Monday, June 16, 2014
Parking Lot Incident Results Over Dog Left Inside Vehicle
A Lawrenceburg woman requested law enforcement assistance during the weekend, claiming that she had been assaulted after discovering that a dog had been left unattended in a parking lot, inside a vehicle.
The woman, age 57, reported to officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department that she had been walking past a vehicle in the parking lot at Walmart when she heard a dog barking.
She said she looked inside and found that the dog was inside a kennel. She said that she waited outside until the driver returned and “told him it was against the law.”
She told officers that with both hands on her arms he pushed her, “nearly causing her to fall.” She indicated that, “She was with the Animal Welfare League…and wished to press charges.”
The officer indicates that he made contact with the man in question who reported that he, along with his wife and daughter, had gone into the store to pick up an item, and had been away from their vehicle for around five minutes.
The man said that when they returned to their vehicle the woman, “Began to curse at him and told him she had already called the cops because of the dog.” He said he told her that he wanted no trouble and asked her repeatedly to move from behind his vehicle so that he could put his items inside and leave.
The man reported that the woman had refused to move, “To stop him from leaving on his own freewill.” He said that he placed his hands on her in a nonaggressive manner and moved her from behind the vehicle, then left.
The officer reports that while he was speaking with the man he opened his vehicle to show him the dog. The officer noted that there were partially full food and water bowls inside the kennel.
The man told him that he had placed ice cubes in the water before leaving his home. The officer noted that he felt the water and, “It was still icy cold to the touch.”
Reports show that the officer reviewed security video of the parking lot, but that he was unable to discern much due to its poor quality.
Because he was unable to determine a primary aggressor in the matter and there were no known witnesses, the officer informed the woman that, should she wish to pursue it further she would need to prosecute for assault.
He informed her that he, “Did not believe the dog was being neglected due to its water and food along with the time frame.”
