Warrant issued for former Seminole animal control officer accused of animal cruelty
An animal control officer is accused of beating and strangling a dog and it was all caught on video.
WARNING: The following content in the video is disturbing.
SEMINOLE, Okla. (KFOR) — An animal control officer is accused of beating and strangling a dog and it was all caught on video.
According to court documents an officer with Seminole State college's on-campus police department said he was called to a residential hall about two stray dogs.
The officer wrote, "The dogs allowed me to pet them. I did not observe any aggressive behavior with the young dogs."
Court documents state the officer then called for animal control after feeling that the dogs were a threat.
An hour later, the same officer was called to the area again. This time by campus maintenance worker Kevin Davidson.
"I said 'you need to get over here' and campus police showed up and said that I need to settle down and let him do his job and I was like, 'No. You need to see this video of what he just did," said Davidson.
The video allegedly showed Fitzgerald using excessive force.
"I was distraught for the next couple of days," said Davidson.
The affidavit said Fitzgerald was "kneeling on the ground with the weight of his hands to choke and strangle the dog on several occasions."
"I wanted to jump in there and do something, but it would cost me my job," said Davidson.
The Seminole District Attorney is now seeking animal cruelty charges.
As for the dogs, they now have a new home.
"I met the girl that adopted the dogs, and she named them Faith and Justice, and so I want to see justice for Justice for sure," said Davidson.
A representative with the animal shelter said Fitzgerald was fired after the incident.
News 4 tried contacting Fitzgerald but did not hear back.