Chicora man facing charges related to deer shooting
A Chicora man is facing a list of charges, including the unlawful modification and possession of a weapon and drug possession, after police say he shot a deer on private property in Oakland Township.
Edward C. Fink, 38, of Chicora, is facing three misdemeanor and three summary charges in relation to the Aug. 26 incident. Along with the drugs and weapon offenses, he also faces charges for unlawful killing of big game and resisting/interfering with an officer.
According to police, a resident of Davis Road contacted Pennsylvania game wardens after she and her family witnessed the killing of a deer in their front yard.
The family were watching a group of deer feed in the yard while having dinner when they noticed the group suddenly scatter, police said. A few moments later, one of the deer fell and began “flopping on the ground,” the affidavit indicates.
The witness went outside to investigate and found the deer with blood coming out of its nose and mouth and noticed a bullet hole in the deer’s side, police said.
State game wardens responded to the scene and found that the deer was shot with a small caliber firearm. They also found that only two neighbors were home at the time of the shooting, one at an apartment at 171 Davis Road.
With permission from the apartment’s landlord, wardens searched the property and found one live .22 caliber shell on the front porch and another on the side of the building, where it was determined the shot was fired, police said. An exam of the deer found that it was shot with a .22 caliber bullet.
Police said Fink provided officers with someone else’s ID, prompting further investigation. Officials found out that the person whose ID was shown had worked with Fink in the months prior, the affidavit said. The person told police his ID had been stolen during that time.
A warrant was obtained to search Fink’s apartment, where items seized included multiple live and spent .22 caliber rounds and a homemade suppressor, according to police.
Also found during the search was drug paraphernalia and a small baggie of white crystals that was tested using a Mobile Detect X Pouch, which is used to detect methamphetamine, MMDA and ecstasy on site; the test provided a positive result, the affidavit said.
Shooting deer during the hunting off-season is unlawful in Pennsylvania and is never allowed on private property without permission.
Charges were filed Oct. 29. Fink’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28.