Tucumcari mayor cleared of animal cruelty
Posted at: 10/23/2009 8:22 AM
By: The Associated Press
TUCUMCARI, N.M. (AP) - Tucumcari Mayor Antonio Apodaca has been acquitted of an animal cruelty charge after being accused of dragging his dog with a car.
Quay County Magistrate Joel Garnett made the ruling after seven hours of testimony Wednesday.
The 61-year-old Apodaca said justice prevailed.
A witness had reported to authorities that a man was driving a vehicle and holding a dog by a chain. The witness said the dog was being dragged alongside the vehicle and was hit twice by the vehicle’s tire.
Police later identified the driver as Apodaca.
A Tucumcari veterinarian testified Wednesday that the dog had no injuries to support being run over or dragged and that the dog did not appear to be malnourished, abused or neglected.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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