HAMMOND, Ind. — A recent court proceeding has addressed the viral video capturing a dog being transported in a trailer under harsh winter conditions in Northwest Indiana.
Back in February, the Indiana State Police launched a criminal inquiry after witnessing footage of a dog in an open trailer during severe cold weather.
The individual who recorded the video reported seeing the dog as he drove eastbound on I-80/I-94, near Calumet Avenue in Hammond, on a Tuesday morning.
Note: The video shown above is from a previous report.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Prosecutors report that a man confessed to placing a dog in a trailer on a frigid Northwest Indiana interstate
According to prosecutors, Erik McClinton acknowledged placing the dog in the trailer, claiming he had covered the dog’s cage with a blanket, which unfortunately got blown away.
He added the dog, named Midnight, was outside the truck because there were puppies inside.
McClinton was facing a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.
In November, court documents showed McClinton received deferred prosecution in the case. Meaning, the State of Indiana agreed to withhold prosecution of the case for six months, at which point they’ll dismiss the charges if McClinton complies with each and every term of the agreement.
According to the agreement, he must pay court costs and fees and “relinquish all ownership rights or proprietary interests in and related to the canine (“Midnight”) confiscated during the course of this investigation.”
