A border collie was shot along a popular Game Creek trail. While Vicki Sandvig was walking her two dogs on Dec 11, both of them ran ahead of her. When she blew a whistle to call the dogs back, one of the dogs ran back to her and then she heard a gunshot.
Sandvig searched the hillside and when she returned to the trailhead she saw the other dog limping towards her.
Captain Jim Whalen said a polygraph could help remove Game Creek resident Paul DeBoer from the list of suspects. "People are pointing fingers at Mr DeBoer as the culprit in this."
On Dec 22, DeBoer refused to submit to a polygraph. DeBoer said, "Why should I subject myself to that? There's no reason to take one as far as I'm concerned."
DeBoer said lie detector tests are unreliable.
Captain Whalen said polygraphs are not admissible in court but can be helpful in investigations. "People who typically are willing to take a polygraph are generally telling the truth."
The investigator who interviewed DeBoer does not think he shot the dog.
The dog was licensed and collared. Under the state law, property owners may shoot dogs only if they are unlicensed or harassing livestock.
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