Pottstown man charged after allegedly hunting while drinking

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com

LIMERICK — A joint investigation by township police and the Pennsylvania Game Commission lead to the arrest of a hunter allegedly drinking and hunting in December of last year.

According to township police, officers responded to the area of Steinmetz Road and Mill Road after a resident in the 100 block called to report an act of vandalism.

When police arrived, they spoke with the victim who showed them deep grooves in his front lawn near the road.

The victim told officers he followed the tracks and found a white Ford truck at the corner of Steinmetz Road and Mill Road, police said.

During an investigation, officers found two empty gun cases in the bed of truck and a hunting tree stand, police said. The victim told police a neighbor saw several people leave the truck and enter the woods without wearing proper hunting gear. The neighbor also told the victim one of the men smelled like alcohol, police said.

When officers spoke with the neighbor, he confirmed one of them smelled like alcohol and he was not wearing the proper amount of the orange safety color required for hunting.

Police said three men exited the woods without any hunting clothes on or any guns.

When officers spoke to the men, they found out the truck belonged to Michael Fallon, 22, of Pottstown. In their report, police noted Fallon smelled like alcohol.

While speaking the Fallon and the other hunters, officers discovered two of the men left shotguns at the barn where they were hunting.

Township police called the state game commission and officers showed up to handle the hunting violations. Three shotguns, a .380 caliber handgun, and a camouflage hunting vest were brought back from the barn, police said. According to police, all guns and hunters were accounted for except for Fallon, who told police he was not hunting and he did not have a gun.

However, when officers went to speak with the witness again, they discovered Fallon had a gun with him earlier in the day. Court records show Fallon pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge in 2010 which prevents him from owning a gun.

Fallon was charged with one felony count of carrying a prohibited firearm and one misdemeanor count of violate rules and regulations of the hunting commission.

He posted 10 percent of his $5,000 bail on Feb. 18. Fallon is expected at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 9 at 9:30 a.m.