- Kansas, USA -
On Wednesday, January 5, the Parsons Police Department was called regarding a possible animal abuse case involving a horse at the Parsons Livestock Market.
Parsons Police said in a news release that when Sergeant Waylon Kepley and Community Service Officer Ricky Thompson arrived, they met with witnesses who described what happened.
According to witnesses, the suspect was driving a truck with a horse in a trailer. The horse was not tethered to the trailer, and the driver drove off at high speed and then slammed on the brakes causing the horse to be thrown forward in the trailer. The driver then put the vehicle in reverse and did the same thing causing the poor animal to be thrown to the rear of the trailer.
Witnesses were also able to give a clear description of the vehicle and trailer.
Officers located the vehicle at the livestock market and made contact with the driver that police identified as 27-years-old TY OWEN SWILER.
The investigation revealed that there were skid marks that supported the witness's version of the facts and the horse who was in the trailer also had cuts on his/her head that also backed up the witnesses’ statements.
From the investigation it also emerged that the horse was not SWILER’s.
The horse’s guardian was contacted and they picked up the VOICELESS VICTIM.
Reportedly, SWILER had been hired to help train the horse.
Officers arrested SWILER, of Erie, on suspicion of cruelty to animals and charges have been requested to be filed by the Labette County Attorney’s Office.
Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said: “we as an agency are getting tired of people abusing their animals. It does not matter if you are cruel to dog or cats or even your horses. If you are doing it in our city, we will hold you accountable for your actions. Organizations such as PETA exist because of these types of crimes. As we are currently working on animal abuse cases for the murders of Ranger and other dogs, it is disheartening to make yet another arrest for animal cruelty. I hope that we can do better for our pets and our community. I do want to thank the witnesses who called and reported this crime. See It, Hear It, Report It, works wonders to the community who embraces it, and Parsons is embracing it very well.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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