Case Details

Dog trapped in drum, rope embedded in neck
Portland, TN (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 18, 2003
County: Sumner
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Abuser/Suspect: Larry Wayne Bandy

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Case ID: 1859
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the person who left a live dog trapped inside a 55-gallon drum at Portland's city maintenance garage.

The dog, a black Labrador mix, had been in the container nearly five days when it was discovered and rescued. The pet was taken to Portland Animal Hospital where it was treated.

The animal had a rope embedded around its neck. He just cowered in the cage and didn't make a sound in the first hours after the rescue. A report of animal cruelty has been filed with the Portland Police Department and Officer Joey Rush is investigating. Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call them at 615-325-2061 or Whitefield at 615-325-5330.

Case Updates

Portland resident Larry Bandy, 62, has entered a best-interest plea of guilty to vandalism in an animal cruelty case that brought national attention to the county in 2003.

The plight of a dog found sealed in a 55-gallon drum outside Portland's city garage Dec. 15, 2003, raised public outcry here and across the country.

A worker heard the dog's yelps that morning and found the Labrador mix locked in the barrel standing in several inches of feces and urine.

The dog also had a rope around his neck and was severely injured and malnourished.

The dog earned the name "Miracle" after Portland animal control officer Carl Whitefield said it was a miracle the dog had survived the ordeal, which lasted for at least four days.

An investigation by Portland Police and the Sumner County Sheriff's Office led authorities to Bandy, who was charged with aggravated cruelty and later released on $5,000 bond.

He pleaded to the vandalism charge on Oct 13 before Criminal Court Judge Jane Wheatcraft.

"The vandalism is the destruction to private property, which in this case the dog was the property," Assistant District Attorney Wayne Hyatt said.

Bandy received 11 months, 29 days of jail time, but that was suspended in lieu of 100 hours of public service work.
Source: Tennessean - Oct 19, 2005
Update posted on Oct 19, 2005 - 8:03PM 
Although Bandy denied to officers that he�d committed the recent abuse, he did tell them, �he�d killed dogs in the past,� according to records. The Sumner County Sheriff�s Deputy, Det. Carl Edison, also wrote in the affidavit that �defendant had previously been arrested over incidents involving dogs whereas, defendant was alleged to have threatened the use of a firearm and in one incident did use a firearm to kill a dog. Based on the above, officer feels that there is a potential risk of this being an offense that may continue if a bond is not required.�

Bandy, who told The News-Examiner Monday that he was innocent of the new charge, was freed on $5,000 bond. He faces arraignment in Sumner County General Sessions Court on Feb. 4. Bandy could not be reached yesterday for comments on his past arrests involving dogs. Neither could his attorney, John Bradley.

Sumner County Criminal Court records show that Bandy was charged with shooting a dog to death in 1986. He was also charged with assault on the dog�s owner.

During the court hearing, prosecutors dropped the dog shooting charge, and Bandy pleaded guilty to simple assault.

He was sentenced to six months in jail, but that was waived after he paid $75 to the humane society.

In a more recent case, Bandy was indicted in December, 2001 on two cases of unlawfully and recklessly causing Jennifer Dover and Michael Brewer to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury by use of a handgun.

Records show that the woman, who rented property from Bandy, had gone to his house to pay her rent, when Bandy �walked into the residence waving a pistol at her, telling her that if she didn�t remove the dog at the rental place he would shoot the dog and her boyfriend, Brewer,� according to a police report filed by Deputy Kerry Golob.

In that case, Bandy was placed on pretrial diversion, with provisions that he stay away from firearms, attend anger management classes and perform public service.

In March, 2003, his state probation officer, asked the court to violate his probation for failure to follow guidelines. In a letter to the court, the probation officer noted that Bandy had not attended anger management classes and paid one of his employees to perform the public service, according to court records.

The probation officer also wrote that during a home visit, a large gun case, filled with weapons was visible in Bandy�s home.

Following those violations, the state asked the court to terminate the former agreement that suspended prosecution.

That motion was filed on Oct. 14, 2003.

Then on Nov. 7, 2003, almost a month after Miracle was found sealed in the chemical drum, those previous cases were retired, without explanation in court records.

Assistant District Attorney Ron Blanton, was the prosecutor. Blanton could not be reached for comment yesterday. But his boss, Sumner County District Attorney General Ray Whitley, said the victims in that case, could not be found, so they could not go ahead with any prosecution.

No motive for the alleged crime against Miracle has been released by investigators.

style="background-color: #F0F0F0">Update posted on Jan 26, 2004 - 10:23PM 
A Portland businessman, Larry Bandy, 61, was charged January 2004 with aggravated cruelty in the case of Miracle, a Labrador mix who was found sealed in a 55-gallon drum on Dec. 15, outside the city maintenance garage, which is across the street from the Portland Animal Control shelter case.

After his rescue from the drum, Miracle was cared for several days at a local animal hospital for injuries from his confinement, including chemical burns, scrapes, dehydration and malnourishment.

The dog was named Miracle, by an animal control officer, because of his ability to endure at least four days inside the chemical barrel in four to five inches of feces and urine. The dog also had a rope tied around his neck.

Bandy turned himself in to authorities Monday, after learning there was a warrant for his arrest.

Bandy, who owns rental properties in Portland, is free on $5,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear Feb. 4 in Sumner County General Sessions Court.
Update posted on Jan 26, 2004 - 9:24PM 

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References

The Tennessean

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