Barnstable Police Intervene and Save Dog in Distress

HYANNIS – Barnstable Police report that on August 17, 2015 at approximately 12:30 a.m. Officers Nelson Souve and James Melia responded to 586 Main St. in Hyannis, the Tap City Grill, for a report of two intoxicated individuals refusing to leave. The officers had conversation with Justin Wagner, 29, of Fall River, MA (left) and Matthew Bernier, 27, (right) of Westport, MA. The subjects elected to take a taxi cab to a location in Falmouth for the night.

At approximately 1:10 a.m. the officers were dispatched to 447 Main St. in Hyannis, The Duck Inn Pub, for a report of a stolen motor vehicle. The two people reporting that their truck was stolen were Wagner and Bernier. The two subjects were intoxicated and Bernier became belligerent and uncooperative. He was placed into protective custody for his own safety. The subsequent investigation revealed that their vehicle was never actually stolen. The two had become so intoxicated that they couldn’t remember where they left it. Officers also learned that the two may have left a puppy in their vehicle while they spent the evening drinking on Main St. The puppy was last left in the vehicle around 5:00 p.m. The temperature at that time was 82 degrees with humidity at 65%. Multiple units descended on the Main St. area and searched for the vehicle. The vehicle was located at approximately 3:00 a.m. Officers found that the vehicle’s windows were not open at all and there was a dog inside in distress. The dog was in a homemade “kennel” made out of a box and a blue tarp in the truck cab. The German Shepard puppy was panting heavily and appeared frightened. Officers provided the puppy with several bottles of water. After this care the puppy slowly returned to normal. The puppy was brought to the station by Officers Souve and Melia where she was nicknamed “Midnight” and cared for in the Barnstable Police dispatch area until the morning.

Both Wagner and Bernier were charged with felony Animal Cruelty. They were held overnight at the Barnstable Police Facility and transported to Barnstable District Court for arraignment later that morning. “Midnight” was turned over to Barnstable Animal Control.
Media release and photos furnished by Barnstable Police