Investigator in serious condition after being shot Read Comments
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Friday, May 29, 2009 at 6:10 p.m.

Read more: Local, Crime, Outdoors, Shooting

TABERG -- The Oneida County Sheriff's Office investigated a firearm injury in a wooded area just off of Briarwood Lane in the Town of Annsville on Friday.

According to Inv. Richard Paul, 50-year old William K. Wehnke, of Briarwood Lane in Taberg had gone through the woods in an attempt to get close enough to a turkey that was in a corn field between his residence and the woods, to shoot at it. As he did, the turkey reportedly entered the wooded area and Wehnke fired a shot at what he believed to be a turkey.

The shot struck Matthew Brady, age 26, from Green Brook, NJ in the side, back and legs. Brady, a private investigator, had been sent to the area to investigate Wehnke's worker's compensation case and had been in the woods doing surveillance at the time, dressed in dark clothing. Wehnke and Brady did not know each other before the incident. Neither knew the other was in the woods at the time of the incident.

Brady was treated at the scene by members of the Taberg Fire Department before being transported to St. Elizabeth's Hospital by AmCare Ambulance. He underwent surgery at St. Elizabeth's Hospital and is currently listed in serious condition according to a nursing supervisor.

Wehnke was transported to the Law Enforcement Building, where he was questioned and later arrested for assault in the second degree, a class D felony. He was arraigned in the Town of Floyd Court by Judge C. Clarkin and ordered to be held after bail was set at $15,000. He will return to court at a later time for further proceedings.

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10 Comments on this Story
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I agree

Posted by Steve C, Camden - Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.

I agree like I said in my previous posts , There are all kinds of disabilities , The ignorant people that posted saying this guy shouldnt be allowed to hunt are the people that are healthy enough to work and they resent people like yourself and Mr Wehnke who cant work due to disability . They consider people like you free loaders and that is just Ignorant. Good to hear you arent giving up on the pursuit of happiness just because you are disabled. Dont let these ignorant fools bother you its just thier nature. They think well he doesn't work why should I have to. Nice post thanks for sounding off.

hurt

Posted by Injured on the job, NY - Saturday, June 06, 2009 at 7:54 a.m.

The guys who are saying "what is he doing hunting?" are not thinking this through. I got crushed by a forklift 3 years ago and broke my back in 3 places,fractured my neck, ruptured my mesenteric artery, my appendix and part of my intestines had to come out too. I can still walk in the woods with a gun though. I AM 100% disabled by law. I cannot leave my house for 3 hours after I wake up in the morning because I have to lay flat on the floor after taking 3 different kinds of pain kilers, stretch for 2 hours and wait for the pain to subside just enough to venture outside. Going out and walking is actually physical therapy, (the best). After I do walk around for an hour when I can, I am back on the floor with more pain killers. Can I water my lawn? You bet. Can I sweep my sidewalk? Sometimes. Does it hurt like hell when I'm done? YES. Can I bend over to tie my shoes? DEFINITELY NOT. Can I lift my 5 year old son? No way. that is a joy I will never hane again. But I am only 38 and if I lay down and rot on the couch or in bed, I will just put a gun in my mouth. I need to be on pain killers every day all day otherwise I will go crazy from the pain..Just the mental anguish from the pain for 3 straight years with no reief keeps me from holding a job without tearing someones tongue out. Just because the pain subsides, doesn't mean the injuries are not there. Also I don't think anyone would want me driving a forklift high on oxycodone. Do you see what I'm saying? We (disabled people)can get around and do some normal stuff sometimes but not long enough to work. If I could find a job that would let me work 2 or 3 hours a day, take a break every 20 minutes for 5 minutes, anothewr potty break for a half our because of my short bowel syndrome now, not show upo for 3 or 4 days at a time (because I never know when I will me mobile again). And stay high at the job on pain killers. I would go back to work. You know anyone willing to hire my sorry butt? Back to walking. I am in a lot more pain if I don't walk a little each day than if i was just to lay down and stiffen up. My physical therapist who I have been seeing for over 3 years now keeps yelling at me to walk with weight tied to my ankles. I can't personally speak for the hunter, but just to let you guys know, it is very possible to walk in the woodss while you are on comp. Just my opinion. I hope I get some feedback from you guys..

?

Posted by Steve C, Camden - Tuesday, June 02, 2009 at 7:16 p.m.

Are disabled people allowed to hunt? What IF the guy had a problem with his foot , What if he lost an eye , What if he was out on comp for Something unrelated physically , like stress . ITs not up to you to say what people can and cant do when they are on comp. Thats between them and thier doctor. Comp is there for a reason to help people when they get hurt on the job . Its ignorant to say what they can and cant do while on it.

yes....

Posted by t l, syracuse - Tuesday, June 02, 2009 at 4:33 p.m.

i do believe that people who are disabled should not be out doing physical activities when they are on workers comp. I would bet that you cannot not name one diagnosis that would be workers comp that would allow someone to be out hunting which entails walking for extended periods likely squating carrying a gun and be ok to shoot the gun and handle the kickback.

Dumb

Posted by Steve C, Camden, NY - Tuesday, June 02, 2009 at 7:53 a.m.

So Under your way of thinking people who Are disabled or crippled and are collecting SSI or SSD or disability should just stay indoors and be shut ins so we can punish them for not working? Get a brain. How about the bill of rights ? People Can do what they are able , People Become Disabled for all sorts of reasons and that shouldnt condemn them to stay indoors and abandon thier lively hoods. Get a Grip. This Guy was More or less Stalking This other guy , Hiding in the woods In dark clothing spying on him . In any other situation thats a Crime people. Use your heads.

to the 2 below

Posted by t l, syracuse - Monday, June 01, 2009 at 3:13 p.m.

how about why was a guy who is on workers comp. who can't perform an occupation because of an injury or sickness out hunting. Sounds like the investigator was on the right track.

Trespassing

Posted by know your rights, phoenix - Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.

First of all it is against the law for the investagator to be on private property to obtain any info on a client, And again someone is where they should,nt be . Even though i feel the hunter should always know where your shot is going and never shoot at any thing untill you have no doubt what it is. Other wise you will only wound it .Seeings how he was injured on the job will they put an investagtor on his butt... WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND !!!

Scumbags

Posted by Steve C, Camden NY - Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.

These workers compensation investigators are nothing but trash , All they are there for are to harrass pepole on comp into going back to work before they are healed. All it amounts to is stalking innocent pepole and harrassing them. Im not saying that its a good thing he got shot , but only an idiot would sneak up on a hunter in the woods , let alone an idiot wearing dark clothing. Too bad this guy went to jail for a mistake.

Investigator should be investigated

Posted by wonder why, Pulaski - Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.

If the investigator was investigating this guy how come he didn't know he was in the woods? It says neither man knew the other was there. So I'd like to know why was the investigator hiding in the woods?

re: investigator mistaken for turkey

Posted by Lori Gleason, Central NY - Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.

Well, at least someone knows how the turkeys feel . . .
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