COLUMBIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND DEC INVESTIGATES HUNTING ACCIDENT
This was totally avoidable. Hunters, PLEASE know your target and what is beyond it.
Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that on November 20, 2018, at approximately 5:05 pm, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched by Columbia County 911 to Columbia Memorial Rapid Care at 2827 Route 9 in the Village of Valatie for a report of a person who had been shot during a hunting accident. Senior Investigator Mark Dunspaugh and Deputy Ryen Boehme immediately responded and began the investigation.
The initial investigation revealed that 54-year old Robert Potter of Corinth, NY was hunting deer on private property in the town of Chatham when he was accidentally shot by 38-year-old Ernest Sutliff. of Albuquerque, NM. Potter and Sutliff are related and were hunting together with two other family members.
Potter was transported by private vehicle to CMH Rapid Care for the treatment of a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his left leg. Valatie Rescue Squad later transported Potter to Albany Medical Center.
NYS Environmental Conservation Office Jeff Cox was notified and responded to Albany Medical Center to begin his investigation of the hunting-related accident.
Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ian Boehme will continue to jointly investigate this shooting with Officer Cox.
The matter is still under investigation and no further details can be released at this time.
Sheriff Bartlett wishes to remind hunters that it is their responsibility to always be aware of the area behind their intended target so such accidents can be avoided in the future.
The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about this incident to call the Sheriff’s Office at 518-828-3344 and request to speak with Inv. Boehme.
