Nearly three months after being seriously injured by a gunshot wound while investigating an alleged deer poaching case in Clinton County, Ohio, Division of Wildlife agent Kevin Behr returned to his Adams County home March 11th.
Behr was said to have been shot about 4 p.m., December 20th – the last day of the state’s two-day so-called bonus firearms deer-hunting season - while using a deer decoy in an operation designed to catch deer poachers.
His life-threatening lower abdominal injuries were serious enough for him to be life-flighted to the University of Cincinnati Hospital. There, Behr underwent several surgeries, participated in countless hours of rehabilitation activities before being discharged.
Behr will continue to receive medical care and undergo a rigorous level of physical therapy.
He is supported by his wife, Kathy Garza-Behr, herself an employee of the Wildlife Division. Garza-Behr has used social media from the beginning to keep family, friends and others updated as to Kevin Behr’s recovery process.
While at the hospital, Behr saw a huge outpouring of support. Among the displays was the assembly in the hospital parking lot of law enforcement vehicles with their patrol lights glaring; all within view of Behr in his room.
On the journey home on Ohio Rt. 32, the vehicle Behr was in passed underneath an American flag that was suspended by the ladders of two snorkel fire trucks.
He was also welcomed home by several groups of people standing at various intersections, among them being the one at the corner of Ohio state routes 32 and 41 near Peebles.
A handicapped walkway has been installed at Behr’s home to allow for easier access to and from the structure.
In a prepared statement, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz said “the ODNR family is very thankful that Investigator Behr was able to return home this week.”
“And I can't say enough about his strength, his toughness, and his determination to overcome the injuries he sustained in the line of duty,” Mertz said.
“Kevin has fought hard to reach this point, and we continue to support him, his wife Kathy, and their family in the next phase of his recovery.”
Among the three defendants is Brian R. Liming, 44, of Jamestown. Liming is alleged to have discharged the firearm that led to a projectile striking Behr.
Liming had a court hearing March 12th before the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas. The results of that hearing were not known at the time of this writing. His Clinton County Clerk of Courts docket number is 21500047.
Also charged in the alleged incident was Bryan Achtermann, 36, of Midland and Thomas J. Davis, 35, of Jamestown.
- By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com
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