Detroit Pit Crew resigns from task force after prosecutors refuse to charge puppy abuser
The head of Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue says the group will resign from a Macomb County-based animal abuse prevention task force after country prosecutors declined to press charges in a puppy abuse case.
The decision by Theresa Sumpter, executive director of the nonprofit rescue group, follow san announcement Wednesday by the Ma comb County Prosecutor’ s Office that there was insufficient evidence to move forward with charges inthe puppy case.
“I am done with the task force,” Sumpter said. “I don’t see any positive results coming from the task force anyway. The ball has been dropped by the prosecutor’s office.”
Sumpter’s comments came in response to an incident where a man was videotaped slapping and taunting what is believed to be a 7-week-old puppy in the driveway of a house somewhere in Eastpointe, while two women look on.
Neighbors who wanted to remain anonymous taped the abuse because it wasn’t the first time they had observed the brutal treatment, according to Sumpter. They had previously witnessed the dog being kicked by the same individuals.
The neighbors took the videotape to the Eastpointe Police Department, which conducted an investigation and submitted their findings to the county prosecutor’s office.
Police visited the house where the abuse took place and discovered the puppy doesn’t live there.
Prosecutors on Wednesday released their charging decision.
“After a complete review of all of the investigative materials submitted by the Eastpointe Police Department, including police reports, witness interviews and video, we have concluded there is insufficient evidence to support a felony under Michigan statutes and case law,” prosecutors said in a statement.
Prosecutors said they had no further comment beyond the statement.
The statement went on to say the matter has been turned over to the Eastpointe city attorney for consideration of potential misdemeanor charges under city ordinances.
Eastpointe City Attorney Richard Albright said he plans to meet Thursday with Public Safety Director George Rouhib and a detective handling the case to determine what will bed one next.
“Our office is aware of the county prosecutor’s decision and will move forward,” he said.
Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue is stepping down from the board of Protecting Animal Welfare & Safety Task Force (P.A.W.S.), which is believed to be the first multijurisdictional animal abuse prevention task force in Michigan.
The task force formation was announced in May 2019 by former Macomb County prosecutor Eric Smith in response to an increase in animal cruelty cases, including the fatal stabbing of an adopted dog by its owner in Utica earlier that year.
Sumpter said the puppy shown in the videotape is heartbreaking because the young dog can’t defend itself, although it does snap at its attacker after being tossed about.
“I’m very disappointed in their decision,” she said. “I’m also disappointed in the fact it took them three weeks to make that decision. We are hopeful the Eastpointe city attorney will take up some sort of misdemeanors against the suspects.
Sumpter added the puppy could have been subjected to further abuse in the weeks after police visited the house. She hopes city officials order the puppy to be seized before it can be harmed any further.
“Time is ticking,” she said.