LAWRENCE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Michigan State Police say a man shot two dogs last week, killing one of them near Lawrence in Van Buren County.
Steven St-Cyr is charged with animal cruelty causing death, animal cruelty, and resisting and obstructing police. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm in or at a building.
St-Cyr is accused of firing the shots last Thursday, June 22, and was arrested the same day. State Police say a shotgun was recovered at the scene.
An updated press release from the Michigan State Police Post in Paw Paw Tuesday afternoon is below:
Michigan State Police (MSP) Paw Paw Post troopers arrested a Lawrence man on June 22 around 6:00 p.m. on a weapons firearms charge, killing/torturing animals, and resisting/obstructing officers. Steven Douglas ST-CYR, 58-years-old, was lodged at the Van Buren County jail. He has since been charged and arraigned on felony animal cruelty causing death and resisting obstructing officers. Bond for each charge was set at $50,000. It is unknown if he has posted
bond.
Troopers began investigating this incident after being dispatched to a report of shots fired with an injured dog on Blackman St near Van Buren Tech in Lawrence. Witnesses on scene contacted troopers and led them to an injured dog laying in the grass. The dog was later transported to VCA Veterinary Specialty &
Emergency Center of Kalamazoo by its owner. Troopers learned she transported both her dogs to the vet for emergency medical treatment.
It was confirmed that the injured dog observed in the grass by the troopers had been shot with a shotgun. Due to severe injuries, it had to be put down. The surviving dog sustained non-life-threatening injuries from an unknown source. After a medical exam, there were no visible signs it had been shot.
While at the scene, witnesses alerted troopers that the suspect was approaching the scene in a golf cart. After observing the officers, the suspect turned around and headed back up a two-track towards a residence on Red Arrow Hwy. Troopers followed the suspect in their patrol vehicle with overhead lights
activated and issued multiple verbal orders, using their loudspeaker, requesting him to stop. All attempts were ignored, as the suspect continued driving.
Unable to continue pursuing the suspect via the patrol vehicle, troopers exited and continued with a foot pursuit until they contacted him at his residence. Troopers immediately detained the suspect for resisting and obstructing officers and for suspicion of shooting a dog. Through additional investigations, evidence,
and witness accounts, suspect Steven Douglas ST-CYR was arrested on the said charges.
Additionally, while at the suspect’s residence, a Van Buren County Sheriff deputy met them there. He informed them that around twenty minutes prior to this incident, he and an animal control officer had contact with the suspect for shooting at the same dog for allegedly attacking his chickens and cat.
This case has been turned over the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s office.
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