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No charges filed after shooting at ODNR vehicle

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Marshall Gorby/No one was injured after a shot was fired at two Ohio Division of Wildlife officials in Champaign County late Friday, Oct. 30. The bullet pierced the windshield and reportedly traveled between the two wildlife officials as they sat in their vehicle, patrolling for deer poachers. A short pursuit followed and the two men were taken into custody.

By Matt Sanctis, Staff writer Updated 8:20 PM Monday, November 2, 2009

URBANA — No charges have been filed after an incident in which three men were taken into custody late last week after a shot was fired at an Ohio Department of Natural Resources vehicle.

According to information from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, three men were initially taken into custody late Friday, Oct. 30, after the shooting near Ford Road and Woodville Pike in Champaign County. State Wildlife officers Jeffery Tipton and Adam Smith were on patrol in the area looking for poachers when the suspect’s vehicle pulled into a field and directed its headlights at the ODNR cruiser. A bullet passed through the windshield of their vehicle and into the passenger compartment. Game wardens and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office gave chase, and the suspect’s vehicle fled more than four miles from Johnson Twp. to Concord Twp. before getting stuck in a wheat field.

On Monday, Nov. 2, troopers from the Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said three men were taken into custody at the scene, but the case is still under investigation.

The men were questioned and then released. Their vehicle, as well as other evidence, is still being held while authorities investigate the incident. No charges have been filed in the case, and the investigators are expecting to discuss the case with Champaign County prosecutors. No one was injured during the shooting.

Jim Lehman, a spokesman for the ODNR Division of Wildlife, said both Tipton and Smith are back on duty and assisted in interviewing the suspects Friday.

He said this time of year, it is fairly common for poachers to use a spotlight to track deer before shooting it.

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I wonder why no charges have been filed,because either the ones who did the shooting have money or the ODNR vehicle was somewhere it should not have been. If it was just joe blow he would have already been in prison serving a life sentence.

I 've got questions
5:12 AM, 11/13/2009

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