STAFF REPORT :::
The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office investigation into criminal allegations involving the Spalding County Animal Shelter has been completed.
Sheriff Darrell Dix reports the investigation found no criminal acts or policy violations had occurred.
According to Dix, the investigation was initiated after Spalding County Manager Steve Ledbetter reported criminal allegations that had been lodged against Animal Control employees.
The allegations included claims that Animal Control employees stole a donated industrial washer and dryer, that a puppy was stolen and later killed and that a monetary donation made shortly after the Jan. 12 tornadoes was stolen.
Dix said each of those allegations was investigated, and each finding is has been made public.
“The puppy in question was born at the shelter from a mother who was already pregnant when she was turned over to the county by a court order. We were able to locate the order during the investigation, proving that the allegation of the theft of an undocumented animal was false,” Dix said. “It was custom and common practice for shelter employees to take animals home to help them become socialized and more adoptable. Multiple employees have done this in the past in the exact same manner and for the exact same purpose. On this occasion, the employee stated to the Investigator that a puppy was taken to her home and was accidentally killed when her personal dog, who had entered her residence through an unsecured door, bit the puppy, and it died.”
Dix confirmed that different employees provided contradictory statements of what happened to that puppy.
“There are differing accounts of what was reported as the cause of death of the puppy. The first former employee, Hadan Broach, stated that her dog attacked the puppy and it died. She stated she was told by her then supervisor, Tyler White, to tell anyone that asked that the puppy choked to death on a piece of plastic. She said that he also told her to take its body to the incinerator,” Dix said. “An account of the same incident by two other former employees, Tyler White, and Taylor Loudermilk, was that they were told by Broach that the puppy choked to death on a piece of plastic, and she had taken the body to the incinerator. Polygraph exams were not conducted due to this complaint becoming a criminal investigation shortly after it began.”
Dix said a judge then determined the puppy’s death did not violate any law.
“The information about the puppy was presented to a Judge to see if probable cause existed for warrants to be issued. It was the determination of the Judge that no current criminal statute, including animal cruelty, was violated,” he said. “Because the incident happened inside the City of Griffin, my Investigator spoke to representatives from the City of Griffin. It was verified that no city code was violated, and they do not have a policy for removing an animal from a residence that has attacked
another animal. If the animal had attacked a person it would have been removed.”
Investigators determined the claims of theft were also false.
“As far as the allegation of the washer/dryer theft, we contacted representatives from the ASPCA, who we were told donated the industrial washer/dryer to the animal shelter. It was confirmed by an ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) representative that the items were never sent to Spalding County Animal Control due to a mix-up about measurements for the area they would be placed in. A theft did not occur, and the allegation is false,” Dix said. “Regarding the allegation of the stolen/missing check, Spalding County Administrative staff was able to quickly determine that the check was in fact received and deposited in the correct account. A theft did not occur, and this allegation is false as well.”
Officials say there were no violations of Spalding County Animal Shelter policy because it was determined no such policy exists.
“We looked for violations of Spalding County Animal Shelter policy that may have been committed by the employees only to discover that the shelter currently has no approved policy manual,” Dix said. “By law, when a circumstance like that occurs in a business or organization, what is done as a custom or common practice, becomes policy if no policy exists. Animal Control is currently reviewing a standard operating procedures manual for the shelter and hope to have it in place as soon as possible. We have made operational recommendations they should look at as well.”
In addition to reporting the findings of his office’s investigation, Dix also preemptively addressed those who may question its legitimacy.
“There is no big rug this is being swept under, there is no conspiracy, and no good ol’ boy system in play here. Facts are facts, evidence is evidence, and law is law. The findings of the investigation are based on facts and evidence verified by my Investigator, ASPCA corporate representatives, former employees, an Attorney, a Judge, and others,” Dix said. “They are not based on rumors, innuendo, gossip, grudges, or hurt feelings. The person that made the allegations might not agree with the findings but just because they didn’t get the answers they wanted, doesn’t mean the answers they got were wrong.”
He also differentiated between the media release upon which this article was based and official investigative records, stating that a copy of the investigation will be made public record and will be available in accordance with state law.
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