SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
A Thursday afternoon Facebook post accusing an officer of the Griffin Police Department of animal cruelty led to calls for the officer’s termination.
Posted under a Facebook account identified by the name Jordin Elizabeth Mitchell, the complaint read, “I’ve never been so appalled by an officer before.”
It went on to allege the officer strangled a goat while moving it to an Animal Control transport van.
“An officer under the car number 214 came into my yard without anybody knowing and drug my goat out by his neck all the way there then he continued to pick him up by his neck with a wire around it continuing to not let the animal breathe and flung him into the back of the control car,” the Facebook statement read.
Video posted to that personal Facebook page appeared to show the GPD officer using a catch pole to remove the goat named Marty from the property.
“That’s the safest way to do it for the animal and the person. I’m no animal control expert, but the animal wasn’t being abused. It wasn’t being struck. It was just being led along on the catch pole,” said GPD Chief Mike Yates.
In response to questions regarding why a GPD officer was working in the capacity of Animal Control, Yates explained that it was necessary due to the Animal Control officer being temporarily out of office due to medical purposes.
The complainant alleged that a warning had been issued to remove the goat, as livestock is not permitted within the city limits, but that the time frame for removal had not concluded.
“(They) told us to move him by a certain time and we were still within the time frame,” the complainant stated.
However, The GRIP has obtained a copy of a court order that contradicts that allegation.
The court ruling – a default judgment – which is identified as City of Griffin v. Jesse Mitchell, states, “This action came into default on June 8, 2017, by the defendant’s failure to file an answer or other defensive pleading and failure to appear in court. Fifteen days have elapsed from that date, and the default has not been opened as a matter of right or by order of the court. It is ordered and adjudged that the plaintiff now recover of the defendant the sum of $375, with interest and costs of this action. It is further ordered that the plaintiff shall be authorized to enter the premises to remove the goat and transport it to the Spalding County Animal Shelter. Any costs associated with the housing of the goat shall be assessed against the defendant as restitution in the foregoing matter.”
The default judgment was signed and so ordered by city of Griffin Municipal Court Judge Bill Johnson on the morning of July 20.
“It’s unfortunate, but if she’d complied with the law, we wouldn’t have been out there,” Yates said.
The complainant took to the Spalding County Discussion Page – the largest local social media public forum – seeking support in her efforts to have the GPD officer fired.
“Please help the situation and file a complaint about officer car 214 please!!!!” the complainant urged.
As of late afternoon, Yates was unaware of any formal complaints being filed against the officer in this matter.
