A case involving accusations of RV employees of putting cats in a trash compactor to dispose of the animals has been dismissed in Elkhart County courts.
The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s office issued a press release June 13 saying the charges against John Lipscomb, 44, Travis McKay, 29, and Arlin Hochstetler, 31 were dismissed due to a scrivener’s error in a statement attributed to the defendants’ former employer in a probable cause affidavit.
What events led to the charges?
The prosecutor’s office argued in a probable cause affidavit that on Feb. 27, Lipscomb, McKay and Hoschstetler — all employees of RV manufacturer Jayco in Middlebury — put two live cats in a trash compactor because the shelters were full.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Lipscomb and Hoschstetler said they didn’t want the animals to suffer, but wanted to “eliminate the nuisance of the (stray) cats.” All three men were charged with two level six felonies of torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal.
The probable cause affidavit said a Middlebury Police officer spoke with Jayco Vice President of Operations Devon Miller who “indicated he believed the men acted in the company’s best interest by placing the live cats into the trash compactor.” Jayco issued a statement saying it’s apparent that Miller was misquoted and a previous Jayco statement said they take this matter seriously and don’t condone their now-terminated employee’s actions, WNDU reported.
Elkhart Prosecutor’s office investigates allegations
The charges against Lipscomb, McKay and Hoschstetler were dismissed June 13.
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the statement attributed to Miller is not accurate and there’s no documented evidence in the police investigation that suggests Miller endorsed or approved these decisions. The case was dismissed without prejudice while the prosecutor’s office investigates the facts and circumstances of the allegations, they said.
Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart prosecutor to reinvestigate claim RV workers put cats in trash compactor
Reporting by Camille Sarabia, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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