Animal Control officer charged with assault; claims ricochet
By RICHARD WALKER, T&D Staff Writer Thursday, January 08, 2009An Orangeburg County Animal Control officer has been charged with assault in connection with a shooting incident last month.
On Wednesday, 49-year-old Reginald E. Wright turned himself in before a bond hearing, where he was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
"Do you understand the charge?" Orangeburg County Chief Magistrate Sam Daily asked.
In response, Wright appeared to shake his head in uncertainty.
A warrant against Wright alleges the Nance Street man was negligent during a Dec. 18 incident in which a woman was struck by a bullet. The warrant further alleges he was attempting to apprehend a dog when he fired a .22 caliber rifle in the vicinity of several individuals outside their home off Rivelon Road.
During Monday's hearing, Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office Lt. Ronda Bamberg said law enforcement officials were not opposed to a personal recognizance bond for Wright.
"He had fired several shots at the dog, on his final shot, it struck and hit the victim in the thigh area," Bamberg said. "He's cooperated with law enforcement."
Daily granted the personal recognizance bond, setting the amount at $10,000. Wright was released a short while later.
Michelle Champy, the Lyons Road woman who said she was shot during the incident, didn't oppose Wright's bond, stating she felt it was fair.
Champy, however, declined further comment on the advice of an attorney. She is considering suing over the incident.
Prior to Daily's decision, Wright stood quietly and appeared dazed.
"It had to have been a ricochet," Wright said softly.
"You're saying you didn't deliberately shoot Miss Champy?" Daily said.
"What I am saying is I shot the animal on the third shot and bullet ricocheted."
"And you're law enforcement with animal control?"
"Yes, sir."
"Any questions? You look kind of puzzled."
Wright shook his head again.
After the incident, Champy said she was in her yard with several small children when she was struck. She was treated for the injury and released later that day from the hospital.
In court Wednesday, Champy was accompanied by her sister, Jamie Ferguson, who said she was at work when she got a call saying Champy had been shot.
"The only part that gets me is that he still has not said, 'I'm sorry,'" Ferguson said after the hearing.
Wright and Orangeburg County Animal Control Director Ben Boensch arrived at the courthouse about 10 minutes prior to the hearing. After the hearing, Boensch left without comment.
Wright's status as a county employee and that of a co-worker remains unclear. After the incident, county officials said the pair had been placed on paid administrative leave while the case was being investigated.
On Wednesday, calls to Orangeburg County Administrator Bill Clark and County Public Works Deputy Administrator Earl Whalen seeking comment went unreturned.
Meantime, Sheriff Larry Williams said the investigation showed Wright did not intend to shoot Champy. But there was still a battery involved, he said.
"This weapon was discharged to apprehend this animal," Williams said. "But there is no evidence at this time that establishes that he had an intent to do any harm to this lady."
Williams said without any intent, the assault charge of a high and aggravated nature is warranted. According to state law, the charge can carry up to 10 years in prison, if convicted.
"Unfortunately, his actions did cause an injury," the sheriff said.
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.
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Jasmine28 wrote on Jan 20, 2009 2:30 PM:
I accept your aplogy I just dont want this falling back on me I am not saying you are, I am just saying I dont want anyone blaming me or hating me when I called animal control my friends and family told me I did the right thing and they would have done the same thing and not just you and me that called but there were others on Lyons Road that called animal control as well. "
oburglady wrote on Jan 14, 2009 7:14 PM:
Jasmine28 wrote on Jan 14, 2009 12:22 AM:
Jasmine28 wrote on Jan 13, 2009 11:45 PM:
Sorry if my family and I started anything we just moved here and we dont start problems we dont want any problems we keep to ourselves. My husband and I have two young kids 5yrs old & 9 months old and we didnt know who them dogs belong to but they were bothering our cats and they were aggressive to my kids when them two dogs were together my husband and I saw the dogs in your yard at times so we figure they were your dogs and besides the reason the cop was called is that we were told them dogs were yours and I didnt want them dogs to get hurt and I didnt call the animal control to come get the puppies or for the one officer to go in yards shooting I called for them to come get the brown & black dog only. My husband came home from picking up our 5 yr old from school and he told our 5 yr to get in the house the dogs were aggressive they acted like they were going to bite him and our son. I told the cop that I didnt know for sure if the dogs belong to the people across the street but I told him if they do to keep them tied down if they dont then someone dropped them off down this road I love animals and I dont want to see them get hurt that is what I told the cop. I am sorry that we caused problems for you and your family we were happy to get this house for rent we didnt and dont mean no harm to anyone and we were looking forward to meeting new people in this area and for our 5 yr old son to make new friends my husband and I have 2 boys and I just had hernia surgery Dec 3 and gallbladder surgery Sept 9th 2008 and I told the cop that I dont need dogs jumping on me or biting me which they never did I am still recovering from that and I will be glad to go back to work in Feb I hope sorry for the inconvience that we caused you and your family and the people up the road I really didnt want to call the animal control officer or the police dept, we had a dog we had to put him up at the animal shelter before we could move here it broke our heart he was a healthy well kept dog part lab part rot he was only 3 yrs old. Sorry we got our facts wrong we wont talk or listen to anyone around here anymore sorry we started on the wrong foot you or anyone else on this road would have done the same thing about our cats if they were in there yard. "
elcid87 wrote on Jan 13, 2009 12:05 PM:
a
A 22 shell is much cheaper than the alternative. I would suggest a higher caliber.
If someone shows up at my home shooting for any reason and endangering my family, I would regretfully be compelled to shoot back for fear of our safety. This could have been much worse. Some folks are armed and ready to protect their families. If we allow animal control to venture throug neighborhoods firing at animals we are inviting disaster.
defining policy and strictly enforcing it is necessary. When I pull the trigger, I know my target, know what is down range, and know what is possible from my actions. This gentleman needs more training before having a gun and more training before participating in animal control. I pity the man for his feeling in his conscious. He knows his adrenalin out ran his mind. "
oburglady wrote on Jan 13, 2009 5:52 AM:
bravo14sc wrote on Jan 11, 2009 9:41 AM:
Reddawg wrote on Jan 10, 2009 9:44 AM:
Jasmine28 have the facts. This Officer was trying to protect people and their property. Sorry low live let their animals run wild. "
Jasmine28 wrote on Jan 9, 2009 10:37 PM:
For your information to your comment I am not a moron I live on Lyons Road and I didnt want them dogs coming in my yard bothering my cats and them dogs when they were together they were aggressive towards my family and I when we were outside I was told by my landlord that that lady that got shot that this would have not had happen if I or others on lyons road would have called the animal control officer and the officer should have not had a gun I agree the dog the dogs seem abused and scared and hungry the female brown dog had puppies and the lady across the street from me had the puppies in her yard and wanted to keep the brown dog cause of the puppies she should have tied that brown dog if she was going to keep that dog 2nd my landlord saw the officer standing behind his truck across the street and from me he told us that there was no way that he could have shot that lady he had to shoot trough the two house up the road to get to shoot that lady in the thigh and also our neighbors that had the brown dog and puppies are blaming my family and I for calling the animal control the police dept they both told me that its not a law to have ur dog on a leash or tied down them people are the morons so what do u think about that? I dont care if the people across from me and our landlord are mad at me for calling but I had a right and the other neighbors had rights to call to they told me that I did the right thing and so did my other neighbors. I am so glad that I am not from Orangeburg I was born and raised in Charleston. So to your answer to your inmature comment my landlord is saying that this story doesnt add up. "
purecnty wrote on Jan 9, 2009 9:03 AM:
I have had a bullet from a 22cal whise over my head during target partice after hitting some rocks burried in the ground. 22's are known to tumble whenb they slow down a little
When a thing is hit with a 22 the entrace wound and the bullet path are usually not in a straight path but can zigzag around the insides.
But the real issue is why shoot the dog to catch him. Was he really justified in shooting? "
rmerri4354 wrote on Jan 8, 2009 9:20 PM:
Joe Taxpayer wrote on Jan 8, 2009 4:21 PM:
purecnty wrote on Jan 8, 2009 2:48 PM:
I have had a bullet from a 22cal whise over my head during target partice after hitting some rocks burried in the ground. 22's are known to tumble whenb they slow down a little
When a thing is hit with a 22 the entrace wound and the bullet path are usually not in a straight path but can zigzag around the insides.
But the real issue is why shoot the dog to catch him. Was he really justified in shooting? "
alist wrote on Jan 8, 2009 10:14 AM:
purecnty wrote on Jan 8, 2009 9:41 AM:
1. It seems that Mr. Wright was tired of having to go back to the same area after the same dog. Just because the dog outsmarted you every time and got away, do not give you the right just to start firing at the poor animal. There are always other ways of handing, getting help. Setting traps and even food for bait.
2. Firing in residential neighborhoods are not legal in many states. I am not sure of the law in SC, but in PA you had to be more than 300 yards from a family structure to hunt. Shooting in the area of houses should only be done in life or death situations, then only by people who have had hours of training for such situations.
3. If you have to shot at the poor dog, use the correct ammunition. a 22 is the worst caliber to use, it has a range of 1 1/2 miles, deflects easily. A heavier bullet would been less likely to be deflected. They also make glaser bullets which are Frangible bullets, they break up when sticking a hard object. In this case a shotgun would have been a better choice with soft lead pellets. Remember a good hunting rule, if your in doubt about the path the bullet could take don't shoot.
4. Is there a protocol in place with animal control to handle this situation? Who makes the call, the control officer or the commander? When can use of deadly force be used.
5. I wonder if any hunting laws were also broken during this incident. I am sure there is no season for dog. But firing in the safety zones of houses is against the law.
6. Don't they make a tranquilizer dart that could have been used? I am sure some were in Orangeburg County one could be borrowed. If not it would be a cheap investment apposed to a law suit.
Hind site is always 20/20 but I think that there should have been rules in place to prevent this, if there ways why aren’t they being followed?
This twice animal treatment in Orangeburg County by public agencies in recent times. Do we need an oversight committee to watch these agencies? "
Jasmine28 wrote on Jan 8, 2009 8:44 AM:
My neighbor next to me told me them people across from my family and I and up the road where the lady claims she was shot they cause problems for people. "
captivated wrote on Jan 8, 2009 7:27 AM: