Case Closed: Injured Pit Bull Was Hit By Car, Police Say

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Savage police have completed their investigation into the case of whose story went viral last week after it was reported he was possibly taken from his yard on July 25 and then returned, beaten. 

Their conclusion – based on investigation, veterinary reports and interviews with Cesar's owner, Robert Cole, Cole's fiance, Amber Wade, and numerous neighbors – is that the dog was accidentally hit by a car after he escaped from his fenced yard.

Police reports obtained by Patch reveal that since the incident was reported July 25, police have spoken to several neighbors who said they saw the dogs running loose that day. 

One neighbor said she received a call that day informing her that the dogs were running loose and said "the dogs run loose quite often and the neighbors will call each other to let them know." One resident was quoted as saying a pit bull and black lab were "bolting" down the street on July 25.

Police said they saw bloody paw prints indicating Cesar had crossed a busy street near the area of 133rd and 134th Street, several blocks from the dogs' home on the 5400 block of West 132nd Lane.

The dog's owner, Robert Cole, has also been cited by the city of Savage related to letting his dogs run loose. In April, a resident called and reported a pit bull and black lab running loose in the neighborhood and trying to get at other dogs in fenced areas, according to police reports. When police found Cole's dog did not have a license, he was given a week to get a license for the dog and was cited when he failed to do so, records said.

Cole also has a warrant out for his arrest for an unpaid fine related in connection with that incident, court records said. Cole was informed of the warrant last week after Cesar's incident and given until the end of the day Monday to clear it up with Scott County court officials. 

Although a vet at Midwest Animal Rescue and Services (MARS) told police Cesar's injuries likely did not come from a vehicle because no debris was found in his wounds, that vet did not do x-rays or treat Cesar for his wounds, police records show. Cesar was transported to Douglas Animal Hospital, where he was treated. That report from a vet states that the injury on Cesar's right hind leg was a result of severe trauma. Cesar also had a 1 cm deep laceration on his left leg and an abrasion on his chin.

The report also stated, "lung musculoskeletal and degloving most consistent with trauma from hit by car, and/or dragging. Lung changes consistent with trauma, suspect hit by car."

The report also says that gravel was found in and removed from Cesar's injuries.

The writing on Cesar's back stating, "Back Off Bob" remains unexplained, police said. In a police interview with Cole, who was not home at the time the dogs disappeared, he said he would have been upset with his fiance if he found out the dogs had gotten loose and Cesar had been hit by a car.

Cole's fiance, Amber Wade, "quietly responded no" when asked by police if she wrote on the dog in an interview on July 27.

Cole also told police that Cesar is too shy to have gone with a stranger in an abduction scenario and that although he's involved in legal issues with an ex-business partner in a dog-training business, he didn't think it was likely that anyone from that business happened upon the escaped dog to do him harm.

Police have closed the case, saying there is no evidence to support Cesar was adbucted and injured in any manner other than accidental.

At last count, MARS issued a statement .

"After conducting our own internal investigation, we have determined that based on the medical records and pictures that are available...we cannot conclusively determine what truly happened to Cesar. However, with our experience and that of an experienced veterinarian, it is our opinion that his injuries are not consistent with an automobile impact.

As we are not professional investigators, it is not in our ability to draw a clear and final evaluation. We are leaving any criminal investigation to the Savage Police Department...We are confident that the injuries inflicted on Cesar were at the hand of a human, whether it be by a steering wheel or a weapon."

The message was posted on the animal rescue group's Facebook page on Saturday. Since then, MARS has issued no further statements about the case. Apparently, the organization is still collecting funds for the dog's recovery, a process that began shortly after the initial story of torture went viral on the web, eliciting a wave of sympathy from the public.