A 29-year-old Town of Harrison man faces criminal and traffic charges after he was arrested Nov. 4 during an investigation into suspected deer poaching.
Aaron A. Gregory, 2752 Baker–Ford Road, is making his first appearance in Grant County Circuit Court this week on vehicle operator fleeing or eluding an officer, a felony, and hit-and-run, a misdemeanor.
Gregory also has been charged with operating while suspended and speeding on a Rustic Road more than 45 mph above the speed limit. His scheduled appearance on those traffic charges is also this week.
Gregory faces a maximum of 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of the eluding charge.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the state Department of Natural Resources are also investigating the 14 deer carcasses that were found on Gregory’s property after the Sheriff’s Department received a report of possible deer poaching Nov. 4.
The Sheriff’s Department received a report of possible poaching at 6573 Stumptown Road Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. After getting a description of the suspect and vehicle, deputies found the vehicle, and a chase at speeds of up to 95 mph was called off due to safety reasons, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Speed limits on roads classed as Rustic Roads are generally 45 mph.
The vehicle was found shortly afterward in a ditch on Stumptown Road. When deputies approached the vehicle, the vehicle came out of the ditch and came toward the squad cars, going into the ditch line and hitting one squad car in the driver’s side door, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
A second pursuit was called off also because of safety reasons, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies later found Gregory and his vehicle hidden at the Baker–Farm Road property and arrested Gregory.
Deputies found 14 deer carcasses in a search of Gregory’s property and notified the DNR. The investigation into the carcasses revealed they had been poached, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The DNR removed five of the deer and two firearms on the property.
Charges have not been filed yet as part of the deer poaching investigation.
Platteville police assisted the Sheriff’s Department in the investigation of the car–squad car crash.
