|
|
Past Events
Animal Awareness demonstrated at the Sterling and Reid Bros
Circus in Pimlico and at Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in
August, 2002. Details can be found on our past
events page. |
|
ELEPHANT HANDLER FOR CIRCUS FACES ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Sunday, August 25, 2002
Page: B3, Edition: final
A handler
working with the Sterling & Reid Circus, which is appearing at Scope
through today, faces animal cruelty charges after being accused of
beating an elephant so badly that the animal had bloody lacerations,
police said.
David A. Creech, 31, of Glendale, Ariz., was arrested
at about 8:15p.m. Friday at Scope and charged with three counts of
animal cruelty, said Chris Amos, police spokesman. The charges are
misdemeanors.
Also arrested was James Zajicek, chief handler with
the circus, who was charged with obstruction of justice after police
said he became belligerent with officers who were attempting to arrest
Creech, Amos added.
Zajicek, of Sarasota, Fla., became ``real argumentative
and unwilling to cooperate,'' Amos said.
Both men were released on
$2,500 bonds and are scheduled to appear in General District Court
on Sept. 4.
According to Amos, someone attending the circus approached
an animal control officer and reported witnessing an elephant being
repeatedly struck by a handler.
After an investigation by the animal
control officer and an outside veterinarian, it was determined that
the elephant suffered multiple lacerations that ``were still bleeding,''
Amos said. He added that a tool used by handlers to control movement
by elephants was used in the beating.
Ben DeWayne, general manager
of the Sarasota-based Sterling & Reid Circus, said the alleged acts
of cruelty are not condoned by the circus. He was advised by circus
management, however, not to comment further.
``To be perfectly honest,
we've been instructed to leave it in the hands of the lawyers,'' he
said.
DeWayne said neither of the handlers, who were contracted through
the Hawthorne Circus Corp., had ever been charged with cruelty to
animals while working for the circus. He also said the show ``went
on,'' despite the unfortunate circumstances.
``We had a very good
afternoon show and quite a few people who said they enjoyed themselves,''
he added.
Lisa Lange, vice president of communications for People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the organization will closely
monitor developments in the case.
``We will be following up'' with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ``which is the government body
that oversees the Animal Welfare Act concerning circuses,'' Lange
said. ``Sadly, we are not surprised by what happened here last night.''
Reach Richard S. Koonce at 446-2536 or rkoonce@pilotonline.com
back to top
|
|
 |
