Police respond to poachers with illegal firearms deep off North Fork Road near Snoqualmie

UDPDATE | April 21st, 1:30PM

Sgt. Kim Chandler of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife provided more information about the incident out North Fork Road Saturday night. According to Chandler, five subjects reportedly killed a deer on a Forest Service Road Friday evening. A hiker discovered the dead deer and a vehicle parked nearby and reported it. According to the DFW website, it is not currently deer hunting season.

Officers responded to find three subjects with the car and two others reported to be in the woods. Officers discovered numerous illegal firearms, including one reported stolen from Tacoma.

Sgt. Chandler said one subject was booked into jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He said no one was injured during the incident.

Original Story

Around 6:45PM, Saturday, April 20, 2019, Snoqualmie Valley residents reported a heavy police presence in the Ernie’s Grove area- out North Fork Road.

King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Sgt Ryan Abbott said police were responding to help state wildlife agents with an active poaching incident deep off of a forest service road accessed by North Fork Road in Snoqualmie.

Sgt. Abbott said the scene was still active – and residents were advised to stay clear – but multiple poaching suspects were in custody as of 7:30PM. Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Rick Johnson said four people were in custody and stolen guns were also discovered.

The exact location of the incident wasn’t clear, but Abbott said the dispatch officer described the location as 30 – 50 miles from a forest service road. He said that was why KCSO Guardian 1 helicopter was called in to assist.

Sgt Abbott said officers had the situation under control and were clearing the scene as of 8PM.

More info will be added as it becomes available. WSP and KCSO were assisting the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife with the incident.