A judge throws out the case of a former employee at the dog wardens accused of grabbing a dog by the throat and throwing it in a kennel. The alleged abuse was caught on tape.
The former employee spent 25 days in jail for a crime the judge says he did not commit.
Aaron Nova appeared relieved after a judge acquitted him of animal cruelty charges. Nova always maintained he was innocent. He told a reporter he worked hard to care for the animals.
"I took it very seriously I still do to this day," said former Dog Warden employee Aaron Nova
Nova's trial started today but ended quickly. July of last year Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle testified she was looking for information involving another matter when she came across this video. The dog named Marbles chewed through his leash.
The prosecutor argued when Nova saw Marbles loose he picked up the dog by the neck and abused it.
"Holds him like this walks him down a little hallway of about 6 to 7 cages then at that point Marbles is slammed into a kennel door," said Prosecutor Sharon Gaich.
Nova's lawyer says that's not what happened. He argued there was urine near the cages and his client slipped as he picked the dog up to put him back in his cage.
"The rest of the incident was an emergency situation he was trying as they testified to he was just trying to get that animal back into the cage without causing any injury to himself that dog or injury to other dogs if they interacted that's all he was trying to do and that was clear from the tape. he wasn't trying to hurt that dog," said defense attorney Jerome Phillips.
The Dog Warden and a Humane Society investigator both testified. The Dog Warden says there are no catch poles in that area and the dogs do not wear collars. Nova's attorney asked for the case to be throw out due to lack of evidence. The judge agreed.
"I think what we have here is some evidence that the defendant did not treat the dog properly as a kennel worker and thee human society should treat an animal I am not making that finding because it is not in front of me but I'm saying there is some evidence of that I don not believes there's is evidence of cruelty," said Judge Timothy Kuhlman.
Nova did not say if he plans to fight to get his job back.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 10:17:54 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:32 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:32:52 GMT
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us to this year's winner…Robin Chlebowski!
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:20:37 GMT
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:10:38 GMT
More jobs may be on the way at the old Jeep plant. One company has announced it will open business there and others are now interested in the site. At one time, 40,000 people worked at the site just
The 111-acre Overland Industrial park broke ground on a new road that will lead to construction of buildings to house new businesses.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 10:17:54 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:27 GMT
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit the families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit victims' families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:08:56 GMT
A Toledo family who moved to Moore less than a year ago only had minutes to take cover. "Its devastation buildings are ripped down families lost their homes houses are flattened." It's been a difficult
A local woman who moved to Moore Oklahoma almost a year ago survives a deadly tornado. 21 year old Kristina Legree says the twister touched down a mile for her home.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:18:53 GMT
A suspended TPS teacher charged with receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to receiving child porn on his home computer. Bruce Omlor, 49, was suspended from Riverside
A suspended TPS teacher charged with receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to receiving child porn on his home computer. Bruce Omlor, 49, was suspended from Riverside Elementary earlier this year.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:11:44 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday. Deputy Paul Little was charged with filing false reports, unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and intimidation of a witness. Little
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday. Deputy Paul Little was charged with filing false reports, unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and intimidation of a witness.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:32 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:32:52 GMT
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us to this year's winner…Robin Chlebowski!
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:31 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:31:44 GMT
EVENING NEWS HEADLINES - MAY 21, 2013 ARSON FIRES Toledo fire investigators are looking into a series of fires in the city. Crews responded to four fires within about an hour of each other today. The
Toledo fire investigators looking into a series of fires in the city; Lucas County sheriff's deputy behind bars tonight.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:20:37 GMT
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:10:38 GMT
More jobs may be on the way at the old Jeep plant. One company has announced it will open business there and others are now interested in the site. At one time, 40,000 people worked at the site just
The 111-acre Overland Industrial park broke ground on a new road that will lead to construction of buildings to house new businesses.