Texas: Joseph Booth, 54, charged with animal cruelty; accused of purposely dragging his horse along the road ripping its skin off

TEXAS -- A Killeen man, later identified as Joseph Edward Booth, 54, was arraigned Monday on a charge of cruelty to a livestock animal.

Killeen police received a call May 17 about a horse running behind a trailer on Trimmier Road, and then shortly after received another call regarding a maroon Silverado truck and a bloody horse near Charles Patterson Middle School, according to the affidavit.

While driving south on Trimmier, an officer observed a maroon truck pulling a horse trailer, and entering a driveway on Trimmier, according to the report.

The officer reported he identified the driver as Joe Booth, who advised he needed to restrain his horse, according to the affidavit.

The officer then observed that the horse had large patches of hair removed, a deep cut, missing flesh above his left eye and blood on the horse’s left front side, injuries consistent with being dragged along the ground, according to the report.

The officer spoke with Booth, who said he was pulling his horse behind the truck and horse trailer when he CLAIMS was informed by a person on a motorcycle that his horse had fallen, according to the affidavit.

Oh yes, the whole "I didn't know!" defense.

Two witnesses reported seeing the truck traveling at about 35 to 40 mph, with a horse tied to the back of the trailer being dragged, according to the affidavit.

One of the witnesses reported observing that a motorcyclist had to force the pickup driver to finally stop, according to the report.

The officer said he spoke with a veterinarian who came to treat the horse, who stated the injuries, road rash and lacerations, were consistent with being dragged on a road, according to the report.

Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke set Booth’s bond at $20,000 on Monday.

Apparently Joe Booth has serious anger issues, along with drug arrests.

PREVIOUS ARRESTS:

January 23, 2013
Killeen man threatens driver with gun in road rage incident

A 50-year-old Killeen man upset that someone was slowing him down from getting his horses to the vet has been arrested for deadly conduct. Joseph Booth is accused of waving a handgun at another driver during a road rage incident on Christmas Eve.

A driver of a black Mercedes called police around noon Monday after the incident occurred on Highway 190 near Nolanville.  The driver gave the operator a description of the suspected truck pulling a horse trailer.

Deputies found the truck, and stopped it. The driver, Booth, explained to deputies that he was angry the driver of the Mercedes was driving under the speed limit in the fast lane. After talking to Booth, police searched his vehicle and recovered a .22 caliber revolver, a loaded shotgun, and a controlled substance under four grams.

Booth was transported to the Bell County Jail, but was allowed to call a friend to take care of the horses.


February 21, 2013
The Bell County grand jury returned an indictment against Joseph Edward Booth, 50, of Killeen, on a charge of possession of cocaine, 1 gram or more.

June 3, 2016
Name BOOTH, JOSEPH EDWARD
Global Subject Number 233876
Date of Birth 9/1/1962
Sex MALE
Race BLACK
Height 6'3"
Weight 210 lbs
Address 2801 WOODLANDS DR KILLEEN, TEXAS (STATE) 76549
Offense date: 05/23/2016
Arrest date: 06/3/2016
Total Bond Amount $0.00
Offense:
PC 22.01(a)(1) / ASSAULT CAUSES BODILY INJURY FAMILY MEMBER

(KDH News - June 15, 2017)