Man charged after burning police horse with lit cigarette

[The Straight Story]

Man charged after burning police horse with lit cigarette
Charged with interference with a police animal

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man was charged with interference with a police service animal after crushing the lit end of a cigarette into a police horse.

Police were preparing to reopen Sixth Street to vehicular traffic around 2:45 a.m. Sunday near San Jacinto Boulevard when several pedestrians became upset as a woman was taken into custody, according to an arrest affidavit.

An Austin Police officer and his service horse, Drago, were on the sidewalk attempting to create a safe area to take the woman into custody, when the horse moved his head violently.

Tyrone Branch Jr., 23, was then arrested after police said his cigarette made contact with the horse, leaving a burn mark in Drago's neck, the document said.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/man-charged-after-burning-police-horse-with-lit-cigarette

[darkangel218]

1. OMG what a pos!!

I wish they had "eye for an eye" laws when it comes to animal abuse. See how he likes being burned!!

Grrrrrr!

[anneboleyn]

2. The abuse of horses is so evil and petty. They are such beautiful and "spiritual" animals

and they put their trust in people entirely. They rely on us for love and protection (and return it lavishly -- like doggies and kittehs), and the abuse of them destroys the fabric of our very old, trusting relationship with them.

No doubt this guy is a serial animal abuser. Anyone who would burn an animal like that likely has a history of just this sort of evil abuse (and probably with people also).

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. +1

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. The verbiage...

"...made contact with" leaves it a bit ambiguous as to whether the act was intentional, don't you think?

[tammywammy]

5. Read the next paragraph.

Officers said Branch was not being moved or "targeted" by Drago when he extended the lit cigarette towards the horse.

Sounds intentional. What an asshole (not you, the guy arrested).

[TroglodyteScholar]

8. Sorry, should have read more.

Makes me wonder why they used such awkward language, though, if it had no reason to be that way.

And yes, animal abusers are complete assholes.

[KoKo]

4. Seriously....can you take a break with these heart wrenching posts....

I don't have you on ignore...and find so many of your posts such good information...that I didn't want to post this to you. But, some of your posts are so upsetting in these hard times that I wonder why you do them?

Couldn't you post them in the DU Lounge or another forum. There's nothing that any of us can do about these cruelty situations because they are a done deal. So...why do you keep posting these horrific things you find? When other of your posts deal with issues we CAN or Should be able to make a difference about...you keep at it with the other heart rending posts that we can do NOTHING to make a difference because they are "Local One Off Incidents" of extreme cruelty far away from us.

I know the answer would be to just put you on "DU Ignore"...but, then I would lose some of the very worthwhile posts that you put out here that many of us wouldn't be exposed to without your contribution.

WHY do you do these posts that are so heartbreaking if there isn't a way for us to deal with them. I give to local Animal Rescue and Non Kill Sites. I support Animal Rights Groups yearly in contributions...so it's not that I don't care. It's just that in these times many here are suffering like the animals you talk about who are suffering...and it gets to be overload. Just saying... PEACE...!

[LWolf]

7. I'm headed out to the barn for chores and feeding now.

I think some extra rubs, scratches, and hugs are in order.