Judge shuts down Wapakoneta shooting range

WAPAKONETA - The Auglaize County Fish and Game Association was ordered by Common Pleas Judge Frederick Pepple to halt operation of its shooting range last week after neighboring residents complained of bullets flying over their heads and, at one point, striking their home.

Janet and Brent Christler, of Wapakoneta, filed a request for preliminary and permanent injunction in October 2024.

The couple have lived in a residence that borders the fish and game club since 1986. At some point between 1986 and 1998, the Christlers complaint claims the club changed its shooting range from north-facing to south-facing, per court documents.

After that, the complaint alleges that Janet Christler experienced bullets passing close by over her head as well as striking some nearby trees while in her backyard in November 1998.

The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office was notified of the incident, and a sheriff's deputy notified the fish and game club president at the time, William Garrett, court documents state.

"Fish and Game confirmed that someone had been shooting and advised that they would address the issue at their board meeting," court documents state.

On or around April 22, 2018, the couple then noticed bird shot hitting their home and barn, the complaint reads. A sheriff's deputy confirmed the complaint and again notified the club.

On June 13, 2024, the couple along with two hired movers noticed that bullets had ricocheted off of their metal roof, the complaint states. The incident was corroborated by the couple's son-in-law, Thomas Harris, as well as the two hired movers, Brandon Davis and Tyler Humes. The sheriff's office investigated the incident and found that there had been individuals shooting at the fish and game club's shooting range during the suspected time period.

In addition, shooters at the club were found to have illegally used Tannerite, a material that becomes explosive when mixed and is designed to be placed behind a target and to explode if the target is hit, court documents state. The couple heard the explosion, which was heard a quarter mile away or more on Dec. 26, 2024. Club members denied using the explosives, however residue of Tannerite found by sheriff's deputies investigating the scene corroborated the account of an explosion.

In the civil complaint, Janet and Brent Christler alleged the fish and game club permitted the operation and shooting of firearms at its property, which invaded and interfered with their private use and enjoyment of their land, court documents state. As well, the couple alleged the club failed to properly design or manage its shooting range to prevent the potential and unreasonable risk of harm, which could have resulted in injury.

On March 5, Judge Pepple granted the couple's injunction and ordered the fish and game club to halt its shooting range operations, court documents state. In order to resume operation of the shooting range, the club must permanently comply with the state law as applicable to shooting ranges and must implement a series of changes to operations, including:

• Club members must log in and log out with dates, times and full names and addresses of all persons with them, each time they use the range, and the club must maintain that record for at least four years.

• Change the code on the club padlock by April 1 of each year so that former members who are not current cannot enter; thereby all people entering will be current in the training, including without limitation the requirement to log in.

• Each member that brings guests must agree to be responsible to oversee that their guests (non-members) not fire any weapons; if this is violated, members must forfeit membership for at least 12 months and members must agree to be liable for any damages caused to the club or any other person by the guests.

• Each member shall agree to be liable for any damages that the member causes to other members, guests or any other persons by their negligence.

• The club shall establish a mechanism on the club's website or Facebook page, or similar platform, for who the public or law enforcement may contact for registering a complaint against users of the range for safety violations and establish a written policy for handling any such complaint, in addition to the signage already in place.

• The club shall, within 30 days of the filing of this injunction, request the Chief of the Division of Wildlife, to inspect the side berm of its shooting range and shall correct any deficiency it may have so that it complies with the NRA Range Source Book within six months. When the Chief of the Division of Wildlife is satisfied that the side berm complies with the Source Book and his regulations, he may certify that matter to the club who shall file such report with the court. Otherwise, the club shall serve copies of all such reports or other proof upon the attorney for the plaintiffs, who shall have 14 days to object to the report or to contest the proof. If uncontested, the court will note satisfaction of this requirement on its journal.