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Show Investigation Indicates 'Probable Cause' for Animal Cruelty Charges TICABOO Following up on last week's annoucement of a dog killing in Ticaboo, Garfield1 County Sheriff Vic Middleton said his department's investigation has revealed probable cause for a charge of "cruelty to animals" against the individual or individuals involved in the incident. The charge, a misdemeanor class B offense, carries with it a possible six month jail term and fine not to exceed $299. Middleton said that although an official complaint had been registered with the county attorney's office, no further contact had been made by the dog's owner, Lamont Banner, with the sheriffs office. He said that the only time he had spoken with Banner was at an August 2 meeting which he (Middleton) had arranged. He said that after learning on the day that Ticaboo Deputy Charlie Allen may possibly have some invovlement in the case, he immediately withdrew Allen from the investigation and took it over himself. Ticaboo sources, however, indicate that Allen continued to investigate the case in the days that followed, but Middleton said that Allen had asked only specific questions as directed by himself. Sheriff Middleton said that Officer Allen's service weapon definitely had not been used in the incident. He said there were no ballistics tests conducted and did not indicate the caliber of the weapon used. He said that as soon as the charges were filed, additional information about the weapon used would be released. Also mentioned in the department's report on the dog killing were items of information about the dog. Plateau Resources indicated its records show the dog had bitten a man in 1981 and threatened meter readers. Middleton said that he has a meeting set up with the Humane Society representative Fred Fox. He said he felt an overriding factor is that Ticaboo residents sign a lease in which a clause specifies that dogs will be contained at all times. |