by Jim Slinsky

First, let me suggest that you sit down and calm yourself before you read this story. Make certain no potential flying objects are within your grasp. If there is someone in the household that you are not especially fond of, ask them to leave before you begin to read. This story is a biggest PGC debacle that has come my way in over five years of pecking out this column.
This fiasco probably started ten years ago, although no one is certain what set the PGC in motion in the present tense. In the interest of brevity, we will just say Charles Foster and a few of his bow hunting friends had a previous run-in with three PGC WCO’s. The outcome was three WCO’s who no longer work for the PGC.

Fast forward to October 20, 2002 and Charles Foster is having a Christening for his children in his home in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. WCO Matt Viscowski knocks on his door requesting to search the Foster home and premises. WCO Viscowski states that a dead deer was found amidst a pile of trash in the immediate area. Mr. Foster is apparently a suspect in the illegal killing.

Mr. Foster refused to allow WCO Viscowski to conduct a search without a warrant and Viscowski leaves. A short while later Foster notices someone searching his truck. The individual identifies himself as WCO George Hinkle. Foster asks him to leave, as well. Minutes later WCO Linda Swank, WCO Darren David and WCO Matt Viscowski arrive at the Foster home and join WCO George Hinkle who was waiting in his truck.
The WCO’s entered the Foster home shouting profanities demanding everyone in the house assemble in the living room. Mr. Foster had 21 family members in his home celebrating this Christening. At this point WCO Darren David demands that Mr. Foster “take off his pants” or WCO David will handcuff Foster and “take off his pants for him”. Mrs. Foster runs for the video camera and Charlie’s mother calls the local police. WCO Darren David shoved Mr. Foster’s mother into a concrete wall.

The local police arrived promptly and try to calm the madness. The local police ordered WCO Darren to return Foster’s pants. WCO David searches Mr. Foster’s adjoining apartment. Mrs. Foster films WCO Darren David leaving the Foster home with Charlie’s treestand, bow, quiver and release. WCO David never produced the warrant for Foster to review. So great was this fiasco that Channel 10 News came to the Foster home on October 21 to interview Foster.

Subsequently, WCO Darren David refused to return Mr. Foster’s property. Apparently, Charlie’s equipment was taken for DNA sampling to match with the dead deer. There was no match. Mr. Foster needed to remind WCO David that he was filmed leaving the Foster home with his equipment. Arrangements were made for Mr. Foster to meet WCO David at the State Police barracks to retrieve his equipment.

It was during this meeting that WCO Darren David struck Mr. Foster in the face with the back of his hand. In other words, WCO Darren David assaulted Charles Foster. Mr. Foster claims to have this attack on tape.

WCO David gave Charles Foster three citations. It took the judge mere minutes to dismiss all charges. Charles Foster went to the recent PGC Commission meeting and tried to tell his story. Commissioner Russ Schleiden gaveled Charlie Foster and didn’t permit him to speak. Vern Ross added comment that there are two sides to every story. I asked the PGC to tell me their side of the story in preparation for this column. There was no response from the PGC.

The day after the PGC Commission meeting two plain-clothed individuals, announcing themselves as State Police, visited Charlie at his home and stated they would arrest him for harassment if he didn’t stop telling his story. Earlier in the month WCO Matt Viscowski told Charlie to shut up with this story or he “might find himself in a pine box.”

Charlie Foster has hired a lawyer and is filing suit. The ACLU has stated this is the case they have been waiting for to pursue the PGC. I’m told WCO Darren David has been transferred out of the area.
I have spoken with Charles Foster on a number of occasions. He is a passionate and convincing man. Email me and I will provide his number. You can judge for yourself.

And, by the way, that pile of trash found in the area that started this entire fiasco? Isn’t it interesting that WCO George Hinkle is also the trash collector on Charlie Foster’s block?

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Sportsman’s Connection”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at  www.outdoortalknetwork.com