Tommy L. Larson is charged with one count each of first-degree animal abuse and first-degree animal neglect, according to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s office, Larson was driving a Chevy S10 pickup that had a rope attached to it. The other end of the rope was attached to a dog. Investigators tell KOIN 6 News that the dog, named Dixie, was less than a year old.
The alleged incident took place on April 22, 2015 on East Eckman Creek Road, according to deputies. The investigation started when a man called 911 and told dispatchers that he was following a pickup as it dragged a dog.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Cody Tadlock responded and in an affidavit writes, “I observed that there were long blood streaks on the asphalt.” The deputy estimated that he had traveled about 3 miles, following the blood streaks to the 911 caller’s location.
As Tadlock was responding, the 911 caller told dispatchers that the rope around the dog’s neck had come free. The caller thought the dog was dead as it lay in the road, according to court documents.
The 911 caller told Tadlock that the Chevy S10 was travelling about 35 miles per hour and that the dog was being dragged by its paws, according to court documents. The 911 caller tried to pull up next to the suspect’s vehicle but “every time he would try, the driver of the vehicle would swerve at him,” according to Tadlock’s affidavit.
Deputies learned that every time the driver would swerve or go around a corner, the dog would rub against the rear left tire, according to court documents.
When Tadlock observed the dog on the ground he noticed a puddle of blood. A woman was on scene trying to keep the dog comfortable and had given the dog a blanket, according to court documents.
The deputy, though, noticed that Dixie’s front paws were worn down past where the nail should have been. “There was thick, pooling, blood where the ends of her toes had been,” according to Tadlock’s affidavit.
The license plate that the 911 caller gave deputies came back to Larson, court documents state.
Two days after the alleged incident, deputies spoke with Larson who claimed that he had been driving around with his cousin. He told the two deputies that Dixie was in the back of the truck. He admitted to turning around and noticing that Dixie was missing, records show.
Larson told deputies that he had secured Dixie to the truck by trying a piece of twine that was “not very strong,” according to court documents. When asked by deputies who made sure Dixie was in the truck before starting to drive, Larson was unable to say whether he had checked or not, according to court records.
Dixie was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, but was euthanized because of the injuries.
A future court date has not been set. Investigators have not said who owned Dixie. The booking photo provided by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is from September 2014, Cpl. Debbie. Evertt says.
(KXAN - Aug 4, 2015)
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