Dog thrown from 2nd floor balcony
New Albany, IN (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Apr 8, 2011
County: Floyd

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Thaddeus Sprigler

A New Albany man was charged on Friday with class D felony animal cruelty for allegedly throwing his girlfriend's dog off a second-story deck in the 300 block of Spickert Knob Road where the couple live.

A man called the New Albany Floyd County Animal Shelter and said he witnessed 31-year-old Thaddeus Sprigler throw the dog and heard it hit the pavement below the deck.

Sprigler's girlfriend said the dog, a 2-year-old small black terrier mix named "Jax," had not been aggressive or threatening to Sprigler.

Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson said he believes the dog was thrown in retaliation for a domestic argument between the couple.

"Animals are abused at times in relationships as a retaliatory measure, and it's the belief of my office that's what happened here," Henderson said.

Henderson said there were no allegations of physical abuse that would lead to domestic battery charges.

According to the probable-cause affidavit, Sprigler refused to speak with an animal control officer to discuss what happened.

The dog had no serious injuries. David Hall, director of the animal shelter, said the dog is in "excellent shape." It will remain at the shelter until the case is resolved, Hall said.

The class D felony carries a possible sentence of six months to three years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Sprigler has not yet been arrested or appeared in court.

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