A teenager has been charged with four counts of cruelty to animals after seemingly looking for deer and then running them down with his car, according to Port Townsend Police.

Officers were dispatched to the area of Foster and Quincy streets near Sather Park about 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. A responding officer found an injured fawn unable to walk, which was put down by the officer. At that point, the officer was unaware the harm to the animal had been intentional, said Jeff Thatcher, deputy chief of police.

There were several more calls to police of a similar nature that night, and it soon became clear someone was trying to hurt or kill the animals.

Witnesses reported seeing a red passenger vehicle occupied by teenagers but could provide few other details.

On Dec. 18, police received a tip with video of the car hitting animals. One of the clips showed a distressed fawn getting dragged under the vehicle while the operator continued to drive it, police said. The video clips allowed police to identify the driver of the vehicle, who was known to police.

Evidence supports four separate counts of animal cruelty, but police believe a fifth animal may have been killed, said Thaxton, who called the incidents “disturbing.

“I’m glad we got him,” he said.   

The 16-year-old male was booked on Dec. 18 at the Jefferson County Jail in Port Hadlock. The case was then administratively transferred to juvenile court. As of Dec. 20, the teen remained in custody. Charges are pending for the other teenager in the vehicle, who has cooperated with police. Prosecutors will determine whether to charge him, Thaxton said.