Jay County, IN – Three individuals were detained Tuesday evening after an off-duty officer witnessed the alleged shooting of a protected sandhill crane from a roadway in Jay County, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
According to Indiana DNR Law Enforcement, the incident unfolded when an off-duty police officer observed the subjects shoot the bird from a vehicle. Local officers quickly responded, stopping the individuals on the roadway and transporting them to the Jay County Jail for questioning.
Authorities say two of the subjects allegedly admitted to shooting the sandhill crane with a rifle from inside the vehicle. Conservation officers later recovered both the firearm and the dead bird as evidence.
Officials noted that K-9 “Sadie” assisted in locating the exact area where the crane was shot, helping investigators confirm details of the incident.
Sandhill cranes are protected under federal and state regulations, and illegal hunting or killing of the species can result in significant penalties. It is unclear at this time what formal charges may be filed as the investigation remains ongoing.
The Indiana DNR did not release the identities or ages of those involved. All allegations remain under investigation, and those detained are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
