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Case ID: 5644
Classification: Shooting
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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33 dogs shot to death
Saint Bernard Parish, LA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005
County: Saint Bernard

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 6 files available

Alleged:
» Mike Minton
» Clifford Englande

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Despite pleas from dog owners in writing scrawled across the walls of a middle school, fourteen dogs, left by their owners in hopes of returning to them, were slaughtered, shot in the body cavity, forcing the dogs to suffer a prolonged death. All were found dead at Beauregard Middle School in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans.

Pasado's Safe haven is offering a $10,000 reward for information on the shooter(s).

For a complete case history, visit

Case Updates

A St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputy and a former deputy are set to stand trial separately early next year on felony aggravated cruelty to animals charges stemming from the alleged fatal shooting of dogs on the streets of St. Bernard in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina.

Clifford "Chip'' Englande, a sergeant assigned to administrative duties, and Michael Minton, who is no longer working for the Sheriff's Office, pleaded innocent in February and were scheduled to be tried together this week.

As it stands now, Minton will be tried Jan. 29 by a jury in state District Judge Robert Buckley's courtroom and Englande will be tried Feb. 14 by the judge, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Charles Foti said Wednesday.

The Attorney General's Office is handling the prosecution of the case, which is being followed closely by animal welfare advocates such as Pasado's Safe Haven in Washington state.

The charges carry up to 10 years in prison.

Minton and Englande claim the dogs were suffering and a threat to police.

Prosecutors counter that the deputies' behavior amounted to cruelty.

A Dallas Morning News photographer captured the shootings on videotape and interviewed Minton.

On the tape, which was turned over to Attorney General's Office investigators, Minton said, "Really, it's better for that dog, really. Because, you know, where is he going to find food? Where is he going to find water? It's more humane for the dog.''

The indictment handed down against Englande and Minton by a St. Bernard grand jury in November 2006 alleges that the deputies intentionally tortured and maimed numerous dogs that were left behind in the streets of St. Bernard after the storm.

Pet owners filed a federal civil lawsuit against the parish, Sheriff's Office and nearly 20 deputies in October 2006 in connection with the post-Katrina discovery of the bullet-riddled bodies of 33 dogs and cats at three St. Bernard schools. The pets had been left in the care of St. Bernard sheriff's officers by evacuees.

The Attorney General's Office is investigating those deaths.
Source: 2theadvocate.com - Nov 8, 2007
Update posted on Nov 8, 2007 - 12:23PM 
The trial of two men accused of shooting dogs in St. Bernard Parish during Hurricane Katrina while working for the Sheriff's Office has been pushed back to November.

The trial for Michael Minton, who is no longer working for the Sheriff's Office, and Clifford "Chip'' Englande, a sergeant currently assigned to administrative duties, had been set to begin Tuesday in state District Court in Chalmette.

Minton, 43, and Englande, 35, were indicted last year on felony animal cruelty charges. Both have pleaded innocent.

The men are accused of shooting dogs that had been abandoned by their owners who evacuated after the parish suffered massive flooding during and after the hurricane.

A spokeswoman for state District Judge Robert Buckley said the judge granted a request by the state Attorney General's office, which is prosecuting the case, to postpone the start of trial.

The trial is now slated to begin Nov. 6 in Chalmette.
Source: NOLA.com - May 7, 2007
Update posted on May 9, 2007 - 12:35PM 
A current St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputy and a former deputy pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals in a case dating back to Hurricane Katrina.

Michael Minton, who has since left the Sheriff's Office, and Clifford "Chip" Englande, a sergeant who has since been assigned to administrative duties, did not appear in state District Court. Their attorneys entered their pleas before Judge Wayne Cresap.

The two men are accused of shooting dogs in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina.

Trial has been set for May 8.

Animals rights activists gathered outside the courthouse, some holding signs with slogans such as "Jail time for animal cruelty." Other animal rights activists sat in on the proceeding.

A state grand jury indicted Minton and Englande last December. The state Attorney General's office investigated and will prosecute the case.

Jeremy Lee, Minton's attorney, said his client only shot dogs that were dangerous. Lee said Minton and Englande were good deputies trying to protect the welfare of citizens.

Pat Fanning, Englande's attorney, declined to comment.

Minton and Englande are currently free each on $10,000 personal surety bonds.
Source: Nola.Com - Feb 14, 2007
Update posted on Feb 15, 2007 - 4:48AM 
A Grand Jury has indicted St. Bernard Sheriff's Officers in the street shootings of dogs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

According to Mimi Hunley, Asst. State Attorney General, Louisiana:

"The Grand Jury in St. Bernard Parish on Wednesday indicted former Deputy Mike Minton and presently employed Deputy Chip England for aggravated cruelty to animals related to the street shootings after Katrina. This is a felony and was the most serious of all the crimes they could have indicted them for. AAG Julie Cullen and I handled the presentation. We are still working on the school shootings. " -- Mimi Hunley, Assistant Attorney General Criminal Division

Pasado's Safe Haven discovered 33 dogs and cats massacred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard schools and provided investigators the cost of necropsies (animal autopsies) on all 33 animals (costing $7700) and shot DV videotape of the dead animals as part of an Louisiana State Attorney General investigation in the school shootings.
Source: Pasado's Safe Haven - Dec 2, 2006
Update posted on Dec 2, 2006 - 12:32PM 

References


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