March 14, 2016
From TheCourier.com
Over 70 wildlife officers and investigators converged Saturday in northern Ohio to serve search warrants and interview suspects about serious wildlife poaching violations.
In Grand Rapids, a search warrant for the home of Robert Mandon Freeworth was executed as a result of a lengthy investigation and long-term surveillance.
Officers seized antlers, deer meat, deer tags, a cellphone, firearms, documents, and a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle.
The items were allegedly used in connection with the illegal sale of deer meat, improper use of landowner hunting tags, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, and other illegal activity.
The execution of search warrants in the cities of Parma, Kent, Broadview Heights, Sheffield Village and Richland County resulted in the seizure of over 100 mounted deer heads.
Alleged charges being investigated include killing multiple buck deer, over-harvest of deer, deer-tagging violations, hunting without a landowner’s permission, hunting within municipalities and residential areas, and sales of deer meat.
Interviews were also conducted with charter boat operators and fish-cleaning businesses concerning the alleged felony sales of Ohio walleye. It is a felony violation if the net biologic value of the animals sold equals or exceeds $1,000.