Case Snapshot
Case ID: 1108
Classification: Beating
Animal: opossum
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Sunday, Mar 16, 2003

County: McClain

Disposition: Not Charged

Persons of Interest:
» name undisclosed
» name undisclosed

Two Blanchard police officers have been disciplined after the beating death of an opossum near a drive-in restaurant, Police Chief Jim Tyler said.

Tyler declined to release the names of the officers and also would not indicate the degree of punishment they received. He said the officers were not suspended.

The animal's beating death occurred about 1 p.m. March 16 after the officers were called to the drive-in at 216 E 2. Tyler said a car hit the opossum, but the animal did not die.

"It was writhing in pain," Tyler said. "The officers obviously didn't want to discharge a weapon and decided one quick blow to the head would put the animal out of its misery. One blow was not enough. It took two blows."

Erica Deutchman, a Blanchard resident who was enjoying a soft drink at the drive-in, disagreed with Tyler.
"It lasted over a minute," Deutchman said. "It had to be more than two (blows). It was brutal."

Deutchman said the beating took place before several people at the drive-in, including children who were at a birthday party. Believing the incident was carried out improperly, Deutchman called the U.S. Humane Society to report what happened.

Lou Guyton, the society's director, said a representative of the Dallas office will likely investigate the incident. The police chief said in the future such calls will be handled differently. The police officers in question are fairly new on the job and not familiar with procedure, Tyler said.

References


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