The man was apparently reported to police by a so-called “neighbor” and he was seen pulling the bears towards a ravine.
With Neighbors like that, who needs enemies?
The right of the state to what I wonder?
One thing I would recommend to anyone faced with this problem is to call your local game warden and make a report when faced with a problem bear or other predator.
You can (in my state anyway) get a nuisance animal hunting permit for the animal if you can show damage to your property or show that the animal poses a danger, a picture of the animal on your deck looking in your window I think would suffice.
Anyway after making the report you have shown that you a respecting the law and that you considered the animal dangerous. Always ask the warden to log your call.
Also call your police department to report the animal for the same reason to document that the animal is threatening.
Then when you shoot the animal you have documented with the authorities that you considered the animal threatening.