December 15, 2003
Boundary County Sheriff George Voyles placed patrol deputy Heath Gustafson on suspension pending internal investigation after Gustafson was charged with Idaho Fish and Game violations for illegally taking a deer early this morning.
Sheriffs dispatchers received a report at approximately 12:11 a.m. of a poacher south of Naples driving a white Ford Explorer with the word “Sheriff” painted on the side. Gustafson was going off shift when the incident occurred.
An attempt was made to contact Fish and Game Conservation officers, but none were available, so oncoming patrol deputy Wayne Westbrook was called to respond. On arriving, he found a large buck deer that had been freshly shot. Westbrook gathered evidence at the scene, and at Voyle’s direction turned it over to Fish and Game Conservation Officer Brian Johnson, who contacted Gustafson. According to Johnson, Gustafson was fully cooperative and remorseful, and gave a full confession. He was cited for shooting from the roadway, shooting a deer with use of artificial lights and for taking a deer out of season.
Johnson said the Sheriffs Office was extremely cooperative, and he said Westbrook did an excellent job investigating the incident.
The meat was turned over to the Gleaners for distribution to charity.