Man arrested for abusing squirrel
Minors filmed man kicking dead animal near parking garage
Daniel Human
Three minors found themselves in a squirrelly situation Monday when Ball State University police caught them abusing a dead animal.
Muncie resident Robert Dennis, 18, was released from Delaware County jail early Tuesday on $2,000 bond after he was arrested after police say he abused a dead squirrel and filmed it with a cell phone, according to jail and police reports.
Dennis was arrested Monday on charges of criminal mischief, criminal recklessness and illegal possession of a fox squirrel out of season, according to police reports.
When police officers arrived, Dennis was kicking a dead squirrel near the McKinley Avenue parking garage, and two minors were beside him laughing, according to reports.
Officers found the three suspects abusing the squirrel and placed handcuffs on them, according to reports.
Police approached Ball State student Nathan Gropp, who had witnessed the incident. Gropp told police he saw the three throw the squirrel off the top level of the garage as a vehicle was pulling out underneath them, according to reports.
Gropp also reported the suspects threw the squirrel against the garage's walls and windows and kicked it several times.
Gropp told police he saw one of the suspects filming everything with a cell phone. Police found the phone, which had five videos showing the suspects doing everything Gropp reported and laughing in the background, according to reports.
Dennis was then taken to Delaware County Jail, and the two juveniles were taken to the Ball State Police Department.
According to the Indiana Code, if Dennis is convicted of his Class C misdemeanor, he could receive up to 60 days in prison and a maximum fine of $500.
This was the second incident Monday evening in which police caught people throwing objects off the top of the McKinley Avenue parking garage.
Earlier that evening, police found three middle-school-aged children dropping a large rock or cinder block off the top level of the structure, according to police reports.
Bob Fey, associate director of public safety, said the two incidents were unrelated.
"The incidents were coincidental," he said. "We haven't seen anything like this for quite a while. It looks like they were all juveniles involved."
Muncie resident Robert Dennis, 18, was released from Delaware County jail early Tuesday on $2,000 bond after he was arrested after police say he abused a dead squirrel and filmed it with a cell phone, according to jail and police reports.
Dennis was arrested Monday on charges of criminal mischief, criminal recklessness and illegal possession of a fox squirrel out of season, according to police reports.
When police officers arrived, Dennis was kicking a dead squirrel near the McKinley Avenue parking garage, and two minors were beside him laughing, according to reports.
Officers found the three suspects abusing the squirrel and placed handcuffs on them, according to reports.
Police approached Ball State student Nathan Gropp, who had witnessed the incident. Gropp told police he saw the three throw the squirrel off the top level of the garage as a vehicle was pulling out underneath them, according to reports.
Gropp also reported the suspects threw the squirrel against the garage's walls and windows and kicked it several times.
Gropp told police he saw one of the suspects filming everything with a cell phone. Police found the phone, which had five videos showing the suspects doing everything Gropp reported and laughing in the background, according to reports.
Dennis was then taken to Delaware County Jail, and the two juveniles were taken to the Ball State Police Department.
According to the Indiana Code, if Dennis is convicted of his Class C misdemeanor, he could receive up to 60 days in prison and a maximum fine of $500.
This was the second incident Monday evening in which police caught people throwing objects off the top of the McKinley Avenue parking garage.
Earlier that evening, police found three middle-school-aged children dropping a large rock or cinder block off the top level of the structure, according to police reports.
Bob Fey, associate director of public safety, said the two incidents were unrelated.
"The incidents were coincidental," he said. "We haven't seen anything like this for quite a while. It looks like they were all juveniles involved."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
John Hinds
posted 4/24/08 @ 9:31 AM EST
WOW.. seems like the cops have way too much time on their hands. Police State here we come.
BLB
posted 4/24/08 @ 9:51 AM EST
I hope there is more to this story. Perhaps the 18 year old was belligerent and argumentative with the officer. Please tell me there is something more to this than just some kids kicking a dead squirrel around. (Continued…)
BSU Truth
posted 4/24/08 @ 2:43 PM EST
The Ball State parking garage trifecta is in play!
Tasha
posted 4/24/08 @ 4:33 PM EST
I know it sounds extreme but I think in a sociology class I took they said something about people who abuse animals (dead or alive) have a much higher chance of abusing/killing people. (Continued…)
Sara
posted 4/24/08 @ 5:17 PM EST
I witnessed the event and actually had someone call the police. The reason for this was because they threw the animal off the top of the garage over the entrance/exit and very nearly hit a car. (Continued…)
Paul
posted 4/24/08 @ 11:03 PM EST
I was actually walking by the garage when the cinder block came down (it wasn't a rock), and all I can say is if I were ten feet to the left of where I was that thing would have landed on my head. (Continued…)
Pete
posted 4/25/08 @ 1:16 PM EST
I love the paper said
Illegal possession of a fox squirrel out of season!
More confusing than anything. I have to many questions. I laugh at them. (Continued…)
Craig
posted 4/25/08 @ 3:47 PM EST
At first, I was about to comment on how stupid I thought it was for arresting someone for abusing a DEAD squirrel, but after reading the story, the police were in the right and it is the Reporter/Newspaper/Editor I have a problem with. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 4/25/08 @ 4:15 PM EST
So Robert wasn't arrested for squirrel abuse, per se, but isn't anyone else disturbed by the complete lack of respect for life - in any form? A society that would sit idly by and let abuse, torture, killing of any creature proceed unnoticed is not a society worth living in. (Continued…)
RM
posted 4/26/08 @ 11:10 AM EST
This story sounded kind of strange until I found this YouTube clip. I think these kids were just taking preemptive actions to protect the entire Ball State student body. (Continued…)
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