South Kingstown Man Charged for Killing Great Blue Heron: DEM

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI—The state environmental police have arrested a South Kingstown man. Brian Briggs, 56, allegedly killed a Great Blue Heron, which is on the federal government's protected list. DEM said that crime and other offenses came to light on Tuesday when police responded to a complaint. Briggs was accused of hitting a house with buckshot.

"On May 9, South Kingstown Police requested assistance from DEM regarding a hunting complaint," the DEM said. "Briggs had allegedly fired a shotgun using buckshot and struck a house. DEM environmental police officers learned that Briggs was a convicted felon for a crime of violence and was prohibited from possessing firearms. During their investigation on Briggs' property, DEM environmental police officers discovered seven firearms, three deer heads that had been taken without reporting, and a freshly-killed Great Blue Heron, which is a federally-protected bird."

He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violent crime, killing/possessing a protected bird, unlawful possession of deer, hunting without a license, and two counts of failure to tag/check whitetail deer, the DEM said. Briggs was arraigned Tuesday in Fourth Division Court in Washington County and released on $5,000 personal recognizance.