 707 00:30:28,994 --> 00:30:30,259 right? - Yeah. 708 00:30:30,262 --> 00:30:31,928 Let's go get your I.D., okay? 709 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,200 How old are you? 18? 710 00:30:38,203 --> 00:30:40,736 Have you ever received a citation from a game warden? 711 00:30:40,739 --> 00:30:42,405 Okay. 712 00:30:42,408 --> 00:30:44,073 It's almost 9:00. 713 00:30:44,076 --> 00:30:45,541 You can't have these things in the water. 714 00:30:45,544 --> 00:30:47,075 It's a... It's a big safety issue. 715 00:30:47,078 --> 00:30:50,146 Understand? - No, I-I totally understand. 716 00:30:50,149 --> 00:30:52,882 Man, we get some bad, bad accidents out here 717 00:30:52,885 --> 00:30:55,418 with individuals on these jet skis. 718 00:30:55,421 --> 00:30:58,487 You're being cited for operating a jet ski after sunset, okay? 719 00:30:58,490 --> 00:30:59,955 Sign here. It's not a plea of guilt. 720 00:30:59,958 --> 00:31:01,757 It's saying that you'll contact the judge. 721 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:04,360 No problem. 722 00:31:04,363 --> 00:31:05,761 All right. Well, y'all be careful going home. 723 00:31:05,764 --> 00:31:08,364 Okay. Y'all be careful. 724 00:31:08,367 --> 00:31:10,766 Narrator: The team's next stop is a nearby jetty, 725 00:31:10,769 --> 00:31:13,368 a popular spot for night fishing. 726 00:31:13,371 --> 00:31:16,171 Guys got a good speck, I saw. Did you keep him? 727 00:31:16,174 --> 00:31:18,174 Yes, ma'am. 728 00:31:18,177 --> 00:31:19,975 Oh, yeah. He's good. 729 00:31:19,978 --> 00:31:21,510 It's up to the game wardens to make sure 730 00:31:21,513 --> 00:31:25,114 that they abide by bag limits and possession limits. 731 00:31:25,117 --> 00:31:28,250 Narrator: Size and number limits keep the many species of fish 732 00:31:28,253 --> 00:31:30,586 in the Gulf from being depleted. 733 00:31:30,589 --> 00:31:32,388 How many sheepshead were in there? 734 00:31:32,391 --> 00:31:33,522 - Uh, four sheepshead. - Okay. 735 00:31:33,525 --> 00:31:35,725 - And three specks. - All right. 736 00:31:35,728 --> 00:31:37,193 Y'all have good luck, okay? 737 00:31:37,196 --> 00:31:38,593 Thank you. 738 00:31:38,596 --> 00:31:39,928 - Thank you. - Yep. 739 00:31:39,931 --> 00:31:41,664 Narrator: In the parking lot, game warden chambers 740 00:31:41,667 --> 00:31:43,199 spots a telltale sign 741 00:31:43,202 --> 00:31:44,600 that someone may be trying to sneak 742 00:31:44,603 --> 00:31:46,535 more than his fair share. 743 00:31:46,538 --> 00:31:50,339 Somebody got coolers stacked up in here. 744 00:31:50,342 --> 00:31:53,075 Lot of people like to conceal fish in their vehicles, 745 00:31:53,078 --> 00:31:55,411 and they'll keep a-a strangle out there. 746 00:31:55,414 --> 00:31:57,546 Um, so we gotta check everything. 747 00:31:57,549 --> 00:31:58,614 And as you can see, 748 00:31:58,617 --> 00:32:00,683 there's coolers stacked up in here. 749 00:32:00,686 --> 00:32:02,618 Narrator: The wardens are now on the lookout 750 00:32:02,621 --> 00:32:04,220 for the car's owner. 751 00:32:11,162 --> 00:32:13,095 Back in Jasper county... 752 00:32:13,098 --> 00:32:15,298 They're turnin' around. They're turnin' around. 753 00:32:15,301 --> 00:32:18,501 Narrator: A car slows right by the deer decoy. 754 00:32:20,706 --> 00:32:23,038 If the game wardens hear shots fired, 755 00:32:23,041 --> 00:32:25,241 they'll rush to apprehend the shooter. 756 00:32:25,244 --> 00:32:26,775 They're just sittin' in the middle of the highway. 757 00:32:26,778 --> 00:32:28,344 I mean, they could be loading a gun. 758 00:32:31,983 --> 00:32:34,250 Narrator: But the car drives off. 759 00:32:34,253 --> 00:32:37,420 Running a decoy, you just gotta be patient. 760 00:32:39,524 --> 00:32:42,924 Narrator: As the night wears on, wardens Powell and Smith 761 00:32:42,927 --> 00:32:45,061 keep a close eye on their deer decoy. 762 00:32:45,064 --> 00:32:48,497 You'll see the headlights long before you see the car. 763 00:32:53,939 --> 00:32:56,005 They're going slow. 764 00:33:05,350 --> 00:33:08,150 [ Gunshot ] - [ Bleep ] 765 00:33:08,153 --> 00:33:12,121 [ Siren wailing ] 766 00:33:17,496 --> 00:33:18,761 - Show your hands! - Driver, let me see your hands! 767 00:33:18,764 --> 00:33:20,196 Show me your hands! 768 00:33:26,605 --> 00:33:27,870 ♪♪ 769 00:33:27,873 --> 00:33:30,873 [ Gunshot ] - [ Bleep ] 770 00:33:30,876 --> 00:33:32,140 [ Siren wailing ] 771 00:33:32,143 --> 00:33:33,542 - Show your hands! - Driver, let me see your hands! 772 00:33:33,545 --> 00:33:34,943 Show your hands! 773 00:33:34,946 --> 00:33:37,680 Narrator: In east Texas, game wardens Powell and Smith 774 00:33:37,683 --> 00:33:40,616 stop suspects who fired at their deer decoy. 775 00:33:40,619 --> 00:33:43,285 Turn the car off. Come over here. 776 00:33:43,288 --> 00:33:44,954 Anybody else in the car? 777 00:33:44,957 --> 00:33:47,022 Okay. All right. 778 00:33:47,025 --> 00:33:48,957 We're gonna get off the road, okay, ma'am? 779 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,093 Okay. Go ahead and step out for me. 780 00:33:51,096 --> 00:33:52,494 Okay. 781 00:33:52,497 --> 00:33:53,895 I want you to stand in the side on that ditch over there. 782 00:33:53,898 --> 00:33:54,897 I don't want you to get run over, okay? 783 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:56,164 - Okay. - Okay. 784 00:33:56,167 --> 00:33:58,901 You don't have any guns on you? Okay. 785 00:33:58,904 --> 00:34:00,569 How many guns are in the vehicle? 786 00:34:02,641 --> 00:34:05,373 .22? Okay. 787 00:34:05,376 --> 00:34:09,644 We were sittin' right there watchin' y'all the whole time. 788 00:34:09,647 --> 00:34:12,180 You realize shooting off a road at night, 789 00:34:12,183 --> 00:34:14,716 so you can lose that gun? 790 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:16,185 No, I don't... I'm not talking illegal. 791 00:34:16,188 --> 00:34:18,587 I'm talking about the level of it being illegal. 792 00:34:18,590 --> 00:34:20,589 Narrator: Shooting from the road at night with a rifle 793 00:34:20,592 --> 00:34:22,658 is extremely dangerous. 794 00:34:22,661 --> 00:34:26,128 A missed shot in the dark could hit a house or a person. 795 00:34:26,131 --> 00:34:27,729 People are out here huntin', that's one thing. 796 00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:30,399 People out here road huntin', that's pretty serious. 797 00:34:30,402 --> 00:34:32,534 Narrator: The man is facing a $4,000 fine 798 00:34:32,537 --> 00:34:34,870 and possible jail time. 799 00:34:34,873 --> 00:34:36,538 Powell gathers additional evidence 800 00:34:36,541 --> 00:34:39,141 to help build his case. 801 00:34:39,144 --> 00:34:40,910 Yeah. Here it is. 802 00:34:47,952 --> 00:34:50,152 Narrator: Back on the coast, game warden fountain 803 00:34:50,155 --> 00:34:51,620 looks for evidence of people 804 00:34:51,623 --> 00:34:53,556 sneaking fish back to the parking lot 805 00:34:53,559 --> 00:34:55,558 to hide them from the wardens. 806 00:34:55,561 --> 00:34:57,359 No fish? No...[ Speaks indistinctly ] 807 00:35:03,768 --> 00:35:06,502 Whose bucket is this? 808 00:35:06,505 --> 00:35:07,836 Your bucket? 809 00:35:07,839 --> 00:35:09,771 Noticed when I looked inside the bucket, 810 00:35:09,774 --> 00:35:12,374 there was blood and slime. And it was all fresh. 811 00:35:12,377 --> 00:35:13,309 I knew it couldn't have been old. 812 00:35:13,312 --> 00:35:17,312 Okay. Where's the fish at? 813 00:35:17,315 --> 00:35:19,014 You threw them back? 814 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:22,784 Okay. 815 00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:23,986 I don't know why you'd just put them in a bucket 816 00:35:23,989 --> 00:35:25,453 and then throw it back. 817 00:35:25,456 --> 00:35:26,655 Narrator: Fountain suspects the bucket 818 00:35:26,658 --> 00:35:28,724 was to carry fish to a car. 819 00:35:28,727 --> 00:35:31,527 44-13.40-14. 820 00:35:31,530 --> 00:35:32,861 Man over radio: Go ahead. 821 00:35:32,864 --> 00:35:35,463 There's a bloody bucket over there with no fish. 822 00:35:35,466 --> 00:35:36,799 Narrator: Game warden fountain returns 823 00:35:36,802 --> 00:35:38,400 to the parking lot with the fishermen 824 00:35:38,403 --> 00:35:41,203 to see if there's any connection to the coolers found in the back 825 00:35:41,206 --> 00:35:43,071 of the s.U.V. 826 00:35:43,074 --> 00:35:45,113 All right. We're looking at a total of three people. 827 00:35:47,613 --> 00:35:50,479 Narrator: Back in Jasper county, game warden Powell 828 00:35:50,482 --> 00:35:53,481 locates a fresh bullet hole in the decoy. 829 00:35:53,484 --> 00:35:58,887 This is the exit wound from a .22 caliber hornet bullet. 830 00:35:58,890 --> 00:36:02,691 So it would've went right through there. 831 00:36:02,694 --> 00:36:04,493 The thing about this, 832 00:36:04,496 --> 00:36:06,495 that would not have been a fatal shot. 833 00:36:06,498 --> 00:36:07,897 It's in front of the shoulders. 834 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:10,165 He hit the brisket right here. 835 00:36:10,168 --> 00:36:13,903 That deer would've died, but he would've never found it. 836 00:36:13,906 --> 00:36:16,772 That deer would've ran half a mile to a mile 837 00:36:16,775 --> 00:36:18,707 before this deer died. 838 00:36:18,710 --> 00:36:20,309 Well, we got several ways we can handle this. 839 00:36:20,312 --> 00:36:22,578 You can go to Jasper county jail, 840 00:36:22,581 --> 00:36:23,979 or we can take care of this right here 841 00:36:23,982 --> 00:36:25,648 on the side of the road. 842 00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:30,686 Narrator: The man comes clean. 843 00:36:41,066 --> 00:36:42,865 So basically you leaned over the hood 844 00:36:42,868 --> 00:36:43,999 to shoot the... the deer. 845 00:36:44,002 --> 00:36:46,001 Gotcha. 846 00:36:46,004 --> 00:36:47,603 Well, I appreciate your honesty. 847 00:36:47,606 --> 00:36:48,937 It goes a little bit. 848 00:36:48,940 --> 00:36:52,608 Doesn't get you out of trouble. 849 00:36:52,611 --> 00:36:54,476 Narrator: Since it's the man's first offense 850 00:36:54,479 --> 00:36:57,947 and he cooperated, Powell goes easy on him. 851 00:36:57,950 --> 00:36:59,348 We cut him a big break. 852 00:36:59,351 --> 00:37:01,083 We wrote him class c violations, 853 00:37:01,086 --> 00:37:04,153 punishable by a $25 to $500 fine. 854 00:37:04,156 --> 00:37:07,022 Narrator: And they'll be taking the shooter's gun as evidence. 855 00:37:07,025 --> 00:37:09,024 I grew up in east Texas, and a lot of people around here 856 00:37:09,027 --> 00:37:10,225 think it's a big game 857 00:37:10,228 --> 00:37:11,560 to shoot deer off the side of the road. 858 00:37:11,563 --> 00:37:13,095 And it's not. People get hurt. 859 00:37:13,098 --> 00:37:15,497 There's houses back here, whatever. 860 00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:17,832 I think you would understand the dangers of it. 861 00:37:17,835 --> 00:37:20,302 Narrator: The shooter's companion also receives a ticket 862 00:37:20,305 --> 00:37:23,105 for driving the truck during the crime. 863 00:37:23,108 --> 00:37:24,773 We're cuttin' y'all this break 864 00:37:24,776 --> 00:37:27,509 so maybe y'all can make some wiser decisions. 865 00:37:27,512 --> 00:37:28,911 Don't let us catch you out here again. 866 00:37:28,914 --> 00:37:30,979 If I catch you out here again doing this, 867 00:37:30,982 --> 00:37:33,716 I don't care if it's six years from now, 868 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:34,850 it's gonna have a different ending. 869 00:37:34,853 --> 00:37:36,385 Y'all going to jail. 870 00:37:36,388 --> 00:37:37,786 It's important to us to... 871 00:37:37,789 --> 00:37:39,455 To protect our resources of the state, you know? 872 00:37:39,458 --> 00:37:40,989 For people to have it ethically, 873 00:37:40,992 --> 00:37:44,426 for my children to be able to hunt someday the right way. 874 00:37:48,333 --> 00:37:50,999 Narrator: Back on the coast, game warden fountain 875 00:37:51,002 --> 00:37:53,669 meets chambers at the suspicious s.U.V. 876 00:37:53,672 --> 00:37:55,737 With fishermen in tow. 877 00:37:55,740 --> 00:37:58,540 It turned out that the person that had the transport bucket 878 00:37:58,543 --> 00:38:01,476 was actually with the person that owned the vehicle. 879 00:38:01,479 --> 00:38:02,945 How you doing, buddy? 880 00:38:02,948 --> 00:38:06,749 What, uh, you got fish in there, buddy? 881 00:38:06,752 --> 00:38:09,351 You quiet. I guess so. 882 00:38:09,354 --> 00:38:10,686 Any... any fish in here? 883 00:38:10,689 --> 00:38:12,954 - Yes. - There is fish in here? 884 00:38:12,957 --> 00:38:14,790 I knew it. They get quiet. 885 00:38:21,933 --> 00:38:24,399 ♪♪ 886 00:38:24,402 --> 00:38:26,402 - Any... any fish in here? - Yes. 887 00:38:26,405 --> 00:38:28,069 There is fish in here? 888 00:38:28,072 --> 00:38:32,073 I knew it. They get quiet. Hey, you give me your licenses. 889 00:38:32,076 --> 00:38:33,142 Narrator: Near galveston, 890 00:38:33,145 --> 00:38:34,676 game wardens determine that only one 891 00:38:34,679 --> 00:38:37,946 of the three individuals is licensed to fish. 892 00:38:37,949 --> 00:38:41,617 They get to work inspecting their catch for violations. 893 00:38:41,620 --> 00:38:45,954 Okay. That's one. 894 00:38:45,957 --> 00:38:48,424 That's three in there. So that's... 895 00:38:48,427 --> 00:38:50,426 - Four. - Five. 896 00:38:50,429 --> 00:38:52,961 Nine. 897 00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:54,296 Some of those look small. 898 00:38:54,299 --> 00:38:56,632 - Mm-hmm. - Let me go get the stick. 899 00:39:00,038 --> 00:39:01,370 Oh, yeah. That's small. 900 00:39:01,373 --> 00:39:04,039 They're like 13 1/2, 14. 901 00:39:04,042 --> 00:39:07,042 Narrator: The fisherman has more than a dozen speckled sea trout 902 00:39:07,045 --> 00:39:08,377 and sheepshead. 903 00:39:08,380 --> 00:39:12,648 Some are under 15 inches, and he's over the bag limit. 904 00:39:12,651 --> 00:39:16,585 So we got undersized fish, no fishing license, 905 00:39:16,588 --> 00:39:18,587 over the bag limit. 906 00:39:18,590 --> 00:39:21,123 Uh, that's a lot of violations here. 907 00:39:21,126 --> 00:39:23,191 Narrator: If the game wardens hadn't 908 00:39:23,194 --> 00:39:24,793 spotted the bloody bucket, 909 00:39:24,796 --> 00:39:27,463 this group would've likely fished late into the night, 910 00:39:27,466 --> 00:39:29,931 taking far more than allowed. 911 00:39:29,934 --> 00:39:31,733 That was a good find by Travis. 912 00:39:31,736 --> 00:39:33,535 Travis is very observant. 913 00:39:33,538 --> 00:39:35,537 Somebody taught him right. 914 00:39:35,540 --> 00:39:38,473 That was a good look, Travis. 915 00:39:38,476 --> 00:39:39,674 Just had that feeling. 916 00:39:39,677 --> 00:39:41,343 ♪ I got a feeling ♪ 917 00:39:41,346 --> 00:39:42,945 ♪ Whoo-ooh ♪ 918 00:39:42,948 --> 00:39:44,380 [ Laughs ] 919 00:39:50,355 --> 00:39:53,354 Narrator: The next morning, game wardens provaznik 920 00:39:53,357 --> 00:39:55,089 and fountain catch the early ferry 921 00:39:55,092 --> 00:39:58,026 to the oil spill site on crystal beach. 922 00:39:58,029 --> 00:40:00,028 Yeah. This is bad. 923 00:40:00,031 --> 00:40:03,432 I mean, you can already see where I stepped. 924 00:40:03,435 --> 00:40:05,434 Hopefully we won't find any sea turtles 925 00:40:05,437 --> 00:40:07,736 or sea birds already gettin' oiled. 926 00:40:11,042 --> 00:40:12,975 Doesn't seem so bad over there. 927 00:40:12,978 --> 00:40:14,109 Narrator: The game wardens don't find 928 00:40:14,112 --> 00:40:16,678 any signs of oil on the surface. 929 00:40:16,681 --> 00:40:18,046 At least the crabs 930 00:40:18,049 --> 00:40:19,848 aren't affected by it when they're diggin'. 931 00:40:19,851 --> 00:40:23,786 Like, I don't see any in their holes. 932 00:40:23,789 --> 00:40:25,053 Yeah. 933 00:40:25,056 --> 00:40:26,521 I been lookin' in some of these crab holes 934 00:40:26,524 --> 00:40:28,189 up on the sand dunes up here. 935 00:40:28,192 --> 00:40:29,992 So far, I can't see any oil down there, 936 00:40:29,995 --> 00:40:32,127 so it's not as bad as we're thinkin' it is. 937 00:40:32,130 --> 00:40:34,396 So far no birds, no turtles, 938 00:40:34,399 --> 00:40:37,199 no other sea life has been affected. 939 00:40:37,202 --> 00:40:38,600 Narrator: The high overnight tide 940 00:40:38,603 --> 00:40:41,570 washed away most of the spill from the leaking pipe. 941 00:40:43,475 --> 00:40:44,673 Good morning. 942 00:40:44,676 --> 00:40:46,408 We could've been sleepin'. 943 00:40:46,411 --> 00:40:49,211 What happened? 944 00:40:49,214 --> 00:40:52,147 High tide. 945 00:40:52,150 --> 00:40:54,149 Knew something was strange when I hit the beach. 946 00:40:54,152 --> 00:40:55,284 Yeah. 947 00:40:55,287 --> 00:40:57,419 The tide came all the way up here last night. 948 00:40:57,422 --> 00:41:00,155 And so it's washed all that oil off. 949 00:41:00,158 --> 00:41:02,090 And this is a good thing for the land animals, 950 00:41:02,093 --> 00:41:03,558 for the shorebirds and stuff. 951 00:41:03,561 --> 00:41:04,626 A lot of them will walk around 952 00:41:04,629 --> 00:41:05,860 or like just lay down on the beach. 953 00:41:05,863 --> 00:41:08,129 And that's what I was worried about overnight. 954 00:41:08,132 --> 00:41:09,364 Narrator: There's no immediate threat 955 00:41:09,367 --> 00:41:10,632 to wildlife on the beach, 956 00:41:10,635 --> 00:41:12,968 but the wardens will remain on standby 957 00:41:12,971 --> 00:41:15,970 until the coast guard locates and stops the leak. 958 00:41:15,973 --> 00:41:19,241 I'm just glad it's not a heavy oil spill. 959 00:41:19,244 --> 00:41:22,778 We're on the up and up right now. 960 00:41:22,781 --> 00:41:25,814 ♪♪ 961 00:41:26,305 --> 00:42:26,592 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm