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Some Outraged By Blair County Bear Shooting

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Jun 21, 2008 7:00 am US/Eastern

Some Outraged By Blair County Bear Shooting

CLAYSBURG (KDKA) ― Police in Blair County are being criticized for killing a male black bear that was on the loose.

The shooting happened in front of a crowd of 150 people in Claysburg, which is south of Altoona.

The bear had climbed into a tree so the Game Commission shot it with a tranquilizer dart. That's when the bear worked his way down.

The bear was anything but tranquilized - and began running. Fearing the animal would head toward the crowd, police opened fire.

The bear was hit seven times. The crowd counted nearly 20 shots fired and some people began yelling at officers.

"They shot a lot of shots and which I don't think they should have and scared a lot of people - a lot of people were upset about it," Chad Slagenweit, a witness, said.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission supports the actions of the police in a statement.

"Had the officers not taken the decisive action, the bear could have covered the distance between its position and the crowd in less than five seconds," Jerry Feaser, from the Game Commission, said.

The police chief said there might have been a different outcome had the crowd listened to orders to disperse.

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.