Dec 29, 2020
While most Ohioans are well aware of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in police and sheriff’s departments, we don’t often consider the peril for those who work for other agencies.
State agents who enforce hunting laws often have to confront suspects who are carrying guns. Very seldom does that result in violence.
But it did last Sunday in Clinton County, Ohio, as state Department of Natural Resources officers were investigating a deer poaching complaint. One of the officers, wildlife investigator Kevin Behr, was shot. The 25-year DNR veteran was taken to a hospital but, fortunately, not with life-threatening injuries. Three suspects were arrested. It appears one of them fired the shot that hit Behr.
By TomCross
Former Adams County ODNR Wildlife Officer Kevin Behr was shot late Sunday afternoon, Dec.20, the last day of Ohio’s deer gun season during an investigation into a Clinton County deer poaching complaint.
Officer Behr served as the Adams County wildlife officer from 1999 to 2006 and then moved up the ranks to investigator and did some undercover work for ODNR. He resides with his family in the Peebles area. His wife Kathy is with the office of Information & Education at the Division of Wildlife District 5 office in Xenia. Behr has served with the Ohio Division of Wildlife for 25 years graduating from the academy in 1996.
Authorities: Suspect in shooting of wildlife officer has past felony conviction, not legally allowed to use firearms
By John Hamilton - jhamilton@wnewsj.com
WILMINGTON The deer poacher accused of accidentally shooting a wildlife officer in Clinton County has a past felony conviction for vehicular homicide and is not legally allowed to possess firearms, according to authorities.
On Sunday, Dec. 20, the three suspects were believed to have been driving on Macedonia Road in Martinsville when they spotted a buck deer in the woods nearby, according to an affidavit from Clinton County Municipal Court.
One of the suspects Brian Liming, 43, of Xenia exited the vehicle, went into the woods, and fired a shot at the deer, the affidavit states.