Wild turkey baited, run over
Blackstone, MA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 6, 2006
County: Worcester
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Andrew Clifford
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
The wild turkey was a regular visitor to the grounds of Blackstone-Millville Regional High School, a sort of unofficial mascot that faculty members and students looked forward to seeing.
Except for one.
Police arrested an 18-year-old student Friday on charges of willfully running over the friendly fowl with his car earlier this week after luring the bird into the path of the vehicle with some scraps of bread.
The incident happened in plain view of other students, many of whom were left "stunned and shaken," police said.
Andrew Clifford, of 24 Milton St., is facing charges of cruelty to animals and unlawfully baiting a wild turkey, said Lt. Gregory Gilmore. Clifford was booked at the police station Friday, released on bail and is due for arraignment on Tuesday in Uxbridge District Court.
The animal control officer heard of the episode soon after it happened, but the incident was initially reported as an accident, said Gilmore.
"We were made aware of the specifics of the incident via the school department," said Gilmore. "It became a subject of conversation throughout the school. There were some very upset faculty and students."
Gilmore said the police issued a press release to let people know someone had been arrested for killing the turkey. Many of those who were incensed by the killing called the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to complain.
The latter agency, as well as the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency, assisted in the investigation, Gilmore said.
It was not unusual to see the turkey Clifford allegedly killed gobbling about school grounds, said Gilmore. Turkeys often forage about the same territory on a regular basis in search of food, and this one apparently found a niche at the Lincoln Street high school.
"It wasn't a surprise to see the bird there," he said. "It was accustomed to visiting the school grounds."
After Clifford ran over the bird, Gilmore said, he picked the turkey up off the pavement, put it in the back of his vehicle, and left the school grounds. Gilmore said police do not know what ultimately happened to the turkey.
When police arrested Clifford, he did not say what prompted him to run over the turkey or what he did with the carcass. Clifford refused to make any comment to the police, Gilmore said.
The incident may seem like a uniquely cruel example of mistreatment of animals, but it isn't the first time local youths have been in trouble for killing a wild bird.
In October 2005, several youths were arrested on charges of pummeling a blue heron with sticks and rocks. Hopelessly maimed, the majestic waterfowl was later euthanized.
Case UpdatesA Blackstone-Millville Regional High School senior accused of deliberately killing a wild turkey on school grounds earlier this month has been expelled, officials say.
Andrew Clifford was permanently banished from BMR following a hearing several days ago before Principal Richard Porter.
But Clifford's fate remains uncertain because his parents intend to exercise their right to appeal the principal's decision -- in which case Schools Superintendent Everett B. Campbell has the final say.
"I know they're going to appeal," Campbell said Thursday. "I'm going to have to sit down with Andrew, his family and his lawyer and make a decision based on all the facts."
Clifford, 18, of 24 Milton St., allegedly ran over the big tom with his SUV on Dec. 6 after luring the bird into the path of the vehicle with some morsels of food -- leaving student witnesses aghast. Two days later, police arrested Clifford on charges of animal cruelty, unlawful baiting of a wild turkey, illegal possession of a wild turkey and hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle.
On orders from an Uxbridge District Court judge, Clifford is confined to his home pending a hearing on the charges Jan. 30. Clifford must wear an electronic anklet allowing probation authorities to track his whereabouts and may leave his home only to attend school, counseling and work.
Until last week, the student had merely been suspended from BMR, but Porter expelled Clifford after a hearing he attended with his parents and lawyer, according to school officials. Reached by telephone, Porter declined to comment on the hearing, referring questions to the superintendent.
In general, however, Porter said that a student who is expelled is forever exiled from BMR unless the decision is reversed on appeal to the superintendent. The principal who makes the decision may also modify it after a time, he said.
In order to complete a high school education in a public facility, a student expelled from BMR would be forced to seek enrollment at another high school in the region that accepts out-of-town students under federal school choice guidelines, according to Porter. Bellingham High School and Milford High School, among others, participate in the program.
But Porter said there is no guarantee that any of the public schools in the area would admit a student expelled from BMR, since there is nothing that compels them to do so.
Clifford had been on track to graduate in June, Porter said.
Campbell said he has not yet scheduled a hearing for Clifford's appeal, but he anticipates it will be held shortly after students return from the holiday break on Tuesday.
Lawyer Paula Nedder of Milford, who represents Clifford, did not return telephone calls.
A regular visitor to the Lincoln Street school grounds and its heavily wooded residential surroundings, the turkey was killed in plain view of other students, some of whom were "shocked and stunned" by Clifford's actions, according to police. In the days that followed, the killing became the talk of the school community and animal welfare agencies logged a string of complaints.
Although it was apparent many students had adopted the turkey as a sort of unofficial mascot, the bird's sometimes aggressive antics were also a source of concern for some school personnel and homeowners in the area. The animal control officer once took a complaint that the goliath gobbler was chasing members of the track team off the practice oval behind the school.
"I didn't like having it on school grounds," admitted Porter, although he says, "It was a beautiful bird and some students liked having it around."
After Clifford allegedly killed the bird, witnesses reported seeing him pick up the carcass and toss it in the back of his SUV, but police were unable to determine what he did with the remains after that. Clifford has made little effort to explain his actions to police or school officials, sources familiar with the case say.
If convicted in court, Clifford faces up to 2� to 5 years in jail and $2,500 in fines for the most serious charge of animal cruelty.
In addition to the turkey offenses, Clifford also faces unrelated charges of felony larceny, possession of marijuana and possession of alcohol stemming from an incident that occurred on school property several weeks earlier. Police found the contraband in Clifford's vehicle Nov. 20 while searching for a ring of 80 keys he allegedly stole from a BMR janitor.
Clifford was punished at school with a five-day suspension following his arrest on the latter charges, which are pending in Uxbridge District Court. | Source: Woonsocket Call - Dec 29, 2006
Update posted on Dec 29, 2006 - 1:16PM |
After a week at the Worcester County House of Corrections, where he had been held without bail, Andrew Clifford appeared before Uxbridge District Court Judge Paul A. Losapio for a hearing on Monday. Losapio released Clifford on personal recognizance on condition he wear an electronic bracelet allowing the probation department to track his whereabouts, at least until his next court hearing on Jan. 30, a court clerk said.
Losapio told Clifford he may leave his home only to go to work, school and counseling.
Police say Clifford, 18, of 24 Milton St., ran over a wild turkey with his SUV on school grounds Dec. 6 after scattering some scraps of bread to lure the creature into the path of the vehicle as school was letting out. He faces charges of animal cruelty, unlawful baiting of a wild turkey, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle and illicit possession of a wild turkey.
Meanwhile, BMR Schools Superintendent Everett B. Campbell said Clifford's parents were due to appear for a hearing with high school Principal Richard Porter on Tuesday afternoon to determine whether their son, a senior due to graduate in June, will be expelled for the balance of the school year. Clifford was suspended following his arrest two days after the alleged killing and has not returned to school since.
Because the criminal charge of animal cruelty is a felony, school officials have the option of converting his suspension into the harsher penalty of expulsion, said Campbell.
"A decision is going to be made on that very shortly, certainly by the end of the week," he said.
Campbell said he cannot make a recommendation to Porter on how Clifford's punishment should be handled because Clifford's parents might appeal the decision, in which case it will be up to him -- the superintendent -- to decide whether to affirm or modify Porter's decision.
Neither school officials nor police seem to have any idea why Clifford allegedly killed the turkey -- or what he did with the remains. After running over the bird, witnesses saw Clifford toss the carcass in the back of his SUV and drive off, according to police. Under questioning at police headquarters, Clifford declined to answer questions and police, despite searching for the remains of the bird, were unable to find them.
Depending on who you talk to, the lone turkey was either a territorial varmint who chased neighbors and student athletes or a sort of unofficial mascot at BMR. By all accounts, however, the bird was a regular visitor to the Lincoln Street school grounds and the killing of the creature -- witnessed by a number of students -- left some of them shocked and stunned.
The charges marked Clifford's second arrest and suspension from school in about three weeks regarding allegations of misbehavior at BMR. On Nov. 20, police arrested him on charges of felony larceny, possession of alcohol and possession of marijuana. Police say they found the contraband in his vehicle while searching for a ring of 80 school department keys Clifford allegedly stole from a BMR custodian.
Clifford is due for another hearing on the latter charges in Uxbridge District Court on Feb. 16, the court clerk said. | Source: Woonsocket Call - Dec 20, 2006
Update posted on Dec 20, 2006 - 10:21PM |
A local high school student accused of intentionally killing a wild turkey on school grounds was arraigned on Dec 11 in Uxbridge District Court before Judge Paul A. Losopio, who ordered him held pending a bail hearing.
Andrew Clifford, 18, of 24 Milton St., will be held at the Worcester County House of Correction until a bail hearing on Dec 18, according to a spokesman for the Blackstone Police Department.
Clifford was charged with one felony count of cruelty to animals and several misdemeanors, including unlawful baiting of a wild turkey, unlawful possession of a wild turkey and hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle. Clifford's bail was set at $1,000 cash.
Blackstone Police Lt. Gregory Gilmore said that Clifford had recently appeared before Losopio on unrelated charges of larceny and drug possession. Those charges are still pending.
As students were leaving Blackstone-Millville Regional High School for the day last on Dec 6, Clifford allegedly ran over the turkey in his sports utility vehicle. According to witnesses, he attracted the animal into the vehicle's path by setting out food, police said. Afterwards, police said, Clifford put the dead bird in his vehicle and drove off.
The maximum penalty for a felony charge of cruelty to animals is up to $2,500 in fines and 2 and a half to 5 years in jail. Clifford is also facing sanctions from the school department in relation to the incident. He has been suspended from school for five days, according to school officials, and faces possible expulsion. | Source: Woonsocket Call - Dec 13, 2006
Update posted on Dec 14, 2006 - 1:26AM |
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