JACKSON TWP — A township resident who recently told the Butler Eagle about his issues with a local sportsmen’s club approached township supervisors Thursday night with concerns about bullets embedded in his house.

Steve Longwell Sr. believes the bullets are coming from the Evans City Sportsman Club along Textor School Road, across the road from his property on Textor Hill Road.

Longwell told supervisors he has lived on his property for 34 years, but the rifle range layout was recently changed. He reported two bullets stuck in the side of his house to police in late July and early August.

Longwell brought the police report to Thursday night’s meeting to show supervisors that the issue was labeled “civil in nature.”

“That sort of concerns me,” Longwell said. “Because bullets traveling across the road is not a civil (issue). It’s safety for the public.”

Jackson Township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer confirmed that an officer visited Longwell’s home and said that the issue was a civil matter.

“He suffered property damage,” Seilhamer told the Eagle.

Seilhamer said the club was “put on notice” about the incident. If there are further issues — specifically involving bodily harm — the club could be cited for reckless endangerment. Seilhamer said the department has no proof that the bullets in Longwell’s house came from the range.

“It is conceivable,” Seilhamer said. “But that doesn’t make it criminal.”

Longwell told supervisors he was told by friends who belong to the club that Jackson Township police get to use the range for free.

“I don’t know if that’s true,” Longwell said. “(But) I think there’s a conflict of interest here.”

Longwell added that the reason why the issue was considered a civil matter could have something to do with township police having free use of the range. He asked supervisors to investigate.

“It may be their bullets that are stuck in the side of my house,” Longwell said.

Longwell added he wouldn’t have a problem with the investigation if the police belonged to the sportsman club and paid dues.

“We don’t use that range,” Seilhamer said. “We pay the Conway Sportsmen’s Club.”

Seilhamer said he doesn’t know if township officers use the range for free.

Longwell told supervisors that bullets coming across the road don’t affect just him: They endanger anyone using the road.

“The school buses are going to start traveling the road here in two weeks,” Longwell said. “They’re right in the line of fire.”

Longwell announced at Thursday night’s meeting that he plans to sue the club. As a gun owner and member of the NRA, Longwell asked the NRA for assistance in the matter. He said he was “disappointed” that he did not receive a response and about the efforts of the police department.

The club closed the range July 13 while handling a “potential safety issue,” according to the club website. The range is now open, according to Longwell. A phone call to the club to verify this information was not answered. Longwell said he hasn’t been notified of any changes made in operations.

Seilhamer said the range had closed until certified “safety officers” were available to watch shooters. The club doesn’t need to notify the police department when operations resume. According to Seilhamer, Longwell must pursue a civil course of action.

“He just can’t use the police to get what he wants,” Seilhamer said. “There’s nothing else we can do.”

Longwell told supervisors he’s not concerned about fixing his house. He will handle that himself.

“The problem is somebody is going to get shot,” Longwell said.

Longwell said his family would be willing to pay for a third-party safety assessment of the range if the club agrees to make recommended changes.

Supervisors told Longwell they would look into the problem.