Author Topic: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty  (Read 652 times)

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Offline victorcharlie

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Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« on: October 12, 2006, 05:14:37 AM »
 Melrose’s chief of police was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with seven misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, according to state police.

Mike Trammell, 36, is accused of shooting and killing seven dogs between May 2005 and August, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Curry County Magistrate Court.

If convicted on all counts, he could face a maximum of seven years imprisonment and $7,000 in fines, District Attorney Matt Chandler said.

Trammell was booked at the Curry County Adult Detention Center around 5 p.m. and released on a $7,000 appearance bond, New Mexico State Police Capt. Daniel Lopez said.

Trammell’s wife, Marna Pyle-Trammell, said the couple had no comment when contacted Wednesday.

“By no means is Mr. Trammell convicted of these crimes. There was simply probable cause to support the charges. Like everyone else in our country, he has a right to a trial, and I would urge everybody to reserve making any judgments about him until he has an opportunity to defend himself,” Lopez said.

Melrose Mayor Lance Pyle said in a press release Trammell was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday pending a full administrative investigation by Pyle’s office.

Pyle said he hopes to complete his investigation by early next week. Administrative options can range from a reprimand to dismissal, Pyle said previously. The mayor is not related to Pyle-Trammell.

Curry County Sheriff-elect Matt Murray will step in as Melrose’s police chief on an “as needed” basis while the administrative investigation is conducted, Pyle said.
Curry County Sheriff Roger Hatcher said his deputies will also provide extra assistance and will spend more time in Melrose to compensate for Trammell’s absence during the administrative investigation.

As part of the investigation, the sheriff’s department will conduct an audit of evidence held by the Melrose Police Department.

According to the complaint, resident and witness statements described seven occasions in which Trammell shot dogs that had been turned over to him or ones he encountered in the community.

One resident told police when he turned in two stray dogs he caught chasing his horses in August 2005, Trammell opened the horse trailer they were in and began shooting at them with his handgun, according to the complaint. One of the dogs was killed and the other ran away, leaving a trail of blood, the complaint said. Four residents told police their dogs had been shot by Trammell either for being vicious, which they deny, or for disturbing other animals such as goats and rabbits, the complaint said.

The issue has been difficult for the Melrose community, Pyle said.

“I think anything like this type of situation for a small village is hard,” Pyle said. “I knew it was serious when the residents of Melrose were calling me on the phone and writing me letters — I knew I had an issue.”

In August, Pyle asked state police to investigate a complaint from a Wisconsin couple who said Trammell had shot and killed their German shepherd puppy that got loose while they were visiting the area for Old Timers’ Day.

Chandler said he reviewed and approved the charges against Trammell earlier this week.

Trammell wrote in his report of the Aug. 13 incident the dog appeared emaciated and possibly was suffering from a gunshot wound. He wrote in the report he “put down” the dog for humane reasons.

Pyle-Trammell previously defended her husband’s actions. She cited a village ordinance allowing animals that are suffering or vicious to be destroyed for humane reasons.

“He doesn’t feel good about it. It never makes him happy to have to euthanize an animal, but sometimes it’s necessary — you don’t want to see an animal suffering,” she said.

http://www.clovis-news-nm.com/engine.pl?station=clovis&template=storyfull.html&id=24932
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Offline Syncerus

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2006, 05:40:09 AM »
If the dogs were chasing livestock, then it was a good shoot.

Sounds like bunny huggers moved into the area and let their animals run wild. It was the owners that got the pets killed.
Don't vote for Socialists.

Offline ironglow

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2006, 04:35:19 AM »
What a crazy world we live in...

  A woman in NYC intentionally scalds her 3 yr old daughter to death    6 mos probation

  A pervert sexually abuses 2 little immigrant boys for several years..a big, whopping 5 yrs probation.

  A vermont judge regularly lets child sex abusers off

  An Ohio judge calls drunken driving a "disease" that requires no punishment..



  Looks like a sheriff shoots vicious and stock chasing dogs (as many have)...and faces 7 years !!...

  liberalism running amok ?
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline Syncerus

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2006, 09:07:09 AM »
Unfortunately, nothing so complex. Simple idiocy run amok.
Don't vote for Socialists.

Offline victorcharlie

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2006, 11:53:44 AM »
Believe it or not.......our children are being taught that animals are as important as humans, and thus have the same rights as humans.  It's being taught in public schools, and on TV, specifically, a show run on animal planet called "Animal Police", amongst others.

There is clearly an agenda........

I've got to agree with Ironglow.....it's liberalism, i.e secularism, run amock.

"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue."
Barry Goldwater

Offline Datil

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2006, 02:26:43 PM »

 Let me See dogs chasing my cattle, or any thing else chasing Them, They will be gone Bye-Bye.
 I carry a rifle on 4 wheeler all the time. Marv.

Offline gdolby

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2006, 03:10:25 PM »
when I was growing up and you seen a dog chasing deer w/o a handler and you shot him it was as good as bagging a 10 point buck. I grew up in a farming  and ranching community and when you protected livestock by killing harrassing dogs you were applauded. I guess this might have gone better if he had penned them up in a cage for a couple of weeks and run up a feed bill while the dogs were miserable and then had them gassed because noone wanted them. far as the starving animal he should have let him starve and maybe the "huggers" might be happy. Matters like this is what the man is hired for if he can't do his job replace him or let the huggers do it better. MHO. good hunting....Bill

Offline Greysky

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2006, 01:46:51 AM »
I was once attacked by a German Shepherd dog on public property. I shot it to death in front of the hysterical owner who tried to have me arrested on the spot. When this didn't work, she had me charged with cruelty to animals. This didn't work either. The judge told the State police to return my firearm, sent me home, and read the riot act to my accuser. Of course, this was 32 years ago. Chances are I would be convicted for this act of self-defense today.

The owners of these dogs should be charged with animal negligence, and public endangerment. They should never be allowed to own a potentially dangerous animal again.

I am also an advocate for the reasonable protection, and welfare of domestic animals, and sensible conservation of wildlife. I don't believe that just because Joe Blow is armed with a deadly weapon this gives him the right to kill any living thing in sight. An extremist I'm not. But I am guilty of unabashedly possessing strong feelings of compassion, and empathy for abandoned domestic animals that were heartlessly dumped - for whatever excuse - by their former caretakers. If people can't properly care for children and animals they shouldn't have them. And there should be severe penalties for those who do, but don't.

Animal rights extremists such as PETA are reprehensible for destroying much of the credibility of many sincere, and rational people who are earnestly endeavoring to prevent genuine animal abuse.
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Offline ironglow

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2006, 03:28:06 AM »
  I can't argue with Greysky..agree on most everything.
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline Haywire Haywood

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2006, 02:59:05 AM »
I think that if an animal is chasing your livestock, it is your right to shoot that animal... However, I think if you do, it is your responsibility to follow up and make sure that it is a humane death, not just wing it with a 22lr and let it run off to die somewhere else possibly days later.  As with most of the rights we enjoy, we have a responsibilty to exercise them in a sensible manner.

Ian
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Offline WylieKy

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Re: Melrose police chief charged with animal cruelty
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2006, 09:45:07 AM »
Any unacompanied, untagged dog on my hunting property gets put down. If it has a tag, and will come to me, the owner will get one warning, the next time it is seen, it goes down.  It is harsh, but there are a lot of drop offs at my property, and a lot of lazy owners.  There is one "neighbor" that has lost 4-5 dogs.  If I could beat him senseless and not go to jail for it I would.  I spend too much money, time, blood, sweat, and tears on my property to sit and watch dogs chase deer in front of my stand.  We also have a problem with dog runners.  They leased a 5 acre tract at the corner of the road, and drop their dogs off there then stand on the other side of the road from our 3000 acres and shoot the deer the dogs run out.  We now drop those poor dogs on sight too.  Once again the dog suffers for an @$$O of an owner.  I must say that we have not had any trouble at all out of the dog runners this season though.  Lose a couple of $1000.00 deer dogs and they have found greener pastures.

WylieKy


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