10-week-old puppy beaten to death
Sidney, NE (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Mar 15, 2010
County: Cheyenne

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Todd G. Hansel

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A felony cruelty to animals charge was filed Thursday by Cheyenne County prosecutors against a 25-year-old North Dakota parolee, of Sidney, accused of beating his 10-week-old beagle and causing its death. The beating is alleged to have occurred March 15. The puppy died in the custody of a local veterinary clinic Tuesday.

Todd G. Hansel was arrested Wednesday by the Sidney Police Department after several interviews with him led officers to believe his actions to discipline the dog led directly to its death. Court documents state Hansel brought the puppy into the Sidney Veterinary Hospital on Tuesday, saying it had knocked an alarm clock off a night stand, causing it to have seizures.

The arrest affidavit states that shortly after he left the clinic, his girlfriend, Charlotte Walker, informed staff members that Hansel "told her that he had hit the dog across the face three times and once on the hind quarters."

According to the document, in subsequent interviews with Hansel, he admitted he may have blacked out while disciplining the dog, which the suspect had felt had disrespected him by behaving badly and chewing through his cellular phone charger.

The document states that after striking the puppy, Hansel said he noticed it was acting differently, and that it had begun to defecate and vomit. The arrest affidavit states Hansel noticed the beagle was bleeding from the mouth, so he washed it off in the bathtub so his girlfriend wouldn't see the blood. The investigating officer wrote in the affidavit that Hansel also admitted to "throwing the dog up the stairs."

During the course of investigation, a search warrant was obtained to examine the apartment belonging to Walker. The document states officers found areas inside of the apartment that "appeared to be dried, smeared blood," as well as vomit outside of the apartment.

"The investigation is continuing," said County Attorney Paul Schaub.

According to the arrest affidavit, Hansel claims to have trained dogs during his time in prison in North Dakota. He is on parole after serving time for narcotic charges.

A presentment hearing has been scheduled for April 26 at 10 a.m. in the Cheyenne County Courthouse. Hansel was released from the Cheyenne County Jail on Wednesday after posting 10 percent of $5,000 bond, officials said. Hansel is the son of Sidney City Council candidate Jimmie Hansel.

Case Updates

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