On the first of March, Troopers received a report of a vehicle smashing into a deer on the Third Avenue Bypass in Ketchikan. The caller reported that the occupants of the vehicle, “a small red Toyota truck” with California plates, exited the truck, loaded the deer and left the scene at approximately 6 pm.

Later that evening, troopers would locate the occupants and the vehicle with California plates in a parking lot at the Woodside Apartments. The two men were identified as 26-year-old Jae Kae Roders and 26-year-old Joseph D Whitt, both of California. When contacted, the two suspects were still in possession of the road kill.

On March 12th, troopers charged the two men with various counts.

Because the two men did not report hitting the deer to the proper authorities, they were charged with Failure to Notify Authorities of the Road Kill. Because they still had the deer when contacted, they were also charged with Unlawful Possession of Big Game.

Further investigation would find that the vehicle had an expired registration and the driver did not have insurance, those charges were leveled at the driver.

As the investigation continued, troopers would find that both of the suspects were convicted felons and had a firearm in their possession. Charges of Misconduct Involving a Weapon III were also filed against the two Californians.

Both men were arraigned in Ketchikan’s District Court.

  california, charges, deer, felons, insurance, jae kae roders, joseph whitt, ketchikan, misconduct, road kill, weapons