By Dylan Goforth
Phoenix Staff Writer
—
A Sequoyah High School student is embroiled in controversy after a screen capture of a pit bull he allegedly killed with an arrow began to spread around the Internet.
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Jason Chennault said the picture, allegedly posted by Caisen Green, 18, came to his attention Saturday morning.
“One of the patrol deputies called me and wanted me to know about it,” Chennault said. “I met him at the sheriff’s office and he showed me the picture.”
The image shows a dark-colored pit bull dead in a field with a pink arrow sticking out a bloody hole near the dog’s hip. Text accompanying the image states: “For all you Pit lovers out there. Here’s what happens when one shows up around my house.”
Chennault said he went to speak with Green on Saturday morning, but was only able to speak with Green’s father. Green and his mother had left the county because of death threats Green had received, Chennault said.
"I understand people don’t want to see animals hurt,” Chennault said. “But death threats are not going to help the situation.”
Chennault said he anticipated speaking with Green and wrapping up the investigation this week. As for the legality of the animal’s death, Chennault said that would be determined during the investigation.
“It’s a gray area,” Chennault said. “If the dog is threatening livestock or your well-being, you can do what you have to do stop it. I’m going to do my best to get everything done this week, and we’ll forward the report to the (District 27) District Attorney’s Office.”
Multiple Facebook groups and other websites have spread the image and information about Green, requesting people report the animal’s death to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, among other law enforcement agencies.
Lu Hayes, a volunteer with the Cherokee County Humane Society, said she first saw the picture Thursday, and began sending it to different animal advocacy groups immediately.
“A girl sent the picture to me, saying she wanted to report animal cruelty,” Hayes said. “I started messaging (Green) and at first he acted like it wasn’t a big deal, like, ‘So what.’ But I guess as it started getting spread around, and more people became aware of it, he changed his tune.”
Hayes said she’d like to see the district attorney’s office prosecute Green.
Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth@muskogeephoenix.com.
