By Daniel Pye<br><a href="mailto:pyed@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Dan</a>
TOWN OF TONAWANDA — Three men are facing charges for allegedly killing a deer out of season, getting four law enforcement agencies involved in the process.
According to Town of Tonawanda police reports, officers were called to Mid River Marina on River Road at 4 p.m. Friday to help border patrol officers locate a wounded deer. Once they arrived, officers located the marina’s owner, who told them he moved the deer carcass out of sight when he found it on his property.
The 200-pound male deer was shot with a high-powered pellet rifle. Dispatchers informed the officers that two Marine Interdiction Agents had three men in custody with support from New York State police, and a loaded pellet rifle was found in their vehicle.
After debating the charges, border agents contacted the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Megan Gollwitzer, a DEC spokeswoman, said the department’s police issued a long list of charges.
Bellay Iaye, who was accused of actually killing the deer, was charged with misdemeanor illegal taking of big game during a closed season, misdemeanor possessing a loaded gun in a vehicle and misdemeanor use of a motor vehicle in taking big game. He was also charged with hunting without a license and use of an illegal hunting instrument, both violations.
Par Tha and Hai Christe were charged with assisting in an illegal deer killing.
Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.
