For Release: Thursday, September 13, 2007
Two Arrested for Alleged Deer Jacking in Lewis County
911 Call Spurs Rapid Response
Two brothers were arrested for allegedly deer jacking (hunting deer at night) in Lewis County, on Sept. 8, following a chase that also sparked charges of drunken driving, illegal possession of a weapon and resisting a police officer, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.
Arnold F. Marolf, 44, of Turin, and Herbert N. Marolf Jr., 46, of Glenfield, face a variety of charges stemming from an incident that began after 11 p.m. on a Saturday night.
Lewis County's 911 Center received a deer jacking complaint from a caller who reported shots fired on Corrigan Hill Road in Martinsburg, Lewis County. DEC Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) E. A. Roderick responded and interviewed several witnesses who described the vehicle involved. Based on license plate information, the officer patrolled to Doviak Road, Town of Turin, to the residence of Arnold F. Marolf.
Shortly afterward, ECO Roderick spotted the vehicle described by witnesses turning onto the Doviak Road from Houseville Road. A short vehicle pursuit ended in a field at the end of the Doviak Road, where a male passenger bailed out of the vehicle front seat, rifle in hand, and fled on foot. The driver, Arnold F. Marolf, and two other passengers were detained at the scene.
Lewis County Sheriff Deputies and NYS Troopers arrived at the scene for a backup and a perimeter was set up. Also a K-9 unit from Lowville Village Police Department responded and began a search for the suspect who fled. Region 6 Environmental Conservation Police Captain, Stephen J. Pierson and Environmental Conservation Police Lieutenant Richard S. Henry arrived at the scene to assist. ECO Corey Schoonover also responded with K-9 Griz.
Subsequent investigation and evidence collection led to the issuance of a search warrant by Turin Town Justice James Chase for Arnold F. Marolf's residence and attached garage on Doviak Road. Environmental Conservation Police Lieutenant Matthew Jacoby and ECOs Eric Roderick and George Steele executed the search warrant with the assistance of Lewis County Sheriff's Deputies, where a knife with deer hair and blood was found on the possession of Arnold F. Marolf. They also seized the .30-06 caliber rifle that was allegedly involved in the crime.
Further investigation let to information implicating Herbert N. Marolf, Jr., in the alleged taking of an illegal deer at night with the aid of Arnold F. Marolf's pickup truck head lights in a field off of Corrigan Hill Road. The doe deer was recovered by Conservation Officers in the Black River and is currently being examined by staff at the DEC's pathology lab at Delmar.
Arnold F. Marolf was charged with several vehicle and traffic law violations: failure to comply with a police officer, reckless driving, common law DWI and operating a vehicle with a .08 percent blood-alcohol content or higher. He is scheduled to appear on these charges on Sept. 17 in the Turin town court.
Arnold F. Marolf and Herbert N. Marolf, Jr. each were charged with taking wildlife with the aid of a motor vehicle, a violation; taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, a misdemeanor; and taking deer during the closed season, a misdemeanor. Conservation Law violations are punishable by up to a $250 fine and up to 15 days in jail. The misdemeanors are punishable by a fine ranging from $200-$2,000 dollars and up to one year in jail. The charges are answerable in the Town of Martinsburg Court on Sept. 17.
In addition, Herbert N. Marolf, Jr., was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned before Turin Town Justice, James Chase and was committed to Lewis County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond.
