MEDIA RELEASE
Date: May 28, 2011
Time: 7:00 AM
On May 27, 2011 Deputy Clint Anderson (K-9 Deputy) responded to 550 N.E. 154th Ave. Williston, in reference to an animal cruelty case. Upon arrival Anderson made contact with the victim, Heather Balger. Balger advised that she looked out the window and did not see her dog on his chain and the dog were missing from the back yard. The victim stated that she heard dogs barking down the street and also heard gun shots.
Balger drove to the area of the gun shots and eye witnessed Wayne Smith dragging her Pit bull across the road. Balger questioned Smith why he shot and killed her dog and he replied that the dog jumped his five foot fence and attempted to kill his animals.
During the investigation Anderson interviewed Smith and he advised that he heard a dog bark and observed a pit bull dog jump his fence and was attempting to breed his dog. Smith stated that he grabbed his 22 caliber rifle and shot the dog. During the interview Smith changed his story and stated that the dog jumped his fence and attempted to kill his goats and then attempted to breed his dog and he shot the dog. Smith gave a third conflicting statement that the dog attempted to attack him and he shot the dog and the dog ran across the road and he shot the dog between the eyes, which resulted in the dog's death.
The physical evidence at the scene did corroborate Smith's statement. Anderson arrested Smith for felony animal cruelty and he was transported to the Levy County Jail.
Defendant:
Wayne E. Smith.
491 NE 154 AVE
W/M, 11-10-1947
###
--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218