- Indiana, USA -
The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office announced that on October 17, 2023, 67-years-old DALE P. HITEMAN was formally charged with one count of cruelty to an animal.
The charge stems from an incident that took place on June 1, 2023, at the horse track Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson.
HITEMAN was captured whipping his 2-year-old mare named Princess Laa in her stall multiple times.
In the press release obtained by Voice For Us, the prosecutor’s office said: “A person who knowingly or intentionally abuses a vertebrate animal commits cruelty to an animal, a class A misdemeanor.”
The press release goes on to say that “abuse” is defined as “knowingly or intentionally beat, torment, injure, or otherwise harm an animal.”
According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on September 28, 2023, Prosecutor Investigator Callahan received information that someone had posted a video on YouTube showing a horse who was being struck with a whip multiple times in her stall. Callahan then talked to Hoosier Park Investigator McCallister who advised that he had already investigated the incident and identified HITEMAN as Princess Laa's guardian and trainer.
McCallister told Callahan that he reviewed the video and recounted what the footage showed. HITEMAN “can be seen placing a bridal and other equipment onto the head of the horse Princess Laa. The horse appears not to like what is being done so she flails herself up and falls to the ground in the back corner of the stall. She fell with her head into the back corner and her body diagonal outward; however, somewhat in a slight curly position.”
The affidavit also said that HITEMAN then can be seen immediately grabbing a lead and striking Princess Laa. “He struck her several times in the body and the last few strikes were to the head”, stated the affidavit. Once HITEMAN stopped whipping the defenseless mare, she was able to get up and at that point he put the damn equipment on her and took her out of the stall.
A woman who had been working with HITEMAN for two weeks, witnessed the despicable abuse and gave McCallister a verbal statement of what she saw. The woman then quit as a result of the incident.
Amanda Wilson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, examined Princess Laa and reported that “she did not observe any scrapes, cuts, welts, or other signs of physical abuse over the head, neck, body, hind end, or legs. It was her opinion there was no evidence of external or mental trauma to the horse.”
A different DVM, Lexi Webster, wrote in an email to investigators: “I do not see that this animal is either about to cause harm to itself or the handler prior to the handler striking it, and in my opinion, striking it in the face/head/neck is not appropriate and the handler is knowingly beating the animal without good cause.”
Callahan interviewed HITEMAN on October 11, 2023, and showed him the video in question.
HITEMAN has not been arrested yet. At this time of writing, court records do not list a court date for HITEMAN.
I have emailed the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office to inquire about Princess Laa’s wellbeing and see whether she has been removed. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Hanna responded: “The rules we operate under prohibit us from sharing anything further.”
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