Bear shooting viewed online
Footage garners 5,000 hits on YouTubeBy Mark Leberfinger, mleberfinger@altoonamirror.com
CLAYSBURG - A dead black bear is cause celebre in this southern Blair County town.
The bear was killed Tuesday by police as a large crowd, including children, looked on.
To some, the shooting gave a black eye to the community because of the way the crowd turned out and reacted.
Others believe Greenfield Township police, other responding police departments and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are the ones with the black eye.
The shooting stirred up the close-knit community because of the way it went down.
''Because all of the spectators, some who brought their children, expected to see the bear quietly and safely removed and relocated, not to be gunned down that way as it was trying to get away from everyone,'' Chad Slagenweit said.
The bear's story went global on the Internet.
A video of the incident is on YouTube. It logged almost 5,000 views by late Saturday, three days after Slagenweit posted it.
The story also spread throughout the blogosphere and online message boards.
The Game Commission said Friday that the police actions were justified because the bear became aggressive after it was hit with a tranquilizer dart and descended a tree on Bedford Street. With the crowd so close, it became a public safety hazard.
''I think the crowd almost had everything to do with what happened,'' Claysburg resident Ian Leslie said.
''There were too many people too close. I think that the way everything worked out puts the town as a whole in a pretty poor light," Leslie said.
The video, though, shows what happened without any spin.
''The people who want to know and should know how it all happened,'' Slagenweit said. ''They can see it firsthand and judge for themselves instead of hearing a story that changes as it is told from one person to the next.''
Slagenweit's wife suggested he get the camera, but he said he was hesitant because he might miss the bear being freed.
''Little did I know I would capture all that took place,'' he said.
The authorities could try to talk their way out of the situation, but the video tells all, said a Claysburg businessman, who asked not to be identified for fear of police harassment.
Leslie believes the police could have done a better job of getting the crowd of 150 to 200 people out of the way.
''But people aren't grasping how they created the problem. I think people put the police and the Game Commission in a hard position.''
Leslie and Greenfield Township Supervisor Bill Lightner said they're concerned about the perception nonresidents now have of their community.
''The way they acted. They started shouting. People just went nuts,'' Leslie said of the crowd after the shots were fired.
Leslie said there's already a stereotype that Claysburg is a ''small redneck town out of control.''
''Unfortunately that's what was shown on Tuesday,'' he said. ''I think Claysburg is a great community and a really good town."
Lightner said he received a few telephone calls about the incident, but those who did call were offended by the way the crowd behaved.
''They said it was a mob scene,'' he said. ''To me, the mob killed the bear. I don't think our officers had any choice.
''It's absolutely a black eye on our community. It looked like a lot of out-of-control people. This was a dangerous situation. The decision was up to the authorities on the scene - not the citizens. They had to make a decision to protect the life and limb of the public.''
Mirror Staff Writer Mark Leberfinger is at 946-7462.
|
shellyj
|
|
|---|---|
|
06-26-08 12:22 AM
|
Hey, gibman, thought you were supposed to stop posting after 6/23. What happened? Offended your little piggy-wiggy ego?
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-24-08 8:24 PM
|
Actually, gibby when one can't write in a legible manner, it shows their utter lack of an education. So, how can one expect someone like you to handle such concepts as wildlife ecology? Especially, when it pertains to the delicate balance of the predator/prey relationship between black bears, red necked neanderthal hicks from claysburg, and inept game commission officers?
|
|
gibman
|
|
|
06-24-08 3:05 PM
|
foslrock,, when a person starts picking on anothers grammer, it usually means they are running out of intelligent things to say,,in your case that was a long time ago. you have already shown you have less intelligents, then monkey *****,,,or you would have stopped posting,,i guess the same goes for me!, i just have a hard time breaking away from a discussion , with a person as argumentative ,and obviously troubled as yourself,,psychiatric treatment has come a long way,,and if that doesnt help,,,then im sure you have a low hanging branch in your yard,,,and you can do us all a favor.
|
|
notsureofanything
|
|
|
06-24-08 2:53 PM
|
From where I sit, I see the following: 1) the cops were NOT protecting the crowd by wilding shooting off in all directions, 2) The crowds were too stupid to back up on their own, 2) Some idiots chased that bear into the town using their pick-up truck, 3) THOSE idiots, in point #2, are the ones that should be sitting their******in a cell while thinking about how they are the ones who almost: a) caused a riot, b) put the officers and all the onlookers lives in danger by harassing the animal c) causing the cops and game commission to do what they did. It's my own opinion that when someone yelled "BEAR", the crowds grew in Claysburg either because they mistakenly thought they heard "Beer" or because they thought it was time for "womens bare jell-o wrestlin' contest".
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-24-08 2:33 PM
|
Hey gibman, First off, did you get your education down at the local trash dump? It's "their diaper", not "there diaper". Where's the town of "there diaper"? Is that a section of town in Claysburg where you live? Also, I already saw on another article about this incident, that you gracefully chimed in and stated that you were a good friend of the fish and game officer. So, if anything, I question your words on this subject as anything other than propaganda to spin this incident in a favorable direction towards your friend. Nice ability to try though. Do you take your cues from watching Bill O'reilly? Moron.
|
|
claysburg01
|
|
|
06-24-08 11:12 AM
|
I lived in the town of claysburg all my life and I know how these cops are and probably always will be they do what they want.I think if they start treating DRUG DEALERS like they treated that bear OUR STREETS WOULD BE ALOT CLEANER but that will not happen cause the cops are afraid of the DEALERS.And NO the cops DID NOT do there jobs that day.1st thing that needed to be done was to get the crowd away.They needed to be way past the firehall.I mean the cops have yellow tape stuff in the car use it.
|
|
gibman
|
|
|
06-24-08 9:42 AM
|
hey epoch1, i was going to say we shouldnt feed into foslrocks bull----,,it would just keep him going,,,but its obvious he is going to keep rambling on and on and on,, i think someone needs there diaper changed?
|
|
AMJ1340
|
|
|
06-24-08 9:10 AM
|
you all need to get your facts straight the police never told any one to leave the area they only told them to move to the other side of the street by the bar and not all of the police where from claysburg and there was only one little boy behind the fence the father was in the crowd with everyone else. as the bear ran behind the fence the child ran out right a past the father as he was as white as a ghost and scared sh*tless the father didn't even regonize him for seconds after he ran out .. and they were told not to go behind the fence to begin with so that seems to be the fathers fault you call everyone else morons and need to go to jail why isn't he in jail for trying to kill his own children. why doesn't evryone just admit the truth that the police did not do their job of securing the seen no matter what town they were from and this would be all over the bear is dead he isn't coming back. next time the police & the game commission need to use a BEARACADE TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY!!
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:38 PM
|
Well, guaranteed that you're another one of those multi-generational inbreds from claysburg, that was born in that town, and will die in that town without ever experiencing anything else. Good thing, I was given a much better genetic opportunity in life. You and those cops probably share the same twig from the same ancestoral tree there in claysburg. Your momma's not only your sister, but your daddy's also a cousin and a brother to those cops, as well. Either way, have fun slaughtering all those aggressive super predator black bears in that region. Yep, the way you*******retards talk around there make it seem like these aren't normal black bears, but genetically modified superbears. I don't doubt for a second the police cornered that bear...and there lies my problem with this whole thing. They could have left it high tail out of there, but their utter stupidity and bad decision making caused this incident. Guess, you can't teach an*******red neck.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:27 PM
|
Anyway, Potatohead, have a nice night. I enjoyed acting like I really care about the whole thing. It was interesting to see you get so defensive from all the way over there in potato land. I'll think of you when I get home to my nice bear skinn rug and all of my mounts. Most of which were shot without a license like the officers. Later Tater
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:22 PM
|
How do you know that the bear didnt charge anyone? Wer you there? NO? You idiot the police had the bear cornered, and when he CHARGED them they were told to shoot by the Game Comm. This could have turned out a lot different if the idiot bystanders would have listened to the police and stayed back. However, since the police had to shoot the bear the police are the bad guys.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:16 PM
|
To be perfectly honest with you I could care less if they would have shot the bear out of the tree. At least we no none of the ******* Hillbillies would have been injured. Did you see the fat guy with the white hair right up close. The police appear to be a little out numbered con't you think. God forbid they arrest anyone. Then they have people like Don who want to make a stink because he acted like an ass and got arrested.
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:16 PM
|
And secondly, the bear wasnt' charging anyone. The bear was flipping scared, and trying to high tail it out of there. Jeez, you're a sensationalist idiot.
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:15 PM
|
That's already in google earth, idiot. The latest version has maps from last year. It's also surrounded by a lot of woods..which is also evident in the video, you f'in'g moron. DAMN, and you're on the computer too fighting this losing battle. Jeez...being born stupid is not a gift, I hate to tell you.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:12 PM
|
Google Eart does not gice an updated shot of this area NUMBTARD. There is a lane with several houses on it on the hill behind the warehouse. Once again using the computer to fight your battles. Hop a plane idiot and come look for yourself. You must havemissed the info that states there was a "STUPID *******" who was behind the fence with his kids. But I guess the police should have let the bear charge them as well. Police State? Do you think having a Sheriff Dept is any different?
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 11:03 PM
|
Another stupid red necked hick... Furcoat, epoch.. wow, yeah, there is a reason central pa is seen as a land of idiocy, with ZERO opportunity. Anyway, yep, I only carry bear spray. Been doing it for over 10 years. Have been in some of the remotest sections of the rockies too, and never had any threatening encounter, and i've seen more big game than you. These animals aren't dumb. Most animals can sense fear, as well as when their lives are in jeopardy. Also, if you ever notice, most of the grizzly attacks in the west are usually with people holding a gun. You're only on level one here, pal. I've already mastered more of this game, than you.
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:57 PM
|
Wow, you're a commodian. Anyway, back to reality. I've already google earthed the area, idiot. Do, you want the kmz file that shows bush mountain right behind it that had more than enough space for it to high tail it out of there and get back to safety? That bear obviously didn't come from out of someones house where it was living. No, it was heading back towards the mountain where it more than likely lived. Yeah, it would have needed to cross the freeway above, but it was relatively in the clear once it got past the warehouse. NEXT POLICE STATE LOVING IDIOT that is willing to defend the piggies unjustified action, please step forward. The last two didn't have what it takes..
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:56 PM
|
Must be out huggin another tree. I'll check back in later to see if you decided to say anyhting that actually makes sense.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:54 PM
|
Oh yeah, NUMBTARD? What are you like 50 going on 12?
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:50 PM
|
No answer for any of the questions or comments in my first two postings?
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:45 PM
|
Just FYI there foslrock there is only a small section of wood there behind the warehouse and then a residential lane, but I guess from all the way out there in potato land you would'nt know that. I bet you have what it takes to serve and protect. Well in your area there must be a lot of potato bandits to catch. It probably keeps the police extremely busy. Obviuosly the video is not a fair depiction of what occurred. I was down in the area where the bear was in the tree. In the video you can see the bear running behind a fence and it looks like he is about 50 yards away from the camera when actually he is only about 60-70 feet. You should really consider that being a thousand miles away from something and relying on the news and news papers for information is not the smartest thing in the world. I would bet that the only reason the man that was arrested is pushing the issue is for some Cash. I'll have to remember that what a persons earnings are determines their intellect.
|
|
foslrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:33 PM
|
Most fish and game personnel make little more than minimum wage, and I think with how this officer handled this situation, that his ability to handle these situations is definitely in QUESTION! If that moron couldn't determine that the bear was trying to flee when it tried running out of there from the crowd, then he is obviously not qualified for such a position. Secondly, the police could have let it run into the woods, but they didn't. Secondly, I don't live in Potato land. That's in the southern part of the state. I live in the rockies. Different area of the state, numbtard. And, like PA, where all the snake river planers live is where most of the anti-wildlife sentiment comes in this state. Don't think we are immune to the anti-wildlife- just throw them on a plate mentality either. It runs rampant out here too, and it's always a constant battle when dealing with moronic ********, whether they are fish and game, police, or your average low class neanderthal.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:30 PM
|
As I suspected....No comment.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:29 PM
|
FOSLROCK: Is it any better if the officer purchases a hunting license and shoots a bear in the woods to have stuffed for a decoration for no other reason that the sport of it. I guess purchasing the license and sneaking in the woods makes it more humane. To think you were calling epoch a retard. Grow up. I'm guesing you're a tree hugger or something of the sort. Who else would use spray for protection in the wilderness. And to believe you have the nerve to call others a moron. Do you happen to know any of the idiots that were in the crowd? Well I do and most of them are criminals of some sort and I hope the police track down every one and arrest them for something.
|
|
furcoatsrock
|
|
|
06-23-08 10:15 PM
|
I think foslrock turned into a potato head from living out there too long. It appears to me that on the video the person holding the camera does not have the same angle to the bear as the officers. And if you liste to the entire video you can hear one of the officers state that the Game Commission ordered them to shoot. The Game Commission probably has a little more experience in dealing with wild life than a potato head.
|