By:
Lauren Smith
ARDMORE,
OK -- An Ardmore police officer, accused of killing his neighbor's dogs, was in
court Wednesday.
An
Ardmore woman who lives in the Hickory Ridge Addition claims in April, her pet
schnauzer was one of several dogs that were poisoned by neighbor and Ardmore
police officer, Barry Antwine.
She
said, "I think there were mixed emotions, just sad to watch her suffer and
be so sick and not really know why"
In
May, Antwine was charged with "laying out poison for domestic
animals" for allegedly putting antifreeze in a bowl on his property with
the intent of killing his neighbors' dogs.
The
woman said, "This is a safe neighborhood. It's been a great place for us
to live and so I hated to have to lose her that way"
She
says she never purposefully let her dog roam the neighborhood out of sight.
She
added, "I have little kids so if they leave the door open and she might
would run out but never just out all day to wander, you know, she was inside
and we kept her inside but occasionally she'd get out, but she definitely
wasn't an outside dog."
Carter
County District Attorney Craig Ladd said, "It's a misdemeanor offense here
in Oklahoma and his case has been set for disposition docket on August the 5th
at 2 o'clock"
Ladd
says Antwine is maintaining not guilty at this time and Antwine's involvement
in the police department will not play a role in the charges filed.
Ladd
said "It really didn't factor into my thinking. I mean, I just reviewed
the reports and try to make a decision based upon what we could prove and what
I feel like the evidence supports."
The
victim we spoke with says while her family pet cannot be replaced she chooses
not harbor any resentment toward Antwine.
She
said, "We as a family are forgiving people and we believe that grace and
giving people second chances."
Ardmore
Police Chief Ken Grace says Antwine remains on administrative leave pending the
investigat