Published: November 06, 2009 05:43 pm      

Dog torture case is dismissed

Somerset — A man who allegedly poisoned his pet dog in front of neighbors earlier this year saw his case dismissed in Pulaski District Court this week.

Robert Suttles, 50, of Somerset, was charged in August with torture of a dog or cat, which is a class D felony, in connection with a June incident in which he allegedly gave his pet dog, Bowser, antifreeze in front of neighbors. The dog reportedly died over a period of two days.

On Monday, Pulaski District Judge Jeffrey Lawless dismissed the case, which will proceed by indictment only.

According to state law, district court does not hold any jurisdiction over a felony case if the defendant has not been indicted within 60 days from the date of the preliminary hearing. By law, that case must be dismissed and the defendant released from jail if he or she has not posted bond already.

Suttles posted bond and was released from the Pulaski County Detention Center earlier this month.

The incident began on June 30 when Suttles, reportedly angry that his neighbors had called 911 emergency and law enforcement personnel repeatedly to report that he wasn’t feeding or watering Bowser, a Labrador mix, forced “a rolled up piece of bread which had to contain anti-freeze or some type of poison, down the dog’s throat,” according to the citation obtained from the Pulaski County courthouse.

According to that document, Bowser immediately “laid down and never got back up.”

The dog died on July 2, two days after the poisoning, after Suttles allegedly “kicked the dog in the head several times while it was ... dying,” according to the citation.

Suttles then dragged the dog to a burn barrel and burned it, according to the citation. It’s uncertain whether the dog was alive or dead when it was burned.

Suttles allegedly harassed his neighbors after the incident by driving up his driveway and barking.

Suttles’ felony charges can still be brought up, but only in the form of a grand jury indictment. If he were to be found guilty of the felony charge, Suttles would receive one to five years in jail and he would be required to forfeit any animals he may own. His future ownership of animals would also be restricted.

Harassment charges against Suttles are still proceeding through the court system, and motions connected with that case may be filed on Nov. 19 in Pulaski District Court.