Language : 
Book a Free Consultation
(410) 995-1515
Available 24/7 Free Consultation
(410) 995-1515
Criminal Attorney / 6.20.2014

Baltimore City Police Officers Slit Restrained Dogs Throat

Jeffery Bolger, a 22-year veteran police officer in Baltimore City, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly slicing a restrained dog's throat and leaving it to die. A second Baltimore officer, 24-year
Table of Contents

    Jeffery Bolger, a 22-year veteran police officer in Baltimore City, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly slicing a restrained dog's throat and leaving it to die. A second Baltimore officer, 24-year veteran Thomas Schmidt, has been suspended while the department investigates his role in the slitting of a dog's throat, a 7-year-old shar-pei named Nala, while the animal's owner says it took her days to find out how the dog died.

    Court documents say Officer Thomas Schmidt held the dog down while a fellow officer Jeffery Bolger slit the animal's throat on Saturday. Schmidt has been suspended with pay during the investigation, Baltimore Police spokesman Jeremy Silbert said. Bolger faces felony animal cruelty charges.

    Maryland law treated all crimes against animals as misdemeanors until 2002, when the first felony statute went into effect. Aggravated cruelty to animals carries a potential sentence of up to three years and involves deliberate intent to harm an animal.

    Despite the law change, many animal abuse cases are still pursued as misdemeanors. That means such cases tend to stay in District Court, even if more serious charges could have been brought to Circuit Court, where most felonies are handled.

    In Maryland, Cruelty or Neglect of an Animal is defined as: "overdrive or overload an animal; deprive an animal of necessary sustenance; cause or procure such actions; if an animal is in a person's charge or custody they may not inflict unnecessary suffering or pain on the animal or unnecessarily fail to provide the animal with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, proper drink, air, space, shelter, or protection from the weather." This is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1000 and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days.

    Aggravated Cruelty to Animals is defined as: "intentionally mutilate, torture, cruelly beat, or cruelly kill an animal; cause, procure, or authorize such action; or except in the case of self-defense, intentionally inflict bodily harm, permanent disability, or death on an animal owned or used by a law enforcement unit." This is a felony which carries a fine of up to $5000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 years. Exemptions are made for veterinary and husbandry practices, research; food processing, pest elimination, training, and hunting as long as the person uses the most humane method reasonably available; normal human activities in which pain to animals is incidental and unavoidable.

    Share This Story

    Think others could benefit? Share this information and expect more impact.
    Contact Us

    Expect More with
    Portner & Shure

    The legal system can be intimidating, but you deserve more. Expect more guidance, more dedication, and more results from our experienced trial attorneys every step of the way.

    Free Confidential Consultation:
    (410) 995-1515
    Columbia Office
    7226 Lee DeForest Dr,
    Suite 100,
    Columbia, MD 21046
    Map & Directions
    Bel Air Office
    3 Vale Road,
    Suite 100,
    Bel Air, MD 21014
    Map & Directions
    Frederick Office
    5216 Chairmans Court,
    Suite 106,
    Frederick, MD 21703
    Map & Directions
    Glen Burnie Office
    7310 Ritchie Hwy,
    #409,
    Glen Burnie, MD 21601
    Map & Directions
    Richmond Office
    9100 Arboretum Parkway,
    Suite 270,
    Richmond, VA 23236
    Map & Directions
    North Carolina Office
    421 Fayetteville St,
    #1100,
    Raleigh, NC 27601
    Map & Directions
    Salisbury Office
    100 E. Main Street,
    Suite 503,
    Salisbury, MD 21801
    Map & Directions
    Silver Spring Office
    8455 Colesville Road,
    Suite 720,
    Silver Spring, MD 20910
    Map & Directions
    Vienna Office
    8229 Boone Boulevard,
    Suite 100,
    Vienna, VA 22182
    Map & Directions
    The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute client relationship.
    uploadmagnifiercross