Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Powell, OH
Posts: 119

I would like to take the time to let everyone know that Jim Ridges female Bell will be physically OK due to a gunshot wound by a drunken landowner last nite while hunting in the National Redbone HUnt out of HOlmesville, OH

I was guiding the cast in a location where I have never had any problems with landowners. The place we turned loose on, I had written permission. The cast got out of pocket and onto property where I had no permission. The dogs treed in front of the property owners home. The man came out and shot 6 times with his 9mm pistol, wounding Jims Bell female in one of her hindquarters.

I immediately called the Delaware County Sheriffs Department who sent two Deputies out to investigate. They found the property owner to have been intoxicated while firing his pistol at the dogs(the property owner admitted to what he had done). The Deputies arrested the property owner for "felonious assault", unusal cruelty to an animal. He was taken to jail and Jim did accompany them to the jail to file official charges against the man.

I certainly hope that this incident will make other propery owners hestitate before they do something stupid like shooting an innocent hound.

This is the first time to my knowledge that police officials have sided with the hound owners initially.

I would like to express my sympathy to Jim and his hound as I certainly enjoy hunting with them in the hunts.

I would also llike to commend Jim for his level headed thinking, in order to let the police do their jobs.

I would hope that all coonhunters in the Central OHIO area would call the Delaware County SHeriffs office and thank them for the fine job they did, in an effort to avoid a similiar incident with this property owner.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 3791

that good that the local police took actions.........hope jims female recovers quick.........

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Registered: Jan 2005
Location: BLOOMFIELD IOWA
Posts: 2439

Sounds like justice prevailed. Hope all is well with the female.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: ALABAMA
Posts: 5183

John, now let's hope all the charges stick and the DA doesn't drop them.

Getting arrested and being convicted are 2 different things.

Keep us updated with the outcome.

Justice will not be prevailed until he is convicted of those charges.

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Registered: Mar 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 19374

SO sorry the hound got shot and hope she'll recover fully! Good that the officers have sided with the hound. Hope it sticks!!!!

Heather and Bob

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Powell, OH
Posts: 119

Buckshot,

That is true........however we are prepared to show up and see that justice prevails...........it was a surprise to see the Sheriffs Deputies taking up for Jim's dog rather than taking up for the property owner, who by the way is somewhat of a bigwiig in the area........I am sure that Jim is not going to be dropping any charges..............I will keep yall updated as news comes in.......

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Sandy Ridge NC
Posts: 3893

John, hate to hear of things like this. Glad the proper officials was called and handled it the way they did.

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Registered: Feb 2006
Location: Green Camp Ohio
Posts: 97

Thank You John for posting this ! I just got off the phone right before I read your post. The number for the Delaware County Sheriffs office is 740-833-2810. Jon Weaver

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: ALABAMA
Posts: 5183

quote:

---

Originally posted by John R. Walkup
Buckshot,

That is true........however we are prepared to show up and see that justice prevails...........it was a surprise to see the Sheriffs Deputies taking up for Jim's dog rather than taking up for the property owner, who by the way is somewhat of a bigwiig in the area........I am sure that Jim is not going to be dropping any charges..............I will keep yall updated as news comes in.......

---

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Powell, OH
Posts: 119

Jon,

Thanks, darnest thing I was ever involved in.......

Buckshot, Blue Ice,

Will keep yall updated!

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Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9280

This was certainly an unfortunate situation and we hate to see it happen to anyone whether it be in a nite hunt or justy simply a pleasure hunt. We commend the cast members for taking immediate action in reporting the incident and ultimately pressing charges. We hope Mr. Ridge's female will come out of this ok. Bell has been hanging around the Top Five in the '08 Purina race all year long. It would be a darn shame to see this incident having an affect on her and not be able to compete or in the same capacity.

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Registered: Jul 2008
Location: HIGHYELLARVILLE, KY.
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I'm glad Jim busted his drunk stuip ass, way go JIM!!!!!!!!!!!

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Registered: May 2006
Location: northeast ohio
Posts: 1309

sorry to hear about the dog.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: michigan
Posts: 2573

Glad they took him in as they should. It's likely they grabbed him for being under the influence and firing a gun more than anything else but I hope Jim burns him for whatever works in this situation.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Powell, OH
Posts: 119

Dale,

Exactly, the property owner admitted he had been drinking and shot at the dogs because they were annoying him. He had at first told the deputies he thought they were coyotes, which was hogwash as we coonhunt around and on his property on a regular basis and have so for over 20 years.........I doubt that he will be able to weasel out of that charge and I too hope that Jim nails him in civil court as well........

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Registered: Jul 2007
Location: Blanch,NC
Posts: 324

I have hunted with Jim and Bell at the Va state hunt and won my cast hunting against them.Jim is a real gentleman and Bell is a top notch hound.I hope everything works out ok and this idiot gets prosecuted.Jammie

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 3847

That is terrible about Bell getting shot. I hope she heals up just fine and gets back to hunting soon.
Like Dale Young already said, they probably arrested him more on the fact that he was intoxicated and using a gun, but we'll see.

It really makes you wonder how long it will be before a person gets shot.
Stay Safe!

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Registered: Apr 2006
Location: Lewis, Indiana
Posts: 129

Bell has a clean gunshot wound through her back leg. So far she is doing surprisingly well considering being shot. She will be down for a while. She is a tough female and will hopefully bounce back quick. She had a stick lodged in her last year and won her last 3 NTCH wins to make GRNTCH all while still having the stick inside her. Physically she will heal from this but it is hard to tell what she is going to do the next time out. As tough as she physically is and as good a trainer and man her owner is I will bet she will return to the hunts quicker than expected.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Powell, OH
Posts: 119

Chris,

Thanks for the update............those two sure make a tough pair to contend with.......

A felonious charge held up in court will keep this gentleman from ever owning another firearm legally......that in itself would be better than making him pay thousands of dollars for a dog and make it safer for other hunters whose dogs might trespass unintentionly in the future. However I sincerely hope that Jim burns him for whatever he can get out of the old codger!

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