Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Darris Russell |
Injured dog beaten, buried alive by police officer
Beaver Dam, KY (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 28, 2011
County: Ohio
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Dismissed (Conditional)
Persons of Interest:
» Randy Taylor
» Adam Decker
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Ohio County Sheriff David Thompson says he has suspended Deputy Randy Taylor while authorities investigate claims that he beat an injured dog and buried it alive.
The investigation is whether there was any animal cruelty involved.
Last Tuesday, officials confirm that Deputy Randy Taylor responded to an injured animal call after a dog had been hit by a car on U.S. 62 outside of Beaver Dam.
A group called Friends of the Ohio County Animal Shelter claim Deputy Taylor, thinking the dog was too weak to survive, attempted to finish off the animal by striking it with a garden tool.
The group says the deputy, believing the dog was dead, then buried it.
Residents say three days later, the same dog was seen walking along the road.
The dog was taken to Rough River Veterinarian Clinic for surgery. Clinic officials would not comment on the dog's health, and they would not let us see the dog in order for it to remain anonymous.
While the investigations is ongoing, Deputy Taylor won't be working, though he is suspended with pay.
Ohio County Sheriff David Thompson says it is possible that charged could be filed.
Thompson said the deputy was interviewed Tuesday as part of the probe. The results of the investigation will be turned over to the Ohio County Attorney Greg Hill, who will decide whether criminal charges are warranted.
Case UpdatesThe animal cruelty charges against a former Ohio county sheriff's deputy and a former state highway worker for allegedly beating a dog in June will be dismissed.
The former deputy, Randy Taylor, and the former highway worker, Adam Decker, were both charged with second-degree cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, after a June 28 incident on Kentucky 69.
Various sources said road workers called for a deputy on June 28 after finding a dog that had been struck by a car on the roadway. The workers alleged Taylor beat the dog in the head with a garden hoe. The Ohio County Times-News also reported a highway worker the paper did not identify beat the dog with a shovel.
Afterward, the workers buried the dog in a shallow grave, thinking it was dead. The dog was found alive on July 1 after it had struggled out of the grave.
Muhlenburg County Attorney Darris Russell was appointed special prosecutor on the case, after Ohio County Greg Hill recused himself, saying he had worked with Taylor on cases in the past.
Russell said Wednesday an agreement was reached that the charges against Taylor and Decker would be dismissed if they pay restitution to the Ohio County Sheriff's Department for the dog's veterinary care.
Both Decker and Taylor will each have to pay the department $365.
Taylor was suspended during the investigation and later fired from the sheriff's office. Decker resigned from the highway department shortly after the incident.
Ohio County Sheriff David Thompson said Thursday the dismissal of the charges would not reverse Taylor's firing.
"He doesn't work for me anymore," Thompson said. "The status is what it is."
"There definitely needs to be some restitution," Thompson said. Russell said the charges will be dismissed when Taylor and Decker pay their portion of the restitution.
"I think they're going to pay pretty promptly," Russell said.
Thompson said the dog, a German Shepherd mix named Chance, has been adopted.
"I know it's got a wonderful home," Thompson said. "It's not in this state. I've met the people and we get updates. (Chance) is doing well; (she) has got a wonderful, loving family." | Source: menafn.com - Sep 29, 2011
Update posted on Sep 29, 2011 - 8:11PM |
Charges have been filed against a former Kentucky sheriff's deputy and a state highway worker in the beating of dog that had been struck by a car on the side of a highway.
Muhlenberg County Attorney Darris Russell filed the misdemeanor charges of second-degree animal cruelty on Thursday against former Ohio County sheriff's deputy Randy Taylor and former state highway worker Adam Decker. Ohio County Sheriff David Thompson told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer that both were served with summons on Friday.
Road workers on Kentucky Highway 69 on June 28 said they found a dog that had been hit and called for a deputy. The workers alleged that Taylor hit the dog in the head with a garden hoe. The workers buried the dog, thinking it was dead, but another road worker later found the dog alive after it struggled out of the grave. | Source: fox19.com - Jul 23, 2011
Update posted on Jul 23, 2011 - 6:36PM |
We have new information in the case of an Ohio County Sheriff's Deputy being investigated for animal cruelty.
14 News has learned that deputy has been fired from the sheriff's office.
Ohio County Sheriff David Thompson has decided to release Deputy Randy Taylor.
His dismissal came after a week long internal investigation into whether or not Taylor acted inappropriately with the disposal of a dog thought dead after being hit by a car.
Last Tuesday, Kentucky transportation workers reported a dog was hit by a car along US 62, outside of Beaver Dam.
Ohio County Deputy Randy Taylor responded to the scene.
Thinking the dog couldn't make it, transportation officials say Taylor tried put the dog out of its misery with a garden tool.
Road workers thought the dog was dead and the workers buried the animal in a makeshift grave.
Three days later, the dog was seen walking around the road.
It was then taken to Rough River Veterinary Clinic for treatment.
An internal investigation was launched by the Ohio County Sheriff's Office to see if Taylor violated any law enforcement policies.
Sheriff David Thompson told 14 News that Taylor was let go because 'his actions were determined to be violations of policies and procedures of the sheriff's office.'
"I have to take in consideration what's best for my agency, what's best for this community," Sheriff Thompson said. "Any type of misconduct will not be tolerated in this agency."
Thompson said it was a difficult decision to make,"these things take time. We wanted to do it right."
Thompson said in an interview that he's getting phone calls everyday from people across the nation and even in Canada, mad about the event.
The sheriff says Taylor understood the decision to take him off the force, "Mr. Taylor is very disappointed. Very sorry about the situation. His intent, which I believe, probably was never to punish the animal."
Some details on the case are still not being shared because of the ongoing parallel criminal investigation.
14 News also learned that one of the state workers involved in the burying of the dog has turned in his resignation.
The animal is now under a vet's care. | Source: 14wfie.com - Jul 12, 2011
Update posted on Jul 12, 2011 - 9:47PM |
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