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Erik V. Olson, 35, of 517 Kepner Hill Road, Muncy, faces charges after he drew a handgun on a uniformed state game warden who caught him using a substance to bait whitetail deer while hunting with his son, a minor, off of Waldron Lane in Muncy Creek Township about 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, according to court records filed at the office District Judge Kirsten Gardner.
Deputy Game Warden Geril Schoonmaker saw Olson carrying the bait before the father and son walked out of his sight, it was stated in an affidavit. Moments later, the warden again spotted Olson a short distance away and the son standing by a tree alone "with a loaded crossbow in his hands," investigators said. Soon Olson, appearing agitated and angry, "emerged from some brush," demanding to know what Schoonmaker wanted as he walked toward the warden. Schoonmaker identified himself and explained to Olson that he "was doing a license and safety check, and trying to find out why Olson walked into the woods carrying a bottle of deer bait.
The warden's explanation "appeared" to upset Olson even more, "who began speaking louder," prompting "Schoonmaker to put his hands up and palms towards Olson," telling Olson that he was "making this more than it needs to be, and directed him to take a step back," as Schoonmaker himself stepped back in an attempt to "de-escalate the situation," the affidavit stated.
The warden stepped back until he was up against large brush and had no place to go, investigators said. Schoonmaker saw that Olson was armed with a handgun that was on his hip, and when Olson saw the warden eyeing the gun, Olson suddenly pulled it out while the warden also pulled out his service revolver, it was stated in the affidavit.
"Drop the gun, drop the gun," Schoonmaker demanded loudly several times before Olson crouched down and placed the firearm on the ground and walked away from it, investigators said. "Thank you for not shooting me. Sorry, I (expletive) up," Olson told the warden.
The tense situation occurred not far from Olson's home.
Charged by the Northcentral office of the state Game Commission with simple assault, corrupting the morals of a minor, plus six summary offenses, including resisting or interfering with an officer and using unlawful devices while hunting deer, Olson waived his preliminary hearing last week and was released on $5,000 bail.