Illegally shot deer leads to drug bust

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (WLFI) - An illegally killed deer led Indiana Conservation Officers to bust a Crawfordsville man for drugs this past week.

Just after 11 Friday morning, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting shots fired in a rural area southwest of New Richmond.
 
Believing the call to be natural-resource related, Montgomery County Deputies contacted IDNR Conservation Officers.  

Upon investigation, officers were led to a residence in Crawfordsville belonging to 48-year-old Mark Ross.  

Ross admitted to shooting the deer.

Ross told officers he observed the deer as he drove down the road, and he exited his vehicle and shot at the deer twice with a 20-gauge shotgun.  

According to officers, one shot passed through the deer, and the other slug was located lodged in a nearby tree.  

Ross admitted to officers that after he shot the deer, he drove off and left the dead deer in the field.  

While obtaining the confession from Ross, officers smelled a strong odor, of what they believed to be marijuana, coming from inside the house.

Ross admitted to officers that he had been smoking marijuana shortly before they arrived. Ross consented to a search of his residence.

Ross now faces preliminary charges of Shooting from a roadway (Class C Misdemeanor),
Hunting by aid of a motor vehicle (Class C Misdemeanor), Fail to tag a Whitetail Deer (Class C Misdemeanor), Wanton waste (failing to retrieve a kill) (Class C Misdemeanor), Possession of Methamphetamine (Class D Felony), Possession of Marijuana (Class A Misdemeanor),and Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A Misdemeanor).

Indiana Conservation Officers ask that anybody witnessing a natural resource crime contact ICO Dispatch at (812)-837-9536.  Callers that wish to remain anonymous can contact the IDNR TIP line at 1-800-TIP-IDNR.