Erin take the time to read there comments, law man has freinds "that would have put a slug between her eyes" Richy belives that the least she deserved was to be put in a coma and he also belives the AG thinks like him and feels that the Law enforcement should shoot more people. And by the way The only comparison that I make to Marines and law enforcement is having to make that descision in split second to use leathel or non-leathel force. And by the way I do have a right to my opinon on this matter and others like it, in fact the constitution that I swore to defend guarentee's it. As far as judge and jury YOU AND OTHER'S LIKE YOU, FEEL THAT YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT, and I for one am here to say YOU DONT!
Franklin
Woman convicted of animal cruelty uses stun gun on trooper
Oct 16, 2009 12:00 am
Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
Staff of the Maine State Animal Welfare Program and Maine State Police seized about 40 animals Thursday from Carol Murphy's home at 248 Lane Road in New Sharon. Murphy is under a lifetime ban prohibiting her from having animals.
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Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
Maine state veterinarian, Dr. Christine Fraser, carries a large animal crate to Carol Murphy's home where staff from the Maine Animal Welfare Program and Maine State Police were seizing animals. Murphy used a stun gun on a state trooper Wednesday.
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FARMINGTON — Police say a 65-year-old New Sharon woman assaulted a state trooper with a 975,000-volt stun gun during an investigation into possible animal hoarding at her house on Lane Road.
Carol Murphy pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Superior Court on Thursday to assault on an officer, criminal threatening, refusing to submit to arrest and criminal use of an electronic weapon. She was being held at the Franklin County jail on $10,000 cash bail or $100,000 worth of real estate.
State Animal Welfare Program staff and Maine State Police seized at least 40 domestic and farm critters, including a donkey, two alpacas and a pot-bellied pig, at Murphy's house on Thursday.
"We found a lot of animals," Animal Welfare Director Norma Worley said. "Forty at minimal; maybe more."
Murphy is under a court order that bars her from keeping animals at her home.
In 2004, nearly 70 animals were seized from her property, most of them living in her house and garage. In 2005, she was convicted of animal cruelty and possessing animals without permits. Murphy was sentenced to six months in jail, with all but 24 hours suspended, and one year of probation. She was fined and ordered to pay restitution, as well as prohibited from possessing any animals for the rest of her life.
State Trooper Aaron Turcotte, who was not seriously injured by the shock to his head and neck, went to the house Wednesday after a representative from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked police to check on Murphy.
Turcotte wrote in an affidavit that when he arrived at the house he saw several roosters walking around outside and Murphy walking toward her car. He told her he had a warrant for her arrest and asked if she needed to lock her home. She shook her head and walked into her house, he wrote. The warrant was issued for unpaid fines and fees in connection with the animal cruelty conviction in 2005.
After Murphy had been inside for five minutes, Turcotte said he opened the storm door and knocked on the inside door and it partially opened.
"I could smell a strong odor of feces coming from inside the home," he wrote. "I could hear what sounded like several dogs barking from inside."
When Murphy finally came out with her back to him, Turcotte held the door for her because he thought she was having some difficulty.
"At
this time, I felt something striking my face and neck, jolting me," he
said, and he saw a black object in her hand. "I could then hear the noise
being made from the black object and realized I had been shocked by a
stun gun on the face and neck," he wrote.
Turcotte said he ordered Murphy to drop the stun gun, which she refused to do and began to advance on him. He used pepper spray on her and grabbed her by the arms, pulling her to the ground. She continued to resist, but he was able to handcuff her, he said.
Murphy was arrested and taken to the Franklin County jail in Farmington on Wednesday. Her house was watched through the night by state police, Trooper Samuel Tlumac said from the road in front of Murphy's property on Thursday.
A donkey could be heard braying and a dog was barking. There were roosters in a pet carrier in the driveway.
State veterinarian Christine Fraser carried a large animal crate to the house from a vehicle parked on the road. The animals were to be taken to shelters around the state, Worley said.
dperry@sunjournal.com
Comments
Nope I know you have that
Submitted by Erin on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 15:41.
Nope I know you have that right, as I have the right to rebute it....its called debate. Also coming from a military and law enforcement background I can tell you its not an easy or even sought after decision to take a life. You imply by the "good ole boy will take care of it" that it is. I can tell you first hand that is not correct no matter how crappy of an officer is on the street. Like you we are all humans and we all make judgement calls, some split second and life changing judgement calls. Blatent disregard is one thing, and not something you often find in law enforcement. Human mistakes yes. No one is perfect, not even a retired Marine.
I again applaude trooper
Submitted by PistonJay on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 14:25.
I again applaude trooper Turcotte's self control in handling this situation he used the amount of force that was prudent to the situation with out taking a human life. By theses comments It sounds like some of his fellow brethren would have shot and killed this 65 year old worman knowing that could and would get away with it. The obvious difference between a professional and something less...
Ummm no what they are saying
Submitted by Erin on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 14:29.
Ummm no what they are saying is you comparing this and other situations without having all the facts is wrong. You playing judge and jury because you once were a Marine (nothing like Law Enforcement) gives you this right. This Trooper showed he was very capable of his job, as did the other Law Enforcement Officers in the other cases you mentioned. They were able to protect the community and came home to their family.
Richy, you have obviously
Submitted by PistonJay on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 13:34.
Richy, you have obviously never been in a situation where you have had to make the decison to kill a person due to your obviuos disregard for human life. My only hope is that you never are allowed to carry a weapon in any capacity, least of all as a law enforcment officer. As far as my service as a Marine my record speaks for its self and pukes like you dont rate to carry my boot brush let alone stand beside me! It's uneducated idiots like you that continue to breed more idiots. Please break the cycle and get a vacectomy it would be your way of making to world a better and smarter place.
SpeedBump, three quick
Submitted by PistonJay on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 12:10.
SpeedBump, three quick things on your comments first I have nothing but respect for this officers handling in this situation, it represents what we as taxpayers expect from our law enforcment officers. He escalated the level of force appropriatly rather then "putting a slug between her eyes" when the situation turned bad as some other law enforcemnet officers are quoted here as saying. Secondly I am not making comments about these situations with out experience I spent eight years serving this country as a US Marine and fire control and judgement is paramount! I have seen many deaths in this state since returning and I am appauled that we defend and condone viloence on our citizens like the shooting of the man in the wheel chair, as well as the teen in portland only a few years ago. Third if the stun gun had been a hand gun like you said this would have been totaly different story the trooper dropped his guard long enough for her to press it against his face and neck and then discharge the stun gun.
Remember when seconds count the police are still minutes away, .45 ACP.
Being a US Marine and a Law
Submitted by Erin on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 13:47.
Being a US Marine and a Law Enforcement Officer is like apples and oranges. Unless you have all the facts in front of you, and unless you are the AG you don't, you have no justification to be the judge and jury on these cases. If you have issues with how the State of Maine or the AG handles cases you can file a complaint with the FBI. As a citizen that is your right. If you knew much about Law Enforcement and have all the training you claim you know that fire control and judgement and you also know recognition, response, and survival is less than a one second window.
Its obvious that as a Marine
Submitted by ValenOfGrey on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 12:52.
Its obvious that as a Marine you must have been in the rear with the gear since your experience doesn't qualify your remarks. As a "taxpayer" I don't want the police I pay for getting hurt. I don't want them shot at, tazed, assaulted, threatened, or spit on. I am actually dissappointed that the Trooper didn't at least put this woman in a coma. As a "taxpayer" I expect the police to get rid of problems so that my family is a little safer. If that includes waxing a few morons along the way..so be it. As a "taxpayer" I don't ever think its ok for a police officer to be touched. Thats how I was raised!And as a "taxpayer" I would assume that the Attorney General's Office is with me on the notion that Maine police officers don't shoot enough. I am sure that for every police involved shooting their are ten more situations that officer's would have been more than justified but don't because of the fear of opinion from blooming idiots like yourself. As a Marine I would have expected you to have a different opinion on this matter, but you must have been a "liberal" Marine who probably couldn't handle a life long career in the first place. I'm glad your are no longing serving our country because if more people like you have to spend an unreasonable amount of time determining fire control and judgement.....we're in trouble. Semper Fi to you Mr. Section 8.
This woman and people like
Submitted by JohnBerry on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 10:09.
This woman and people like her really need help. She is fortunate that she was only pepper sprayed. It is sad that she is prohibited from owning any animals. Most of us know how much joy a cat or a dog can bring to a life. But she has proven that she is incapable of stopping with just one. She may not even be capable of properly caring for even one animal. It amazes me to realize that the human mind can allow a person to cause such misery to animals while truly believing that they are being helped.
_______________
"The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor." ~ Hubert H. Humphrey
Law man, I guess that is the
Submitted by PistonJay on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 09:06.
Law man, I guess that is the difference between "professionaly" trained law enforcement officers and local cops. It sound like we need better phycological screening before we send out armed policemen looking for the justifiable reasons to kill our citizens rather then using non-lethal force and letting the judicial system do its job determining who and how they will be punished. It doesn't help that the state have Maine has not procecuted a policeman for a wrongful death in over 30 years, which is statisticly impossible. That kind of says do what ever, the good ole boys will take care of it . Any one remember the 17 year old in portland shot in the back by one of the citys finest for being drunk and running? That to was justified...
Do we really ? Its easy to
Submitted by speedbump on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 10:28.
Do we really ? Its easy to make comments like that if you have never been put into a "kill or be killed" situation , where you have just a split second to decide to pull the trigger . What if that wasn't a stun gun that she used , but a pistol instead ? The officier used excellent judgement in deciding not to use deadly force in this case . I think you fail to understand just how much stress is put on an officier in every situation ; I think youre reaching for straws if you really think that any officier is actually looking for justifyable reasons to use deadly force in Maine . They are weeded out from the start with psychological screening , and also is done periodically , especially after any major events where a law enforcement officier is actually put into that situation . It sounds to me like you have underestimated the training that they go through . It's soooooooooo easy to hate a cop , until you need one !
Not a typo, they have stun
Submitted by JohnBerry on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 09:56.
Not a typo, they have stun guns that are a million volts. They don't kill because the amperage is very low. Voltage does not kill, amps do. I have been shocked with a 600,000 volt stun gun and I can attest to the fact that they work. No lasting effects. Well, my eyes glow in the dark and I can light a light bulb by putting it in my mouth like Uncle Fester, but otherwise, no problems.
_______________
"No one is rich enough to do without a neighbor." ~ Danish Proverb
Stun guns are readily
Submitted by JohnBerry on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 09:49.
Stun guns are readily available online. They are legal in Maine and I hope they stay that way. I don't have one but if people want to protect themselves with one I think they are a better option than a gun for most.
_______________
"No one is rich enough to do without a neighbor." ~ Danish Proverb
True! In Lewiston She would
Submitted by Hymn@work on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 08:48.
True! In Lewiston She would have been shot dead.
She's lucky he didn't put a
Submitted by taxpayer on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 06:24.
She's lucky he didn't put a slug between her eyes.
I feel so bad for animals
Submitted by Chippy on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 05:58.
I feel so bad for animals that are in situations like this. This is a very bad sickness - "animal hoarding" She must be crazy to zap the cop. She should try hoarding some trash instead of animals.
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Good debate Erin, I have
Good debate Erin, I have enjoyed it tremendously. I know that the vast majority of Law enforcement has the best of intentions and values I also know you guys are put in crappy situations on a regular and for that I thank you.
Trooper Turcotte is a shining example of someone who values life and respects the people that he both protects as well as has to arrest, keep up the good work!