Cat beaten to death with night stick by police - Harrisonburg, VA

Friday, Nov 11, 2011

County: Harrisonburg City

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: J. N. Snoddy

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A Harrisonburg resident says a cat's death was anything but quick and painless, after it was struck by a vehicle. Now, he wants police held responsible.

"Shocking," is how Wayne Meadows describes the way a Harrisonburg police officer euthanized a cat he rescued from the side of the road. He says the officer beat the cat to death with his night stick.

"I was a wreck at that point. I mean I was completely in shock. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to say," Wayne says.

Wayne said he had to call police because local vets and animal services were closed since it was late at night on Friday, November 11th. He tried to comfort the cat until the officer arrived. They discussed what to do, and when the officer offered to euthanize the cat, using a night stick was the last thing Wayne expected.

"I went inside expecting a gun shot and then I heard it happening on my front porch. I heard at least 15-20 hits," Wayne says.

The officer removed the body, but he had to clean the rest.

"It was nasty to say the least. I was sick to my stomach the whole time doing it. I tried to wash it off as best as I could," Wayne says.

The officer told him to contact police because of damage to the house. There are stains and smashed siding around the porch. Wayne did contact police, but says they didn't get back to him. However, the department offered WHSV this statement saying they did receive the complaint.

"An internal investigation was conducted into this matter and appropriate action has been taken internally. In addition, the department continues to review the current procedures in handling animal complaints is to determine if any changes or modifications need to be made."

Wayne says he was so shocked to act at the time, but hopes this never happens again.

"The only thing I wished I had done differently is as soon as I saw that nightstick I would've ran out and stopped him. That's what I wished I would have done," Wayne says.

Harrisonburg police did not say whether or not they contacted Wayne after the fact. He says he has tried several times to complain, and as of Monday night, he has not heard back.

Case Updates

A Harrisonburg police officer accused of killing an injured cat with a baton has been convicted of animal cruelty. Media outlets report that a judge found 25-year-old Jonathan Snoddy guilty of the misdemeanor charge Thursday in Rockingham County General District Court. Retired Judge Steven Helvin of Charlottesville ordered Snoddy to pay a $50 fine. Snoddy was charged in January following a Virginia State Police investigation. Resident Wayne Meadows told investigators that he took the cat home on Nov. 11, 2011, after a car hit the animal and called Harrisonburg authorities. Police department policy calls for an officer to euthanize an animal by shooting it, after getting a supervisor's permission. Instead, Meadows said Snoddy hit the cat up to 20 times with his baton. Snoddy's attorneys say they will appeal the verdict.

Source: washingtonpost.com - Mar 9, 2012 Update posted on Mar 9, 2012 - 7:38AM

A Harrisonburg police officer has been charged with beating an injured cat to death with his baton. Media outlets report Officer J.N. Snoddy was charged Thursday with a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty following a State Police investigation. Harrisonburg police say Snoddy has been placed on administrative leave. Resident Wayne Meadows said that after a car hit the cat on Nov. 11, he took the injured animal home and called Harrisonburg authorities. Department policy calls for an officer to euthanize an animal by shooting it after getting permission from a supervisor. Instead, Meadows said Snoddy struck the cat up to 20 times with his baton.

Source: delmarvanow.com - Jan 12, 2012 Update posted on Jan 12, 2012 - 9:24PM

References

• « VA State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Harrisonburg City County, VA

  Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.
  
  For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.