- Pennsylvania, Clearfield County, USA -
On Monday 17, police responded to a home on 178 Harold Bundy Road in DuBois, after receiving a report about cows being shot.
One of the cows’ guardians, Mr. Matthew Carlson, told police that he was standing on his porch when he heard three gunshots from the direction of his neighbor’s house and then noticed three of his cows limping across the road.
He called his father, Mr. Michael Carlson who checked on the cows and discovered that two of them had been shot in the rear and another one had been shot in the ear.
Police questioned 60-year-old JAMES KECK (pictured below), at his home on 287 Bundy Road.
According to the complaint, KECK admitted to shooting at the cows with a shotgun.
He justified the act as an effort to remove the cows from his property because he was tired of them coming into his yard and causing damage.
He also said that this had been going on for a while and that his neighbor refused to take care of his fence.
Courier Express reports that KECK said: “He has photos of the cows in his yard and on one day he attempted to scare the cows back home by firing his 9mm pistol into the ground about 11 times to no avail.”
On March 19, police received a written statement from veterinarian Ben Wise.
Dr. Wise wrote in his statement that he had examined one heifer, one bull and one steer.
He determined that the heifer was shot with a shotgun and 1 BB was removed.
The vet also added to the report that it is impossible to determine the number of BB’s present in all three animals and that they are unfit as food animals.
He prescribed antibiotics for the animals who suffered the most severe injuries.
On Thursday, March 19, JAMES KECK was arrested and charged with three felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals – causing serious bodily injury or death, and three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.
Due to the closure of courts because of coronavirus concerns, KECK is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 8.
JAMES KECK used to work full-time as a Sandy Township Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, for more than 25 years but has been relieved of his post. Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh told the Courier Express: “Immediately upon hearing about Mr. Keck’s alleged actions, Sandy Township management conducted a fair, thorough, and expedient administrative investigation into the matter and took necessary actions as a result.”
