Posted on 08/06/2007 4:44:13 PM PDT by Sybeck1
SHELBY FARMS, EAST MEMPHIS -- Investigators say they can't decide which is more outrageous...
Two sheriff's deputies killing deer out of season while on duty in a public park... or the fact they took pictures of themselves doing it.
Former Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Braswell and suspended Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Pretti have been charged in connection with an incident that happened at Shelby Farms last July.
According to records from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, one of its officers received a tip from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office's Internal Affairs division. The tip said someone was circulating photos of the deputies posing with dead deer inside a squad car.
The officer determined that while on patrol in Shelby Farms July 30, 2006, the deputies began to "headlight" deer on the public grounds. The officer's citations indicate Braswell shot three male white-tailed deer with a high-powered rifle, loaded the carcasses in his patrol car and transported them to his Arlington home at 9323 Old Brownsville Rd. The citations say that is where he and Pretti took pictures of themselves posing with the dead animals.
Braswell has been charged with shooting from across a highway, hunting without landowner's consent, killing big game in closed season, illegal possession of big game and hunting from a motor vehicle/headlighting deer. Pretti is charged with two counts of illegal possession of big game.
Shelby County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Steve Shular says Pretti is suspended with pay pending the decision of a disciplinary hearing. The department fired Braswell after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in March on charges he accepted cash payments from undercover informants posing as drug dealers.
Reached by phone at his home in Arlington, Braswell said, "No, sir. I'd rather not (comment). This is a pending incident."
Pretti could not be reached for comment, nor could his attorney, Ted Hansom, or Braswell's attorney, Leslie Ballin.
Don Siemer, the Shelby County prosecutor handling the case, did not return a voice mail message left at his office.
Don King, spokesperson for the TWRA, says the agency has the photos of the deputies posing with the animals, but will not release them because they are evidence in the criminal investigation.
Braswell and Pretti are scheduled to appear in court next month.
God save us from the stupid, dangerous ones
Well, deer meat is healthier for a cop than donuts!;)
Amazing, yet not suprising.
One of these guys is using Mary Winkler’s attorney!
Maybe they were Indians.
I think it is Ballin that is the lawyer.
Could have bought B&C mounts on Ebay and many years worth of ribeye’s for what this will cost them.
Thanks a pantload, asshats. Law enforcement, hunters, and gunnies will all take a hit for these fools’ actions.
So, is this herd thinning? Is there any reasonable way to dispose of the extra deer in the park, or is this plausible deniability on the part of the County? Did the Sheriff get his cut of the meat? By the way, where the hell was the shift supervisor?
As for the photos, how else were they going to prove that they do more than write tickets and eat donuts? Probably part of a justification report for the expenditure of ammunition.
I don’t see a problem here having used a one eyed hunting dog in my past...
And ignorant as well. Game taken in the summer months isn't the best.
ROTFLMBO
Surely these officers are straight from the script of Police Academy 7, Smokey and the Bandit 4 or Dukes of Hazard - the 21 century.
He went on to add, "I'm a promoter of the people for the people and by the people and my magic lies in my people ties. I'm a promoter of America. I'm American people. You know what I mean? So therefore, uh, do not send for who the bell tolls 'cause the bell tolls for thee."
That's what they do in my locale. One of the long-time, "locals" with the biggest score of deer poaching cases, was himself, many years ago, a real "pro".
Reports have it, that at times, him and a buddy or two, might still do a bit of culling here and there [can't be having trophy animals walking around in broad daylight, no, sir-ee, well, cause' somebody might "illegally" shoot 'em!]
I hope someday I can get over the anger that this kind of thing evokes in me. This good ol’ boy, scofflaw, we aint hurtin’ nobody attitude boils my blood. How many officers looked at the pictures and snickered and asked to be invited along next time? They must have felt fairly confident that none of their good buddies would turn them in.
This ain’t very Pretti.
We need deer flavored donuts.
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