Teen in deer abuse video is police chief’s stepson

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    Brookville (WPMT) — One of the teenagers seen brutally beating an injured deer in a viral video out of Jefferson County is the stepson of an area police chief.

The Brookville Inspector, James D. Dennison, confirmed to Fox43 that Chief Vince Markle of the Brookville Police Department told him he immediately recognized one of the teens as his stepson, Alex Smith. Dennison said Markle is about as upset, if not more upset, than the next person about the video.

Markle also emphasized he didn’t meet Smith until he was 14, and Smith hasn’t lived with him for the last 2 1/2 years, Dennison told FOX43.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is investigating the video. It shows Smith and another teen kicking and stomping the deer after it had been shot. At one point, one of the teens rips off one of its antlers while it was still alive. It’s not clear if Smith was the one who pulled off the antler.

Markle said he instructed his officers to make a copy of the video to send to the Pennsylvania Game Commission as evidence. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s office is handling the ongoing criminal investigation.

So far, no charges have been filed.

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