Texas man filmed beating turtle to death with hammer says it was self-defense

WaPo ^ | 07-27-2016 | Ben Guarino

[NRx]

...A jogger named Geoffrey Frank saw the blood and the action that drew it. In a graphic video he posted to Facebook, it is possible to hear the meaty crack of the hammer against the turtle shell over Frank’s horrified murmurs of protest.

Frank turned a corner on the trail that runs near Lady Bird Lake to see, as he told Austin’s KXAN-TV, Washington swing the tool down upon the turtle’s shell. On his second loop, the turtle was dead.

It was “sick,” Frank said to KXAN. He watched as the man “smashed it to death with a hammer.”

The animal was still hooked with the fishing line. Washington struck the animal at least 10 times, police told Fox 7, caving in its skull. While witnesses called for him to let the turtle be, according to Frank’s account Washington allegedly dragged the turtle carcass away from shore, left the body and took off in his car...

...Washington said that he was simply protecting himself. The reptile had lunged at him, he said, according to the affidavit. He acknowledged to police he had made no effort to cut the line or unhook the turtle. Police countered that the witness accounts dispute the claims of self-defense and a fast death for the turtle.

As the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department told the Midland Reporter-Telegram, only licensed hunters can catch turtles in Texas. It is also possible he will be fined for illegally dumping dead wildlife. The charge of animal cruelty is a state jail felony under the Texas penal code. Washington’s bond was set at $5,000.

[fwdude]

I’m not talking about management of wildlife, I’m talking about killing just because. And it sounds like this guy was just into killing.

[tumblindice]

Once I was swimming across turtle creek,
Man them turtles snapping at my feet,
It sure was hard swimming cross that thing,
With both hands holding my ding a ling a ling

[Kenton]

On another note, we were out catfishing when one of my buddies hauled up a VERY large snapper on his set line. It was so angry that even after the line was cut, it would move towards us, not the river.

Yeah, they don't give up the ghost very easily. But I forgot about the happy ending to my story.

The day after this happened, my sister used the turtle to make up a big batch of some of the best snapping turtle soup ever.

[bert]

years ago I took a daily walk through a park with a small creek. Surprisingly there were several mallard hens with chicks on the creek in the middle of town.

the chicks decreased in number. Another walker told me the turtles just suck the chicks down.

[T-Bone Texan]

I have stopped on Texas highways to assist turtles across the road.

They are a hazard to fast moving traffic, so if is safe I stop and help them to the side.

Plus, I need the good karma after all that other stuff I did.

[deport]

I would have to assume the “jogger” was dealing with a snapping turtle [which can grow large enough such that they cannot retract into their shell when approached]. In my experience, they can actually achieve weights near 30 pounds or more.

I also assume the jogger carried a hammer for personal protection (not just from reptiles?).

**************

The jogger is the one telling the story but he wasn’t the fisherman that was dealing with the turtle.

[Rebelbase]

A couple of years back I drove past a bunch of prissy beta males in my neighborhood in a panic over a large snapper that had wandered from the creek into a yard.

They were acting like the keystone cops trying to figure out how to remedy the situation. I had one guy wave a stick in the snapper’s face while I grabbed it’s back legs and hoisted it into a wheel barrow.

They were in awe.

[Rebelbase]

I didn’t catch the fishing part of the article. Growing up the black folks used to fish a canal across the street from my house.

Whenever they caught a turtle they’d cut off its head to get their hook back.

[patriot08]

Cruel liar! There’s nothing lower than someone who tortures/kills an innocent animal for no reason.

I hope they throw the book at him.

Our Texas turtles are an endangered species.
(see my ‘about’/bio page for information on these animals and other endangered Texas animals)

[Old Yeller]

If by turtle, he meant Mitch McConnell, then I would understand.

[marktwain]

I have moved big snappers off the road in Wisconsin. They are invariably females looking to lay their eggs.

I hate to see waste, and turtles are interesting wildlife.

A good souce of reserve protein for hard times, as well.

I have eaten both turtles and turtle eggs.

Not bad, but I prefer chicken.

[patriot08]

Bless all of you who have the heart to stop and help a turtle cross the road.
So many are killed trying to cross.

Katy

[Moltke]

I helped save a snapping turtle that was trying to cross a busy road once. He would been run over. Used a snow shovel to toss him back into the creek. I hope he lived.

Well, that certainly resolves the old "Why did brianr10 cross the road?" riddle! (And I commend you for your kind act, sir.)

[Bigg Red]

I did that once with a lacrosse stick.

[yuleeyahoo]

Some of those turtles do look pretty tough.

[Little Ray]

Same here.
If I can help a turtle along without getting killed myself, I will.