UPDATED Wednesday, September 2, 2009 --- 4:30 p.m.
UPDATED Wednesday, September 2, 2009 --- 10:15 a.m.

Press Release from the DNR:

BEAVER DAM – Initial appearances were wrapped-up yesterday in circuit court for 15 individuals from the Beaver Dam area who are accused of pursuing, shining and killing wild animals with clubs and bats last spring in Columbia and Dodge Counties, the Department of Natural Resources announced today.

This past spring, conservation wardens received a tip from a concerned citizen about the illegal chasing and clubbing of wild animals, often raccoons and opossums, in rural areas of eastern Columbia and western Dodge Counties.

On April 4, 2009, wardens apprehended several people who were chasing wild animals with spotlights and clubs. That incident resulted in a pursuit by wardens and which subsequently landed Christopher Swanke, 22, of Beaver Dam in jail on five counts of reckless endangerment and one count of attempting to flee an officer.

DNR then launched a lengthy investigation which led to the issuing of 158 citations to the 15 individuals. The citations were issued for illegally killing protected wild animals, hunting without a license, hunting with an illegal weapon and unreasonable waste of a natural resource.

Ten of the people – all from the Beaver Dam area - cited with the alleged violations were identified as: Jason W. Adams, 18, Andrew S. Chapman, 17, Derek S. Fehling, 18, Matthew J. Haas, 17, Andrew L. Peterman, 18, Gary L. Spears, 20, Christopher J. Swanke, 22, Mariah N. Schepp, 18, Jacob L. Kleckner, 19 and Austin A. Tripke, 19.

The names of the five other individuals charged with violations are being withheld because they are juveniles.

Warden Paul Nadolski, Poynette, said it was “disturbing” how the individuals, many of them high school friends, regarded the activity as a game.

“They awarded points for the accumulation of dead animals of different species,” he said.

________________________________________________

Posted Wednesday, April 8, 2009 --- 5:30 p.m.

Investigators say the suspects considered it a competition. But DNR wardens call it a crime - a crime that's on the rise.

This case comes from Columbia County, and a warning about the details and racial overtones.

"We know they killed animals in the past and on Friday night."

Warden Supervisor David Holmes says the group picked a remote area to compete in what he calls an "organized" thrill kill.

"This appeared to be a competition where there were points assigned for particular animals that were killed."

The investigation began with a tip about a group of Beaver Dam High School students ... doing what's being called "coon bashing."

"I'm using that as a phrase they were using but basically, running down animals from vehicles and bashing them with clubs."

Investigators say after the suspects would club an animal, they would use cell phones to take a picture as proof in their game.

"Some of the materials we observed might be considered white supremacist."

Six bats - pictured here - were recovered. Some with blood on them. Investigators were looking for the suspect vehicle outside of Pardeeville late Friday night. A criminal complaint says investigators spotted the truck... stopping, shining a high powered spot light... with people jumping in and out... near ditches.

"They had a vehicle equipped so it could run without headlights and taillights to make it harder to be detected."

And the complaint says, when the truck took off without any lights, investigators tried to pull over the driver -- identified as 22-year-old Christopher Swanke. But officers say Swanke refused to stop... instead leading them on a 9-mile pursuit, reaching 85-miles per hour.

Five juveniles were reported found with Swanke - three of them in the box of the truck. All still could face fines or criminal charges as the investigation unfolds. Swanke is facing six felony counts. But the DNR has yet to finish its investigation.

The DNR is seeking tips in connection to the case. Call the hotline number below if you have information to report.
DNR Hotline
1-800-847-9367