Cop Tasered goat 13 times

A police officer who Tasered a feral goat 13 times before it was euthanised will not be prosecuted.

Further details of the long-running investigation can now be revealed after an Official Information Act request to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which has confirmed the police officer will not be charged.

Safe animal rights campaigner Hans Kriek said it was ‘‘an appalling use of a Taser’’.

‘‘To Taser it once seems dubious, but to Taser it 13 times seems ridiculous . . . and it begs the question, why were no animal cruelty charges laid?’’

The goat escaped from a local abattoir in December 2016, eluding council animal control officers and creating a traffic hazard around Oamaru.

It became trapped in a garage by the resident’s dogs and, fearing personal injury should it escape, Senior Constable Carl Pederson decided to enter the garage.

‘‘He subsequently discharged his Taser device 13 times on the animal,’’ documents say.

Police acknowledged some things could have been done differently and lessons from the incident had been incorporated into updated policy, a spokeswoman said.

After the incident, Pederson said: ‘‘Unfortunately it was stressed out and quite unco-operative, so I Tased it.’’

Pedersen said the goat, with its large horns, had damaged the garage and there were concerns it would escape back onto State Highway 1 and endanger motorists, as it had earlier in the day.

The documents reveal the goat was tethered after it was Tasered, but ‘‘due to the distress caused to the animal, a veterinarian was summoned to the address to sedate it’’. The goat was later euthanised. Police issued a press release about the incident, but later declined Official Information Act requests as the matter was being investigated by MPI.

MPI became aware of the incident in late January 2017, with investigators travelling to Oamaru to talk to witnesses.

The incident raised several issues as MPI tried to determine whether Pederson should be charged for illtreatment or reckless ill-treatment under the Animal Welfare Act.

The MPI investigation concluded on July 21, 2017, but was sent to an inhouse lawyer.

Given the ‘‘complexity of the legal issues and the unusual factual circumstances of this offending’’, advice was sought from the Crown Solicitor.

The final advice from the Crown Solicitor was given to MPI in April this year and a week later a decision not to prosecute was reached due to the ‘‘evidential weakness in the case’’.