HUNTINGDON – Thanks to a informant who reported poaching activity that had been occurring in the Loves Valley Area of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Richard Danley was able to apprehend individuals involved in two incidents in October.
Danley, following up on information from a confidential informant, stopped a minivan in which five occupants, including minors, were found in possession of a 22-caliber semi-automatic rifle and spotlight.
“The occupants of the vehicle were spotlighting after legal hours, and had shot several shots at deer in the adjacent fields,” Danley said. “The investigation revealed that the occupants had fired about 25 shots at different deer and a raccoon that evening.
“It’s truly amazing that no deer were injured. With that many shots being fired the potential for a wounded animal was great. All indications are that no deer were hit.”
In this case, Danley said that charges are pending against four Mifflin County residents: Sanford James Lapolt, 35, Lewistown; Dennis Dean Duncan, 29, Reedsville; an unnamed 17-year-old female, of Burnham; and an unnamed 17-year-old male, of Burnham.
Also, a recent incident along Smith Road, in Union Township, Huntingdon County, resulted in two local residents being apprehended by the Game Commission for attempting to illegally kill deer with the used of a spotlight.
Danley said that Deputy WCO Terry Clevenger received information from a confidential informant stating that several illegal deer had been found in the area. In most cases, if the deer was a buck, the head was taken. If the deer was a doe, only the back straps were removed. The activity was centered on Smith Road, in Union Township.
The two suspects drove into an area they did not have permission to be, and upon the WCOs attempting to stop them, they fled. After a brief chase, the two men were interviewed and found to be in possession of a 7mm rifle, and admitted to attempting to kill a deer.
The two adults were charged with, among other things, failure to stop on the signal of an officer, turning out lights to avoid detection, and damage to a farmer’s fields. Both men had prior game law convictions. On Oct. 31, charges were filed in District Justice Michael Colyer’s office, in Mount Union, against: Allen Robert Grager, Jr., 31, Huntingdon; Joseph Anthony Romecki, 29, Huntingdon.
“Without information from the general public, none of these cases could have been made,” Danley said. “Wildlife Conservation Officers rely on information from concerned citizens. Until people care enough to get involved, these activities will continue.”
