Four people were arrested in rural Charlotte County after deputies say they were found trespassing on private property with firearms.
The operation involved the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and the arrests were made on Nov. 29.
CCSO deputies utilized drone technology to locate the accused trespassers, who attempted to hide on the fenced property. Four individuals were safely taken into custody without incident.
FWC K-9 Jenny and her handler, Valerie Garcia, played a crucial role in the operation by locating three firearms—two shotguns and one rifle—hidden in dense brush.
The individuals identified as Dayner Cordero Gonzalez, Yurislandy Castro Marquez, Juan Pablo Diaz Montesino, and Yuriel Diaz Barrios, were transported to the Charlotte County Jail. They face charges of felony armed trespass. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was also notified regarding two of the suspects.
“I’m proud of the excellent work by Officers Garcia and Hazelwood, who partnered with a local landowner to resolve a very serious trespassing issue,” said Maj. Evan Laskowski, FWC Southwest Regional Commander. “And I continue to be impressed by our K-9 team—K-9 Jenny demonstrated her skills once again by locating the firearms.”
FWC expressed gratitude to CCSO for their prompt response and cooperation, which contributed to the safe resolution of the incident.
The FWC emphasized its commitment to protecting Florida’s residents, natural resources, and property. They encourage anyone who witnesses illegal hunting activity or trespassing to report it to the FWC Wildlife Alert line at 888-404-FWCC (3922).