Police Chief shot blue heron
Sunnyside, WA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Sep 9, 1999
County: Yakima

Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: Wallace Anderson

The Sunnyside Police Chief Wallace Anderson agreed to resign after a lengthy investigation into several criminal investigations.  Anderson is accused of shooting four birds, some federally protected, on city property, and illegally storing explosives in the police station.

Anderson admittedly shot a blue heron on September 9, 1999.  He is also accused of shooting a gull in March, 1999.

The city chose to "save the taxpayers the legal expenses and uncertain results of attempting to prosecute city ordinance violations."  Instead, they accepted the resignation of Anderson.

The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife also investigated the shooting of the federally protected blue heron.  They closed their investigation ater Anderson paid a $250.00 fine.

References

• Spokane Spokesman - Review
• tri-cityherald.com

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