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MERCER COUNTY, Pa. — The investigation into the controversy surrounding last month's Cleveland fishing tournament has reportedly led to the seizure of the boat and trailer involved in Pennsylvania.

According to NBC sister station 21 News WFMJ, the seizure happened on Tuesday morning in Hermitage, Pennsylvania at the home of Chase Cominsky.

Mercer County (PA) District Attorney Peter Acker told WFMJ that the seizure was a combined effort of his office, along with Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office after a warrant was issued for the boat and trailer 

The operation to seize the boat and trailer is part of the ongoing investigation in a fishing competition scandal involving Cominsky and his fishing partner, Jacob Runyan of Cleveland. The scandal received national attention and the attention of investigators after video showed weights and fish filets were allegedly discovered inside their catch.

WARNING: Language. Coming up tonight, we've talked to the organizer and several Lake Erie anglers about this now viral video of fish being found with weights in a tournament. @wkyc https://t.co/TIt6WGUsMq

Last week, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) announced that it had begun preparing a report for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office about the controversy. ODNR provided the below statement to 3News:

ODNR wildlife officers responded to the Lake Erie Walleye Tournament on Friday, September 30, 2022 after being contacted by tournament organizers. Officers collected evidence and are preparing a report for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office.

As this is an open investigation, we have no further comment at this time.

In a statement on Facebook last week, Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament Director Jason Fischer said he turned over all information about the incident to the ODNR's Division of Wildlife.

"To see so much negative light on our sport hurts me to the core," Fischer added.

Fischer also recently appeared on the "Bigwater Fishing Podcast" and explained more about what happened during the tournament. 

"I study the weights (of fish) of what these teams need in order to win," Fischer said. He became alarmed when Cominsky and Runyan turned in what appeared to be a four-pound walleye. Instead, it weighed in at nearly eight pounds.

"I'm just like...how? I inspected the fish to see it was alive, and it wasn't," Fischer added. "I then squeezed the belly of the fish and felt hard objects." He cut open the fish and discovered lead weights.

Amid an angry reaction from other contestants, Fischer said he felt compelled to make sure that Cominsky and Runyon were escorted from the park safely.

3News' Ryan Haidet and Emma Henderson contributed to this story

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