Oklahoma teen will not face charges after posting pic of slain pit bull
Last month, 18-year-old Caisen Green posted a graphic image of a pit bull he had slain with a bow and arrow to his Facebook page. In the post he stated, “For all you Pit lovers out there. Here’s what happens when one shows up around my house.”
The image quickly went viral and animal lovers from around the globe called out for prosecution and justice against the Oklahoma teen. The reaction was so intense that Green received death threats. Shortly after, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office investigated what happened and turned their information over to the District Attorney.
Green’s side of the story was that he was practicing archery when two dogs approached him on his property. He attempted to “shoo the dogs away” and one fled but he claims that the pit bull in question looked diseased and “rushed him” so he shot him. Green’s father claimed he burned the dog’s body and buried it on the property.
District Attorney Jack Thorp has reviewed the case thoroughly and has decided not to press charges against Mr. Green. He explained his decision in a written statement:
“While I have endeavored to ‘disprove’ Green’s claim of self-defense for the pit bull, I have not been able to do so.”
He added that with Green being the only witness he didn’t have “nearly enough” evidence to move forward with a prosecution. The posted photo (see the original here), showed the dog struck in the side, leading many including local Cherokee County Humane Society representative Lou Hays to believe that the animal died painfully and slowly.
Hays, who was putting heavy pressure on the D.A. to charge Green, understood the decision.
“All I can say is I think the (district attorney) would have loved to have made a case, but he didn’t have much evidence. You can’t convict someone without evidence or witnesses. I wouldn’t want them to be able to convict me on something that slim.”
Thorp continued, “I cannot find that probable cause exists to order the arrest of Green.”