West Pike Run chief suspended
The chief and lone officer in the West Pike Run Township police department was suspended without pay Monday by the board of supervisors less than a week after he was charged with animal cruelty by a humane officer for the Washington Area Humane Society.
The three-member board unanimously voted to suspend Michael Hardesty, who was named chief about two years ago, until further investigation, said Rick Molish, chairman of the board of supervisors.
Humane Officer Logan Wade initially filed one citation for animal cruelty against Hardesty on March 5 at the office of District Judge Curtis Thompson, alleging he found a 1 1/2-year-old Rottweiler, Etalia, living in the basement of the chief’s home without sufficient food, water or medical care and amid unsanitary conditions.
On Monday, Wade withdrew that charge. On Tuesday, he filed four separate citations, each alleging a single aspect of the violations. He alleges the dog was deprived adequate food, medical care and water. He also said she was deprived of sanitary living conditions.
Wade is seeking forfeiture of the animal. He is also asking the judge to grant restitution for all costs incurred in the care of the dog and that Hardesty be banned from owning an animal for 90 days.
On the citation, Wade also is asking for the maximum fine “due to the severity of the case.” The maximum fine and costs for each citation would be $440.50, for a total of $1,762.
The dog reportedly weighed 58 pounds when she was taken from Hardesty’s home on National Pike (Route 40) in North Bethlehem Township on Feb. 19, a humane society official said last week. A dog of that age and breed should weigh 85 to 90 pounds, said society general manager Kelly Backo.
The animal was seized because she was found living in her own feces without adequate food or water, Backo said last week. The dog, who must be fed diluted, small amounts of food several times a day, is in the care of a foster family.
The board also voted Monday to hire Ryan Waggoner as a part-time officer. Molish expects Waggoner to start in a few weeks.
A representative of the law firm representing Hardesty, Amatangelo, Baisley & Walsh, called Thompson’s office Tuesday to request a hearing on the citations. Hardesty’s attorney was in court and unavailable for comment Tuesday.