Two men who allegedly killed a deer in the city of Warren, Mich., with a bow and arrow are coming under fire from the mayor who hopes to see them put behind bars.
The Detroit Free Press reported Myles Ehret, 19, and William Francis, 27, have been charged with animal cruelty, a felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison. In Warren hunting is illegal.
Mayor Jim Fouts said in a statement obtained by the Free Press he hopes authorities “inflict the maximum fine, and when these predators are on trial, I will be sitting in the courtroom to be certain they pay for their crimes” and he noted probation was “not [a] satisfactory” option.
“I consider deer in our city a domesticated animal because their tameness and the joy they bring to observers, especially children,” Fouts said in the statement.
As for the situation surrounding the slain deer, police said witnesses reported seeing the men loading a deer into a U-Haul on December 21. Providing license plate information to the authorities, the police located where the suspects’ car was located at the rental facility and saw inside it hunting items like a compound bow, pop-up blind and loose corn, according to the Free Press. The police impounded the car and waited for the suspects to turn up.
When the men didn’t see their car at the U-Haul, they left but police stopped them in the truck and noted they were wearing hunting gear, had blood on their hands and saw blood in the back of the truck.
The local CBS Local in Detroit reported that authorities later found a five-point buck at Francis’ residence.
According to the Free Press, police said they believe the men knew hunting in that area was illegal, which is why they didn’t verify and tag the dear. Francis did have the proper hunting license.
The men are currently free on $10,000 bond.
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