A routine patrol during deer gun season took an unexpected turn when a game warden’s attempt to collect gunshot residue and hand sanitizer evidence led to the confession of a prohibited person. The incident, detailed by District Game Warden Greg Hastings, highlights the intersection of wildlife law enforcement, public health protocols during the pandemic, and the limitations of common hygiene products in forensic science.
The case began when Hastings was called to assist a neighboring warden who had recently tested positive for COVID-19. While the fellow officer was recovering and remaining socially distanced to protect the public, Hastings stepped in to handle a report from an upset landowner regarding a poached deer on posted property.
Upon arrival, Hastings found a husband and wife in a pickup truck. The landowner alleged that the husband had shot a buck on the property, which was then found wounded and subsequently put down to verify the account. However, the investigation immediately hit a wall: the wife insisted she was the one who had fired the shot, as she was the only one of the two holding a valid deer tag.
The stakes of the investigation shifted when a background check revealed the husband was legally prohibited from possessing any firearm due to his criminal history. With the couple providing conflicting accounts and the legal implications of a felony firearm violation looming, Hastings had to find a way to establish the truth of who had actually pulled the trigger.
The Psychology of the “Longshot” Test
Facing a deadlock in testimony, Hastings turned to a technique often seen in crime dramas: the collection of gunshot residue (GSR). While not a formal laboratory operation in the field, Hastings utilized medical cotton swabs from his evidence kit to suggest a forensic sampling of the suspects’ hands.
The reaction to the request for samples provided the breakthrough. The husband immediately volunteered his hands, confidently claiming that because he had recently used hand sanitizer, any potential gunshot residue would have been eliminated. The wife, conversely, was reluctant to comply, though she eventually did so.
This reaction was a pivotal moment in the interrogation. In forensic science, GSR consists of microscopic particles of lead, barium, and antimony that are expelled from a firearm during discharge. While soaps and alcohol-based sanitizers can remove some surface contaminants, they are not a guaranteed method for erasing all chemical traces of a discharge, especially if the particles have embedded in the skin or remained under the nails.
Timeline of the Investigation
| Phase | Action Taken | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Response | Warden Hastings responds to a poaching call due to a colleague’s COVID-19 status. | Suspects detained in a pickup truck. |
| Field Verification | Wounded deer tracked and put down. | Confirmed a buck was shot on posted land. |
| Interview Phase | Wife claims she shot the deer; husband’s background checked. | Husband identified as a prohibited person. |
| Evidence Collection | Warden uses cotton swabs to simulate GSR testing. | Husband claims sanitizer erased the residue. |
| Resolution | Wife admits the husband shot the deer. | Citations issued; gun and deer seized. |
The Science of Gunshot Residue
The husband’s belief that hand sanitizer would act as a forensic “reset button” proved to be his undoing. From a medical and forensic perspective, the efficacy of hand sanitizer is designed for the denaturation of proteins in viruses and bacteria—not for the removal of heavy metal particulates.
According to established forensic guidelines, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) principles regarding chemical analysis suggest that while washing can reduce the amount of residue, it rarely eliminates it entirely in a way that would fool a determined investigator or a laboratory test. The husband’s eagerness to point to the sanitizer as a reason for a negative result served as a “guilty knowledge” indicator, suggesting he was aware of the residue’s presence and was attempting to explain its absence.
The pressure of the perceived forensic evidence eventually broke the couple’s alliance. After the samples were taken, the wife—visibly distressed and near tears—whispered to her husband and then admitted to Hastings that there would be no residue on her own hands because she had not been the one to shoot.
Legal Consequences and Wildlife Protection
The admission led to the immediate seizure of the firearm and the deer. Because the husband was a prohibited person, the incident escalated from a simple poaching violation to a more serious legal matter involving the illegal possession of a weapon.
Wildlife officers, such as those employed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, often operate as the primary law enforcement in rural areas. Their roles require a blend of traditional policing, biological knowledge, and psychological intuition. In this instance, the use of a “longshot” idea—leveraging the suspects’ own misconceptions about forensics—was the only way to secure a confession.
The case serves as a reminder that wildlife laws are not merely about the protection of animals, but about the enforcement of broader public safety laws, including the restrictions placed on individuals with criminal records regarding firearm ownership.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For specific guidance on firearm laws or forensic procedures, consult a licensed legal professional or certified forensic expert.
The seized equipment and the circumstances of the arrest will likely be processed through the local court system to determine final penalties and potential further charges related to the prohibited possession of a firearm. Official updates on such cases are typically released through county court filings or agency press releases.
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