Suspended West Pike Run police chief acquitted of animal cruelty charges
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The suspended West Pike Run Township police chief will be asking for his job and dog back after he was found not guilty of animal cruelty charges today.
Michael Hardesty, 39, of National Pike, was initally charged with one count by humane Officer Logam Wade after the 14-month-old rottweiler was reportedly found underweight and living in dirty conditions in February. Wade withdrew those charges and filed four counts of cruelty.
District Judge Larry Hopkins found him not guilty, saying he believed there wad a co-owner of the dog who also lived in the house.
Tammy Sandoval, identified as Hardesty’s estranged girlfriend, also lived in the house and is listed aa co-owner on AKC papers for the animal. She was not charged.