Battle Ground police say a months-long investigation into reports of animals being injured by blow darts amid reckless activity in a residential neighborhood appears to have helped stop a troubling series of incidents that unsettled the community.
Reports first surfaced around the same time community concern was growing over separate animal cruelty incidents tied to the Trevor Ek case, prompting questions about whether similar activity could be occurring inside Battle Ground city limits. During his final court appearance in March, Ek pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement in which he served no jail time had to report to a 90-day work crew.
But Battle Ground police investigators said their investigation was tied to a party house, not evidence connecting the cases. In February, Battle Ground Police (BGPD) detectives, assisted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, served a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of Southeast 17th Way following a months-long investigation into a series of animal shootings reported throughout Battle Ground.
According to BGPD Detective Sergeant Josh Phelps, the investigation began after a community service officer received multiple reports involving ducks at Florence Robison Park that appeared to have been struck by blow darts. Around the same time, neighbors near a South Parkway residence reported seeing blow darts lodged in roofs and siding.
“Two separate locations, clearly very far away from each other, but what piqued more of our interest was the residence, because it was a known house,” Phelps said.
BGPD Chief Dennis Flynn added that neighbors in the area of the Southeast 17th Way home in the South Parkway area described recurring weekend gatherings at the home involving large groups of teenagers or young adults.
“The neighbors were able to tell us there was anywhere from 10, 15, sometimes even more, what they described as teenage individuals, and couldn’t say if they were juveniles or adults,” Flynn said, adding that no one was able to directly identify any of the individuals in the groups using blow dart guns.
Phelps added that one of the biggest challenges to pair the severity of the case building around the activities stemming from the South Parkway house was the fact they didn’t have a dead animal in the vicinity.
“Since we didn’t have any dead carcasses or animals, we couldn’t do anything with an animal cruelty (charge),” Phelps said. “But we did end up doing a warrant for reckless endangerment just based upon the darts flying into neighbors’ houses. And we coordinated it with Fish and Wildlife.”
Flynn said BGPD detectives treated the reports seriously and built the case to the best of their abilities despite juggling other major cases.
“They deployed everything they could, including covert cameras,” Flynn added.
During the warrant service, police recovered two dart blow dart guns and numerous darts inside the largely vacant residence, according to Phelps. However, investigators were unable to determine who specifically possessed or used the blow dart guns.
Detectives canvassed the property for evidence of animal cruelty, including searching the backyard and garbage.
WDFW was able to recover a duck from Florence Robison Park, but investigators could not connect park incidents to the South Parkway residence.
While no charges resulted from the search, now almost to May, police view the operation as a success.
“Since that time, we haven’t had any further incidents,” Phelps said.
Flynn said many of the early complaints may have begun as what could have been addressed through education before escalating into a criminal investigation if identities were obtained.
“This isn’t that we’re trying to make kids into criminals,” Flynn said. “This is more that we are trying to go out and engage them early, educate them … and involve the parents.”
BGPD Lieutenant Jim Keller believes the extensive investigation likely sent a message.
“I think word has spread that this isn’t going to be tolerated in the city,” Keller said.
Officials said the absence of additional incidents since the warrant service suggests that intervention worked, though they stressed residents should continue reporting suspicious activity involving animals or reckless behavior.
