An off-duty Essex police officer accused of shooting his neighbor's dog after it got into a fight with his Pug pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday morning.
Police say Michael J. Wootton, 34, of Waterville, shot and killed his neighbor's mixed-breed dog earlier this month.
The shooting happened after Wootton's dog went to a neighbor's property and got into a fight with a dog owned by Melinda Maskell. Police say Wootton then went home, got a handgun and fired one shot at the dog.
"If he would have had his dog on a leash, none of this would have happened," Maskell said.
Maskell showed us pictures of her dog Hooch, in happier times. She described the mixed-breed as well-mannered.
"I mean the dog sat pretty, that's how well he minded, he knew commands, he went to obedience school for a year," Maskell said.
Court records show Hooch was shot in the stomach. Maskell says her two year old daughter was just feet away from Wootton, when it happened.
"They're supposed to serve and protect us and to have to explain to my children why they murdered my dog, in front of my child, is one of the hardest parts to it," Maskell said.
Maskell understands court proceedings could be far from over.
"My family and I are going to pursue this until we get justice, one way or the other," Maskell said.
Maskell said she was surprised there wasn't a reckless endangerment charge against Wootton, since her daughter was nearby at the time of the alleged incident.
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