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Feud between Tooele neighbors leads to pit bull shootings
Apr 07, 2009 | 1094 views | 20 
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Two pit bulls were shot dead following a dispute between neighbors over the weekend.
Just after 6 p.m. Sunday, Tooele City police were summoned to a residence in southwest Tooele after a report of two dogs being shot, according to Tooele City Police Chief Ron Kirby. Responding officers took statements from the owner of the dogs, Michelle and Kevin Baxter, and a next-door neighbor, Trevor Williams, who openly admitted to shooting the dogs with his 9mm handgun.
“Their stories were very different,” Kirby said. “Both the neighbors have been accusing each other of having their dogs out and in each other’s yards for a while now. In this particular instance, the two pit bulls came through a hole in the fence into the neighbor’s yard.”
Once in the Williams’ yard, the pit bulls attacked a schnauzer and two black labs, resulting in Williams shooting the dogs at close range as a means of self-defense, Kirby said of Williams’ statement given to investigators.
Michelle Baxter, who owns one of the pit bulls and was caring for the other, said that’s not the case.
“Yesterday, my son was outside and he came running back in the house saying that the neighbor’s black lab was over in our yard again,” Baxter said. “I went out back and took a picture of the dogs trying to get through the fence to get at our rooster. My husband got home just after 5 p.m. and we decided to move the rooster cage. While doing so a piece of plywood that I had up against the fence fell down and his dogs ran into my backyard.”
Then the Baxters’ dogs chased the labs and schnauzer back out of the Baxters’ yard and into the Williams’ yard, Baxter said.
“My husband jumped the fence and grabbed the dogs — one by the leash and the other by the collar,” she said. “My neighbor then pulled out his gun and held it to my husband’s head and then shot the dogs. My 8-year-old son was standing no more than five feet away.”
Kirby said Williams’ account of the evening’s events don’t reference him using his personal weapon for anything other than to halt the attack on his dogs. Williams’ schnauzer was hurt in the attack, according to Kirby.
“We are investigating both sides,” Kirby said. “You always wish you had an independent witness.”
After questioning each party, officers gathered evidence and confiscated the bodies of the two animals to take back to the lab for further investigation.
Kirby said it’s tough to say which neighbor is telling the truth, but physical evidence may give investigators a clearer picture of what happened.
“There is some physical evidence in this case, including shell casings, blood, the hole in the fence, collars and leashes,” Kirby said. “A lot of times in a case like this we look at whose statements best match the physical evidence. Right now, the evidence indicates that the dogs were running free when they were shot and not while being held by the owner.”
Kirby confirmed that police records show the Baxters have filed reports against Williams in the past for allowing his dogs to run free, but whether that history will affect what happens in this case is yet to be determined. Kirby is still sifting through police records but has yet to find a complaint made by Williams against the Baxters for their animals.
Williams is currently completing police academy training and has an offer from the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office to work in the jail upon completion, according to Tooele County Sheriff Frank Park.
“I can assure you that’s not going to influence our investigation,” Kirby said.
The investigation is ongoing, although Kirby said his office should be wrapping up its portion shortly. From there the case will be referred to the Tooele City Attorney’s Office to determine what charges, if any, will be filed.
“What we know is that we have pit bulls attacking a dog in the backyard of Mr. Williams’ home,” Kirby said. “On the face of that, firing a weapon would be a reasonable use of force against the dogs. We start from there and work backwards in time. That will make the final determination of what charges get filed. We have to look at the threat to Mr. Williams and his property. We have to look at how he is pointing his gun. How close were other people, houses, and so forth? Was the use of force reasonable considering the threat? Preliminary evidence says yes.”
Jamie Belnap: jamieb@tooeletranscript.com
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frustrated neighbor to the problem.
Neither you nor I know for certain what happened that fateful day. That is why I say we should both stick to the acts that occured rather than the words. I feel awful that the Baxters lost a pregnant dog. I feel awful that Williams felt so threatened he thought he had to use a firearm in his own back yard.
Maybe someone is lying, but we will never know. Only family members and those who really know these two family's will know fer sure.
I do not know Williams whatsoever -- I wish I could go talk to him just to get an idea if he is a decent human being. One can tell I think. The Baxters have never been any trouble to me so I have to go with that.
I do not understand when you say my misplaced loyalty to my neighbor is duly noted? Do you also work for the sheriff or police and should I be watching my back? Who is Michael Vick?
When I was 8 I got bit in the achilles heel by a small little terrior dog. To this day it will ache at times and believe me, I'M OLD! :) Anyway, this whole dog topic is interesting. The Police/Sheriff situation is kind of odd but again, who's to know if our Tooele City/County protectors are crooked. I would sure hope not.
i ended up at UNI for trying to file charges against there skinhead officer because he had been following me around on and off duty
Apparently you did not read the article. The Baxters seemed to take responsibility that there dogs chased Williams dogs back into his yard. The problem is the close proximety of the house, children and owners of both sets of dogs while Williams decided to take his concealed weapon of his person and fire 5 times.
Maybe pit-bulls were bred for fighting, but its been illegal for years. Most pitbulls are just pets and like most DOGS are very territorial. If you could see that the story is the guy fired shots and used the excuse that "they were going to attack my dog" then you would have to admit that he totally over-reacted.
Pit bulls and any animal are what the owners make them out to be.
Since living in this neighborhood I've never seen the Baxters dogs run at large or bite any animal or anything crazy. However, since Williams has lived in this neighborhood it has been police police police almost weekly. Called upon him and his dogs. I'm not an investigator but heeelllooo?!
Actions do speak Much Louder Than Words. Agreed.
BTW, I am no smarty pants either, I am as dumb as a box of rocks. But like yourself, not stupid. Thanks for your comments.
What's wrong with our town?
One of the pitbull dogs was a stud/show dog and didn't belong to the Baxters. That owner drove all the way from Ogden extremely upset. It's hard to see a grown man cry.
I don't feel this was handled well by the Utah Highway Patrol, Tooele City Police Dept., and the Sheriff's Department. It sounds like they were all backing up one of "their own."
And yes, there are two sides to every story but this one seems a little lopsided.
i know from experience that the local jailers are highly crooked
i was at the local jail several months ago when one of the inmates had a heart attack and died - his body wasnt discovered for 3 days - i overheard the lead jailer order a cover up and to lie to the press and deny it happened if the judges ask anything
also
a mentally ill inmate was lied to repeatedly by the jailors every time he asked what the status was on his bed at the state hospital - thee jailers told him every time that it was being worked on - this inmate had been in the jail 34 days already
I'm not a smarty pants or anything, but maybe I should have elaborated a bit on what I thought might be biased.
I think Kirby is biased. Nepotism etc. I also agree with you that the TTB attempted to give both sides.
I also agree with you on what a jailer's function is HOWEVER it seems that not only is this certain jailer a bossy sort, but maybe he is a bully with a gun.
I thought it interesting in the article that the Baxters had called the police several times about Williams dogs and not once did he call the police. Maybe because he IS the police (or so he thinks) he thought he could just use a firearm in the city limits with children, dogs, and adults present.
I don't know... You would have to agree if it were you or me, we would have been arrested or at least be told to "stick 'em up!"
I think the TTB attempted to give both sides.
A jailer is only a wanna be Sherrif that loves to boss people around, I see your concern, but give the department some credit,
I don't think any law enforcment officer with a bean inside their gord would jepardize their job for a freaking dead dog. Unless you are a PETA freak and don't know the difference between a human and an animal. Now sex, is a different story.
I would like to know the truth on this one. I hope the investigators and the Transcript keep up on this article and the two parties involved like the local news is.
Is it really worth owning a Pit Bull?
Didn't Mrs. Baxter say her son was 5 ft away? Someone said that Williams child was clinging to his leg? Why does the police believe Williams story and not the Baxter's?
I think Chief Kirby needs to open wide his eyes. Get all sides before making such a comment.
Cmon city leaders. Shooting at any animals that one feel's is going to harm other animals? In city limit's? What is wrong with this picture??? I feel like I'm in la la land. OH... it's Tooele City. OHHHHHH
Hmmm... doesn't seem righ, Kirby.
All the surrounding neighbors are scared that this guy was allowed to stay free. (oh wait, sheriff's department - government owned by family operated... hmmm