(From the City of Springfield)
Springfield Chief Municipal Prosecutor Carl Yendes announces that Breck Ruddick, 20, has been charged with cruelty to animals (Section 18-9) and permitting a dog to run at large (Section 18-53) of the City Code. The charges stem from events occurring in the early morning hours of Sept. 20.
Sec. 18-9 (a) reads: No person shall be cruel or inhumane to any dog or cat by beating, torturing, kicking or other physical abuse.
Sec. 18-53 (a) reads: It shall be unlawful for any person owning, controlling, harboring, possessing, or having the management or care of any dog to permit such dog to run at large.
Yendes cautions that the charges are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Both charges are being prosecuted as municipal ordinance violations. Each carry a maximum penalty of $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail.
Yendes referred the animal abuse matter to the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s office earlier this week. Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson declined to file state charges and referred the issue back to Municipal Court.
The Animal Control Division of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department investigated the incident and cited Ruddick Sept. 26. The incident report can be found at this link.
The next steps include arraignments on each charge, scheduled for Nov. 15, at which time the defendant will enter guilty or not guilty pleas. Further proceedings to follow.
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