The following is an account of an ongoing investigation involving 8B agents and Agents with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division. All dates, places, proper names and acquaintances are withheld pending the ongoing investigation and disposition of the case.

Agents with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office S. I. D. unit learned of the alleged illegal sale of deer meat taking place out of a local bar in the lower end of St. Bernard Parish. After confirming the information by use of a confidential source with the S. O., a special agent with the D.W.F. Covert division went into the bar to successfully make an undercover purchase of what was advertised as deer meat from the employees of the bar. The bar owner had full knowledge of the activity taking place and, moreover, was allegedly receiving the deer meat from suspected resident poachers of St. Bernard Parish.

After securing and executing a search warrant for the premises with the assistance of the St. Bernard S. O. S. I. D. unit, agents were able to locate a small freezer in place behind the bar, as described by the D. W. F. covert agent, which contained several pieces of what appeared to be deer meat, each piece individually wrapped in foil and waxed freezer paper and marked with a sale price. Agents seized the entire freezer containing the deer meat and had it secured in an evidence storage facility. Pieces of the meat, included, but were not limited to, backstrap, hind quarters, ribs and front shoulders. Specimens of each piece were photographed, procured and marked as evidence and then sent to a laboratory for testing to determine and verify that the meat was from a deer. In addition, the bar owner was placed under arrest at the scene as the warrant was being executed for his alleged involvement in the illegal sale of deer meat.

It should be noted that L. D. W. F. Enforcement Division has a stellar working relationship with St. Bernard S. O. personnel. The search warrant was executed without incident and the S. O. was able to make several arrests based on outstanding warrants and various narcotics charges. It was an excellent example of teamwork.

There will be future articles on the case based on more detailed information and as the investigation continues. Names, dates and places may possibly be disclosed pending the final outcome and disposition of the case.