Missouri woman hit with misdemeanor charge after rescuing stray dog from freezing cold
A Missouri woman says she is in “shock” after being hit with a misdemeanor charge related to rescuing a stray dog that was left tied to a pipe in a vacant lot during a freezing December night.
Jessica Dudding, 34, of Troy, was charged with filing a false police report as she sought to find some shelter for the yellow Labrador, named “Diesel.” Dudding admitted that she lied to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department about where the dog was found, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
On Dec. 27, Dudding, her husband and her two children were looking at Christmas lights in a community south of Troy when they saw Diesel all alone in the 19 degree wind chill.
“As we got closer, I saw it had a red collar, like a shock collar, and tied to that and a sewer pole was a green baseball belt,” Dudding said. “I wasn’t sure if someone had dumped it or if someone was just playing a prank, but I knew it was extremely cold already, and the temperature was supposed to drop even more.”
Note what she saw first and her vivid description: "red collar" and "green baseball belt." She uses the pronoun "we" to get closer (the family in the car) but then takes ownership with the pronoun "I", showing reliability.
Dudding called the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department to report the stray, but they said they had no facilities to care for it. A deputy who helped cut the dog loose referred her to take it to a shelter in Wentzville in nearby St. Charles County.
When Dudding arrived at Wentzville’s Police Department, she told an officer there that the dog was found in that city, fearing that they would refuse to take care of it if they knew it was from another county, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The Wentzville Police Department accepted the dog and, days later, Dudding was able to track down its owner, Bryan Campbell, after a missing dog poster was spotted along a highway.
Campbell told the newspaper that Diesel escaped his yard after the battery in his electronic collar died, but he wasn’t sure who tied the pooch to the pole.
Campbell was hit with a $50 fine for letting his dog run in Wentzville. Dudding was charged when she admitted to police that she lied, in an attempt to get Campbell’s fee waived.
“I just immediately was in shock; I was hysterical,” she said. “I was at work, and [the police] told me that I had to come down there and fill out an actual police report and get a fine.”
Dudding will face a judge in municipal court on Jan. 21 and Campbell is hoping the charge will be dropped.
“She did what she thought was right at the time, and that’s all you can ask of a person,” he told the St. Louis-Post Dispatch.
But Wentzville Police Maj. Paul West disagreed.
“She reported to us that this happened, and you don’t get to lie to the police,” he said.
Note that "us" became "the police"
Note that it is not that "she" became "you"
What do you think of Major Paul West's statement?
In your opinion: Does it reveal anything about him?
What do you make of the change of language?
15 comments:
"She reported to us that this happened, and you don’t get to lie to the police,” he said."
In my opinion it reveals he is a petty, egomaniac, who uses his position in LE to force others to give him the respect he could never gain through his own merits and character. In short, he's a typical small town cop. (I know them well, I have 2 in my extended family.)
The woman should be thanked by all involved. After all, the outcome was the best possible...the dog didn't freeze to death, care was provided until the owner was located, and dog was returned. Win, win, win! But no, 'officer power trip' had to take a dump on the whole situation. Way to protect and serve the community!
Maybe next week he can charge someone with tresspassing for shoveling their neighbors walk...since he is concentrating his efforts on the crimes that have the biggest impact on the community, lol!
Not only that Jen, these LE yokels lie to us citizens all the time and get away with it! Oh, but we're supposed to A-Okay with that.
How many years and how many innocent victims have been lied too by LE as they set their trap to convict them of crimes they not only did not commit but had no knowledge of?
Hammering, wear them down, pounding their fists on the table, badgering, lying up evidence they didn't even have until they forced these innocents to breakdown and sob 'okay, okay, I did it', having no strength left and causing some of them to totally lose their grip on reality.
Oh, but this woman can't tell them a lie that was for the good of all; especially for the helpless dog she was trying her best to save. Sickening that she was even put in this situation by a LE officer.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Jen,
Do you think locals better be especially respectful to Paul West should he pull them over?
Is that the meaning of your view point on him?
If so, what in his words show this?
I'm curious.
Peter
“She reported to us that this happened, and you don’t get to lie to the police,” he said."
A compassionate person helped an animal that couldn't take care of itself. I'm thankful she showed kindness and compassion and the poor dog didn't freeze to death. In my opinion the officer's words shows the opposite. His concern doesn't seem to be about a living creature being helped or getting returned to it's owner but whether or not someone "gets to lie" to the police, or more specifically HIM. His words reflect a need for control in my opinion.
Hi Peter,
I definitely think that locals would be smart to mind their manners when interacting with this officer, although I doubt it will get them out of a ticket. As in this woman's case, no harm was done and the outcome was positive, yet she was tracked down and charged, (it appears due to her perceived lack of respect in lying to 'us/the police', about where she found the dog).
His quote:
"She reported to US that this happened, and YOU don’t get to lie to the police."
In the context of his quote, 'US' is the police, who he declares are not to be lied to. By using US he shows that he considers himself to be part of the elite group that YOU don't get to lie to. (The whole quote reminds me of a cheezy old western, like..'I'm the law around these parts little lady, and the sooner you learn that the better off you'll be', lol)
Also, he uses US making 'the police' his identity. He didn't say 'she made a false report', or something showing distance between her actions, and their reaction. He took it personal.
What do you think, Peter?
PS- I admit my experiences and interactions with my uncles (by marriage) likely influence my opinion.
good points, Jen.
We are all influenced by our experiences. Self awareness helps separate prejudices.
Peter
As for Major West's statement:
Pompous ex cathedra.
Skeptical!
It is this attitude of arrogance, along with lower test scores, that is giving law enforcement a bad name.
Our words reveal us.
The marriage of arrogance and ignorance gives birth to some fairly unruly children.
Peter
“She reported to us that this happened, and you don’t get to lie to the police,” he said.
He didn't say she lied to the police, but rather stated "you don't get to lie to the police". That is the statement that reveals his condescending egomaniacal nature. "you don't get to lie to the police". He is trying to teach everyone a lesson.
He switched from "us" to the "police" when it became a sense of power to him.
He could have stated "she lied to the police" but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
I guess the cops in Missouri have nothing better to do? The guy is a martinet, a dangerous personality trait.
OT Any plans to analyze Chris Christie's denial over the Washington Bridge scandal? Anon J
AnonJ,
Re: chris christie
I have both the presser and the statement...but only 1/4 done. It is LONG.
Peter
I think your assessment is spot on!
She is in trouble but "YOU" don't get to lie to the police. HE is making an example out of HER to put US in fear, if we lived there and cared. I'd lie for a dog. HE can be as bombastic as he likes, but I will never respect HIM. How about YOU?
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