Case Details

Raccoon dies in hot trunk
North Port, FL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jun 2, 2006
County: Sarasota
Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: Jessica Miller

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 9399
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: raccoon
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Under allegations of animal cruelty and falsifying a report by the North Port Police Department, Jessica Miller, one of North Port's Animal Control officers, resigned July 14.

Miller could also be facing criminal charges. North Port Police Detective Tom Stella conducted a criminal investigation into Miller's actions involving a trapped raccoon she kept in her assigned vehicle.

According to Interim Police Chief William Colligan, charges were filed against Miller with the State Attorney's Office pertaining to confinement of animals.

According to the internal affairs report, on June 9, North Port's longtime Animal Control Officer Win Sell reported he noticed several vultures in the police department parking lot and on top of Miller's truck. Flies were seen exiting from one of the compartments, Sell wrote.

Sell opened the compartment to find a decomposing raccoon, still in its trap. Sell said the signs of death were consistent with heat exhaustion or lack of water.

"The position of the animal indicated it was trying to go through the trap seeking fresh air," Sell wrote. "It is my professional opinion there was extreme suffering before death."

Lt. Kevin Sullivan reported there were claw marks on the inside of the door, "Indicating a dire attempt to free itself from the cage."

Sullivan pulled all the calls Miller responded to and found she had taken a raccoon caught by a resident at about 9 a.m. on June 2.

In her report, Sullivan said Miller wrote, "trapped raccoon transferred into my trap and transported to a secluded location where it was released." Sullivan noted the time of this entry as 10:04 a.m.

According to Sullivan, Miller worked for two more days before taking four days off. The raccoon was in the trap for eight days.

The report states the raccoon lived for three days, and was dead for five.

"The animal obviously died a slow and excruciating death, basically baking in the compartment of her vehicle without food or water," Sullivan wrote.

Sullivan said this situation was caused by "gross negligence" by Miller. He also said her report was falsified as well.

Miller was questioned by Lt. Ed Fitzpatrick on July 7.

The interview was taped. Police have not released the taped interview.

Case Updates

The State Attorney's office has decided to hold off prosecuting Miller for allegedly leaving an animal to die in her truck.

"We found no malicious intent, and do not believe that Miller did this on purpose," said Assistant State Attorney Earl Varn.

Instead, Miller will have to go through a 90-day program through the Salvation Army Correctional Services. In the program, Miller will be under intense supervision, counseling, testing and education, according to the agreement Miller signed with the Circuit Court.

"Miller must complete the entire program, otherwise, we will prosecute her," Varn said.

Miller will also have to complete 15 hours of public service work during the first 11 weeks in the program, and will have to complete a one-day behavior-modification class.

Miller will also have to pay $50 a month to participate in the program.

Miller resigned July 14 while under a North Port Police Department internal affairs investigation related to a raccoon she left in her truck while she was on vacation. Police found the raccoon dead, still in its trap. Police said it was left in the trap for eight days.

According to the taped interview, Miller told North Port Police Lt. Ed Fitzpatrick that she released the animal and someone must have put that one in her truck while she was not looking.

"If she completes the program to our satisfaction, and it appears she will not likely violate the law again, then the charge against her will be dismissed," Varn said.
Source: Charlotte Sun-Herald - Aug 18, 2006
Update posted on Aug 19, 2006 - 10:36AM 
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References

Sun-Herald - July 27, 2006
Sun-Herald - July 22, 2006

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