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.
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