Mears man arrested for 2011 dog dragging death

Morgan

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART – A Mears man accused of fatally dragging a golden retriever behind a truck back in 2011 was arrested over the weekend.

Luke Morgan, 34, has been sought by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office for over three years since the dog dragging death occurred on Taylor Road in Golden Township. He was the alleged driver.

Warrants were signed for his arrest three years ago, OCSO Lt. Craig Mast said, but Morgan fled the area. He was located by the Benzie County Sheriff’s Office over the weekend.

Morgan was transported to Oceana County today and arraigned in 78th District Court on two felony counts of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor of driving while license suspended.

Benzie County officials arrested him on Friend of the Court warrants as well, Mast said.

Carl Morgan, who is related to Luke Morgan was charged in June 2011 with animal cruelty. Carl Morgan owned the dog that was dragged and killed, Mast said. A third man  in the truck was not charged. Carl Morgan pleaded no contest the following July to a felony of killing and torturing an animal and was sentenced to six months in jail.

The incident was reported around 10 p.m. on April 21, 2011 after a woman noticed a “trail of blood” on Taylor Road near 48th Avenue. Authorities followed the trail for about three miles until it ended near Morris Road, where the dog was found buried, Mast said.

Deputies said a gas station attendant witnessed three men, apparently intoxicated, at Wilson’s Party Store, at 2430 N. 56th Ave. They were last seen putting the dog in the back of the truck, police said.