Yesterday afternoon, August 3, 2023, Sheriff Noel E. Stephen received the information about illegal palmetto berry picking …
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Two charged with illegal berry picking
Photo courtesy OCSO
John Stripling
Photo courtesy OCSO
Elizabeth Woods
Posted
By Cpl. Jack Nash PIO OCSO
OKEECHOBEE — On, Aug. 3, 2023, Sheriff Noel E. Stephen received the information about illegal palmetto berry picking on South Florida Water Management Properties in Okeechobee.
Besides a permit to harvest, one of the stipulations is to have written permission to be on the property to harvest the berries.
Sheriff Stephen reached out and had K9 Handler (FTO) Reno and Deputy Wright head to the suspected trespassing area.
In the suspected area, the deputies saw two individuals entering the woods about 500 yards away. As the deputies approached, the two individuals emerged from the woods on a four-wheeler, driving away from the deputies.
The rear passenger continuously looked back as the driver went faster despite K9 Deputy Reno now having his lights and siren on. Fleeing for approximately 1/2 mile, the driver stopped, and both raised their hands in the air.
Okeechobee resident John Stripling, was driving the ATV. Although Strilping has a permit to harvest, he needed permission to be on SFWM property to pick, which he admittedly did not.
Stripling admitted to being on the property for around 1.5 hours with Woods, picking berries. Elizabeth Woods, also from Okeechobee, was the passenger on the ATV and admitted to helping pick berries and did not have a permit.
At the original location, roughly 100 lbs of harvested saw-palmetto berries were found piled on a tarp. Stripling was found to have a crystal-like substance in a 305 cigarette pack he threw at the stop site.
The substance tested positive for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. John Stripling was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of fentanyl, Tampering with Evidence, Flee and Elduing (lights and sirens activated), and Harvesting an endangered plant without being permitted.
Elizabeth Woods was charged with Harvesting an endangered plant without being permitted. Both were transported to the Okeechobee County Detention Facility without incident.
General Saw Palmetto Berry Guidelines
To harvest, sell, or transport berries, individuals and landowners must obtain a FREE FDACS permit to harvest endangered or commercially exploited plants.
