Overview of The Citation
This Park Predators episode tells the story of the 1971 हत्या of North Carolina wildlife officer Dewey McCall after a routine fishing citation escalated into a deadly confrontation in Burke County, near the Daniel Boone Wildlife Management Area. What began as a ticket for two undersized trout ended with a gunfight, a murder conviction, and a lasting legacy of memorials honoring McCall’s service and sacrifice.
What Happened
The Initial Stop
- On September 5, 1971, Dewey McCall, a veteran wildlife officer with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, stopped fisherman Dallas Key for possessing two undersized trout.
- McCall issued a citation and the men went their separate ways.
- Key reportedly told campers at a nearby campground that he had been cited, then played harmonica before leaving.
The Confrontation and Killing
- Later that afternoon, Key encountered McCall again near Upper Creek Falls.
- A confrontation turned violent; both men drew guns and exchanged shots.
- McCall was fatally shot in the chest.
- Key was grazed in the forehead and later sought medical treatment at a hospital.
Discovery of the Crime
- McCall’s teenage son, Harold, found his father dead beside the truck when he returned to meet him.
- A citation for the trout violation was found nearby, tying the killing to the earlier stop.
Investigation and Trial
Arrest and Evidence
- Authorities quickly identified Dallas Key as the prime suspect and arrested him at the hospital.
- He was later indicted for McCall’s murder and released on bond while awaiting trial.
- Evidence included McCall’s citation book, firearms, a bullet hole in Key’s truck, and other circumstantial findings.
Defense and Trial Arguments
- Key claimed self-defense, saying, “I thought it was either him or me.”
- The defense attacked the investigation, arguing law enforcement mishandled the scene and failed to properly test key evidence.
- There was also dispute over a hospital statement Key allegedly made: that he had “a run-in with a game warden” and remembered little else.
Verdict and Sentence
- In February 1972, a jury convicted Key of second-degree murder.
- He was sentenced to 10 to 18 years in prison.
- Key appealed, but later dropped the appeal and began serving his sentence in June 1972.
- He was paroled in December 1978 after about six years incarcerated.
Dewey McCall’s Legacy
Community Response
- McCall was widely respected as a dedicated and effective wildlife officer, even though he had severe physical limitations from an earlier accident that left him with limited use of his right arm.
- Friends, sportsmen, and local organizations raised money for his widow, Amelia, and their three sons.
Memorials
- Over the years, multiple memorials were created in McCall’s honor:
- A bronze plaque near Upper Creek Falls in 1980
- A nature trail honoring fallen wildlife officers in 1981
- A granite monument at the Burke County Courthouse in 1996
- A memorial at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
Main Takeaways
- The case shows how a minor wildlife violation can spiral into fatal violence.
- It highlights the risks wildlife officers face, especially in remote areas where armed encounters are more common.
- The episode emphasizes McCall’s reputation as a fair, dedicated officer who was deeply valued by the community.
- It also underscores the lasting need to remember officers killed in the line of duty.
Notable Insight
A former wildlife commission chief offered a memorable warning about officer safety:
“An officer has only a few seconds to size up a situation, and it can be difficult to tell if someone is dangerous.”
This episode frames McCall’s death as both a personal tragedy and a broader reminder of the dangers faced by conservation officers in the field.