Surveillance cameras, tips lead to arrest in downtown deer shooting

A Whitefish man has been arrested in connection with the January shooting of two deer near downtown Whitefish. Tarn Sandelin, 22, surrender to Whitefish Police last week.

Sandelin has been charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief, discharging a firearm within city limits and negligent endangerment. He also faces charges from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. If convicted, Sandelin faces up to a year in the Flathead County Jail and a $3,000 fine. Bond was set at $2,000.

Sandelin allegedly fired 10 shots with a .40 caliber pistol around 4 a.m. on Jan. 7, killing two deer in a yard off of Baker Avenue near the Tailwaggers pet store. One of the deer was found dead the next morning in a yard downtown. The other was found injured on the grass in front of the Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue. That deer was later destroyed.

Alcohol was a factor in the incident, Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said.

Five bullet holes reportedly penetrated a wall at Tailwaggers pet store. One of the bullets went through the outside wall, a metal desk in a back office, then through a freezer and box of frozen dog bones. Another bullet traveled through the wall and bags of dog food before penetrating the back wall.

No one was injured in the incident.

Detectives were able to identify Sandelin as a suspect after a tip from a witness matched footage from two surveillance cameras.

A witness on Central Avenue reported hearing shots fired at 4 a.m., before seeing a white pickup truck speeding south on Baker Avenue then heading west on Sixth or Seventh Street.

Surveillance footage later obtained from a camera at Whitefish Credit Union was sent to the FBI where they were able to enhance the image quality. The footage reportedly showed a four-door white Ford pickup stopped on Baker Avenue where 10 bullet cases were found in the street by police.

Another surveillance camera at Mike’s Conoco on U.S. 93 South reportedly captured footage at about 2 a.m. of Sandelin in the same white pickup. The footage reportedly shows Sandelin entering the store with three other men to purchase beer.

A tip from Crime Stoppers also helped detectives identify Sandelin as a suspect.

Sandelin cooperated fully after being confronted with the details of the investigation.

Dial commended the community for their assistance in solving what he called a “senseless and extremely reckless crime.”

“A lot of work went into this case,” Dial said. “This had more public outcry than most of the other heinous crimes committed here. It’s good to see the public step forward and help out.”