Hunter mayface chargesover search, lockdowns

11/14/2006

Authorities are considering filing charges against a gunman in western Lucas County who sent sheriff s deputies on a brief but frantic manhunt Friday and triggered a one-hour lockdown of four school buildings.

But since Carl Wilson s targets were two bushy-tailed rodents, a Maumee prosecutor will decide whether to charge the 82-year-old resident and if so, with what.

When the crews arrived, they found him field dressing two squirrels, Lucas County sheriff s Lt. Bobby Leist said.

For his part, Mr. Wilson said he was stunned at the fury over two common fox squirrels.

I ve been hunting 70 years, and I ve never had a problem, he said.

A recent medical procedure to replace a hip kept him from traipsing through the woods as he once did, Mr. Wilson said, explaining why he was shooting from his vehicle.

On Friday, crews searched parts of western Lucas County shortly before 1:30 p.m. after a caller reported a motorist firing a rifle along Doran Road near Jeffers and Yawberg roads.

Meanwhile, members of the Anthony Wayne Local School District staff who had heard of the search locked down four buildings.

I saw the police cars out in the country, but I didn t think much of it, Mr. Wilson said.

Deputies stopped at an excavating company, where they d heard the suspected gunman had inquired about a load of stone, and traced the information to Mr. Wilson s Neowash Road residence.

The deputies found Mr. Wilson in the backyard with the dead squirrels.

Authorities concluded that Mr. Wilson, whose background is squeaky clean, didn t intend any harm, Lieutenant Leist said.

At least no harm intended to humans, anyway.