University Statement:We are aware of these serious allegations of animal cruelty in Athens. At this time we are unaware of any connection to the University; however, we support an investigation that will identify whether any responsible party can be held accountable.
Our partners at the Athens City Police Department have released the statement below:
From: Tom Pyle
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2019 12:23 PM
To: Media Regional
Subject: Media Release ref Animal Cruelty Case
The purpose of this email is to confirm that our department is investigating a claim of animal cruelty that is alleged to have occurred last Thursday (2/21/19) PM/Friday (2/22/19) AM involving a wild opossum. Our department received a phone call Friday afternoon
from a person who was seeking information on where to report such a crime and she was initially referred to ODNR.
On Monday 2/25/19 our office was approached by City Prosecutor Jessica Branner and asked to pick up the case. She had been approached Monday by the woman who had called us on Friday and who had spoken to ODNR on Saturday morning.
Our department is investigating and we take this matter seriously, therefore our initial focus is to factually corroborate the claim that the animal was tortured. After hearing of this complaint last night, one of our night shift officers advised us that he had moved the animal (he believes it to be the same animal) out of the roadway next to the Historical Society at approximately 0050hrs last Friday morning ( see attached CFS record
). He reported the animal appeared to have been struck by a car and he believed it to be dead.
I have read significantly inaccurate information and speculation on inaccurate information on social media. Except for official city social media pages, social media is not a reliable source of information for the operations of our department. Any claims of investigative actions that are alleged to have occurred between Friday and yesterday at 3pm are inaccurate as our department did not start investigating the matter until 3pm yesterday. No person or organization (fraternity or otherwise) has been implicated or identified as being involved. Reports that Ohio University was made aware of or was involved in the matter are also inaccurate, however I have notified OUPD of the existence of the case this morning and they have offered assistance if needed. Any reports of video footage being obtained in the course of this investigation prior to 3pm yesterday are also inaccurate. Though we are now actively looking for any and all footage, none has been secured yet and we are uncertain if any exists. Any persons claiming to have been made aware by APD of what has been found at a fraternity house is inaccurate as no fraternity has been implicated or is currently subject to this investigation.
I assure you that if our agency determines this animal was tortured we will do our level best to identify any person responsible and charge them to the fullest extent of the law. We have been in contact with ODNR and will collaborate where appropriate. Any persons with information about this incident are asked to call our agency at 740-592-3313. Thank you.