SHELBY FARMS, EAST MEMPHIS TN: Two sheriff's deputies killing deer out of season while on duty in a public park... or the fact they took pictures of themselves doing it.
Former Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Braswell and suspended Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Pretti have been charged in connection with an incident that happened at Shelby Farms last July.
According to records from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, one of its officers received a tip from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office's Internal Affairs division. The tip said someone was circulating photos of the deputies posing with dead deer inside a squad car.
The officer determined that while on patrol in Shelby Farms July 30, 2006, the deputies began to "headlight" deer on the public grounds. The officer's citations indicate Braswell shot three male white-tailed deer with a high-powered rifle, loaded the carcasses in his patrol car and transported them to his Arlington home at 9323 Old Brownsville Rd. The citations say that is where he and Pretti took pictures of themselves posing with the dead animals.
Braswell has been charged with shooting from across a highway, hunting without landowner's consent, killing big game in closed season, illegal possession of big game and hunting from a motor vehicle/headlighting deer. Pretti is charged with two counts of illegal possession of big game. MagazineLane.com
Former Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Braswell and suspended Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Pretti have been charged in connection with an incident that happened at Shelby Farms last July.
According to records from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, one of its officers received a tip from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office's Internal Affairs division. The tip said someone was circulating photos of the deputies posing with dead deer inside a squad car.
The officer determined that while on patrol in Shelby Farms July 30, 2006, the deputies began to "headlight" deer on the public grounds. The officer's citations indicate Braswell shot three male white-tailed deer with a high-powered rifle, loaded the carcasses in his patrol car and transported them to his Arlington home at 9323 Old Brownsville Rd. The citations say that is where he and Pretti took pictures of themselves posing with the dead animals.
Braswell has been charged with shooting from across a highway, hunting without landowner's consent, killing big game in closed season, illegal possession of big game and hunting from a motor vehicle/headlighting deer. Pretti is charged with two counts of illegal possession of big game. MagazineLane.com
