Trio Nabbed Springing Impounded Dog For Funeral

May 6, 2008

WILSON, Okla. –- When there’s only one police officer on duty in this town of about 1,800, and he happens to catch your group red handed, allegedly trying to bust a dog out of the city pound, you know it’s just not your day.

“Everything went wrong for them,” Wilson Police Chief Felix Hernandez told Pet Pulse, laughing. “Nothing went right.”

Two men and a juvenile were charged April 27 with second-degree burglary, after an officer allegedly saw them trying to free Luke, a mixed breed dog, from the city pound. Luke was impounded April 22 after reports that his owners had failed to comply with the city’s leash law.

“We’d had complaints of a dog running loose, and we’d spoken to the owners before,” Hernandez said. “And they said, ‘Ok, we’ll take care of it.’ And then on the last complaint, evidently the dog had been kind of nipping at some kids. And they were afraid that they were going to get bit.

“So we picked up the dog, and we told the owners that they would have to build a secure fence or a pen for the dog. Then we’d release the dog back to them.”

One day after Luke was impounded, his owner, 53-year-old Saundra Vickers, died from health complications. Several days later, 17-year-old Willie Justin Miller, 18-year-old James Thompson and 22-year-old Matthew Gonzalez broke into the pound trying to free the dog, Hernandez said.

The trio heard a rumor that city authorities planned to euthanize Luke the next week, and they wanted him to attend Vickers’ memorial service later that day, Hernandez says. During the alleged break-in, the suspects turned off security lights and used wire cutters to cut the pound’s lock, the chief says.

Just as Luke was being sprung by the group, a Wilson officer was on the scene to foil their attempt, Hernandez says.

“The door to the pound was wide open and there was a guy with the dog in his arms,” Hernandez said.

“Evidently, one of the kids, the juvenile, said that the lady (Vickers) had been like a mother to him growing up when he was younger,” Hernandez said. “And he felt like it would be a nice gesture to go break out the dog and take the dog to the memorial service that was being held April 27.

“To him, it just seemed pretty simple, that he was trying to do something good, not thinking that he was committing a crime,” the chief said.

Giggling, he added, “Myself, I wouldn’t throw the book at him for that. I’d kind of take into consideration the age of the juvenile, that he had good intentions. And it just snowballed.”

Hernandez says he doesn’t know why the trio charged thought Luke was being euthanized.

“If you live in a small town, rumors get started,” he said. “It was all in agreement between the city and the dog owners,” that Luke would eventually be returned home, he said.

If anything, this case illustrates the city’s diligence in making sure animals are treated properly, Hernandez says.

“We don’t put animals down,” he said. “We care about the animals because we’re more restrictive than other cities. We require people, that if they’re not going to have the dog inside, that they build a secure pen for the dog, and with proper shelter, food and water, or a secure fence.

“We don’t allow the dogs to be tied up.”

At last check, Luke remained impounded, though Hernandez says that’s still temporary.

“The owners, they’ve gone through their grieving period, so they haven’t had much time to get things going,” he said. “But I imagine that pretty soon they’ll have that pen or fence secured for the dog, and he’ll be going home.”

The city of Wilson has its share of burglary attempts, Hernandez says, but he’s never seen one quite like this.

“I haven’t dealt with this situation before,” he said, laughing. “It’s the first one for me, and I’ve been in law enforcement for about 20 years.”

Asked whether his department benefitted from precise timing as opposed to great police work, Hernandez said, “Right place, right time.”

Then laughing loudly, he added, “I’d like to think it was (also) great police work.”

Tell us what you think about “Trio Nabbed Springing Impounded Dog For Funeral” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.