Case Details

Dog dragged behind car
Flint, MI (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005
County: Genesee
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Samuel J Motley, Jr

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 5421
Classification: Vehicular
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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It's been a rough 24 hours for a dog who suffered injuries after being dragged behind his owner's car for several miles. An off-duty police officer spotted the 85-pound German Shepherd in the 700 Block of East Baltimore in Flint on the afternoon of Aug 16.

Animal control officials say they believed the dog had been dragged from Genesee Township to the Baltimore Street location.

The dog suffered some serious injuries, but survived from the the harrowing experience.

Case Updates

Samuel J. Motley Jr. told police he dragged his German shepherd down the street behind his car because he was "tired of that (expletive) running away." But two people who witnessed the scene in August 2005 said the sight sickened them. "Very inhumane, very evil," said Kendra Robinson, 33, of Flint, describing the type of person who would do such a thing. Mike Gallup, 54, of Mt. Morris, was another motorist who saw the dog running behind Motley's vehicle, trying to keep up. "He ran until he couldn't run anymore," Gallup said of the elderly male dog, which fell at least once. "I got sick to my stomach," he said after seeing the dog fall. "That's something I don't want to see again."


Police and witnesses said the dog was secured to Motley's truck on a 5-foot leash. The dragging left the animal with all four legs scrapped to the bone in several spots.
On Friday, Motley, 57, of Flint, pleaded no contest to killing or torturing animals, a 4-year felony. Motley waived a preliminary examination before Flint District Judge Nathaniel C. Perry III, who accepted the plea under a program that allows district court judges to accept felony pleas. Motley now faces a Feb. 5, 2006 sentencing before Genesee Circuit Judge Judith A. Fullerton.
Prosecutors will recommend that Fullerton sentence Motley within guidelines, which call for up to 9 months in jail and probation. Motley also could be ordered to perform up to 500 hours of community service, pay for the veterinary cares the dog required and be prohibited from owning another animal.


Police said the incident occurred about 2 p.m. Aug. 16, 2005 when other motorists, and then police, saw Motley dragging the dog behind his car on E. Baltimore Boulevard near N. Saginaw Street. Flint police Sgt. Poriot Dye said the 85-pound dog was taken from Motley, has recovered from its injuries and has been adopted. "The whole purpose was to ensure that the dog is taken care of," Dye said. Witnesses said Motley was not driving that fast, but said the dog was having a tough time keeping up with the moving car.

Robinson said she confronted Motley after he was stopped by an off-duty Flint cop and said Motley told her to "mind your own business." "I would have slammed into him (with my car) to stop it," Robinson said. Gallup said Motley told police the dog had been in the trunk and must have jumped out. But Gallup said Motley's trunk was filled with other items. He said Motley was well-dressed and driving a luxury car.


Attorney Amy M. Kline, who represents Motley, said her client has been dealing with an alcohol problem that escalated and was brought to light by this incident. She said he is a Vietnam veteran and worked years ago for former Mayor James Sharp in a grant capacity. Kline said Motley has been receiving treatment at a Veterans Administration hospital in Saginaw.


Motley is being held in the Genesee County jail in lieu of a $7,500 cash bond.
Source: M Live News - January 7, 2006
Update posted on Jan 7, 2006 - 8:07PM 

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