By SHAUN SMITH
Staff Writer

SOMERS POINT – An Egg Harbor Township driver has been charged with running down two ducks in the parking lot of the Somers Point Acme Saturday afternoon.

Police said Steven Davey, 21, deliberately struck two mallards with his car at about 4 p.m. Aug. 2, killing one.

They said a witness reported that Davey was stopped in his vehicle waiting for the ducks to cross when he suddenly sped up, killing one duck instantly and hitting the other.

According to police reports, Davey then turned to a witness who was writing down his license plate number, pointed to the dead duck on the ground, and asked, “Did you get it?”

Then he laughed and drove away, according to a witness, police said.

Rich Frank, a cruelty investigator for the Atlantic County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said Tuesday that he recovered the body of the duck and filed charges earlier this week. He said the duck that was killed wasn’t yet fully grown. The other duck flew away before it could be examined or treated.

Frank said there have been several incidents reported recently of drivers running down animals, but this is the first time in which someone was able to get a license plate number that led to a charge against a person accused of doing it.

“If anyone ever sees anything like this, get a license plate number,” he said.

Davey is charged with needlessly killing an animal. His court date is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug 26. If convicted, he could face between $250 and $1,000 in fines and serve up to 30 days community service or up to 6 months in jail.