Dog-fighting
Indianapolis, IN (US)Incident Date: Monday, Sep 1, 2003
County: Marion
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Mark Taylor
Twenty-three-year-old Mark Taylor of Indianapolis was convicted of two Class B misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and was sentenced to six months in the Marion County Department of Corrections last week. In September 2003, Indianapolis Police Department officers responded to a call about illegal dog fighting in Spades Park on the city's near-Eastside. Upon their arrival, officers witnessed approximately 15 individuals run from the scene, including Taylor, who was fleeing with a pit bull. Though Taylor originally gave police false identification and claimed he was not the owner of the dog, neighbors informed officers that Taylor kept two pit bulls in his backyard in poor conditions.
According to the police report, "Both dogs were thin and kept in highly unsanitary conditions. Both animals also had bite wounds and scars that are signs of dog-fighting wounds. The dogs were both approximately 4 years old, weighing less than 50 pounds, with clear signs of malnutrition. One of the dogs was found to have more than 1,000 scars across its face, neck, body and legs.
Despite the fact that the police witnessed the dog-fighting attendees flee the scene and the evidence of fighting found on the dogs, Indiana law requires more tangible evidence of organized dog fighting in order to get a felony conviction. While the police report recommended dog-fighting charges, and prosecutors did file those charges, Taylor was ultimately convicted only of two Class B misdemeanors for the condition of the animals. References
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