PENNSYLVANIA -- A Titusville man has been charged by police for allegedly shooting and killing a woman’s dog with a rifle in November.
Corry-based state police filed charges on Jan. 4 against Timothy Ryan Ralston, 34, of 11162 Ralston Road, in connection with killing the Elkhorn breed dog, belonging to Heather Miller, and blaming another person for it at his Oilcreek Township, Crawford County, home.
I have never heard of an "Elkhorn breed dog". I think they mean Elkhound aka Norwegian Elkhound.
Ralston allegedly shot the dog with an AR-15 sometime between 6 and 6:30 p.m., on Nov. 12, police claim.
Ralston then gave false information when questioned by state troopers, saying another man was the person behind shooting Miller’s dog, according to police.
Ralston faces up to approximately four years in prison and $10,000 in fines on charges of cruelty to animals (a misdemeanor 2), false reports to law enforcement authorities (a misdemeanor 2) and a summary offense of criminal mischief.
A preliminary hearing has been set in the case for Feb. 9, at 11 a.m., at the Titusville office of Magisterial District Judge Amy Nicols.
Ralston is also currently facing charges for allegedly threatening to shoot and kill Miller, her children and her family.
According to the affidavit of probable cause in that case, on Nov. 19, Miller reported to police that Ralston, whom she said she was previously in a relationship with, called her more than 50 times in one day while she was at work. In some of those phone calls, Ralston allegedly threatened to “blow her head off,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states that Ralston then threatened to shoot Miller’s children and other family members.
After arriving home from work that afternoon, Miller was confronted by Ralston, in person, according to the affidavit.
Several hours later, while outside of the school, waiting for her son, Ralston approached her vehicle, reached inside, and attempted to roll down her window, according to the affidavit, which further stated that Ralston told her that he did not like sleeping alone and wanted her to “come home.”
After another threat, Miller was frightened and drove to the Titusville Police station to report what had happened over the preceding 12 hours, according to the affidavit.
According to the criminal complaint, Ralston had informed Miller during the phone calls that she “could fix the problem if she would just come home.”
In this case, Ralston is facing more than five years in prison on charges of terroristic threats (a misdemeanor 1), harassment (a misdemeanor 3) and a summary offense of harassment.
Following Ralston’s Nov. 21 arraignment, he was placed in the Crawford County Correctional Facility until posting $30,000 bail the next day, via Liberty Bail Bonds, in Pittsburgh.
On Friday, Ralston waived all three charges to trial, during a preliminary hearing at Nicols’ Titusville office.
Court records show Ralston is being defended, in this case, by Stephen E. Hall, public defender.
Prosecuting is Andrew James Natalo, of the Crawford County District Attorney’s office.
In the threats case, Ralston is scheduled for the May term of trial at the Crawford County Courthouse.
(Titusville Herald - January 26, 2016)
