By TIM GULLA & LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writers

Three men who worked at the Cherokee County Combined Animal Shelter inflicted unnecessary pain when euthanizing animals, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged Wednesday.

A SLED investigation that began May 12 into complaints about how animals were being put to sleep resulted in arrest warrants being served Wednesday afternoon on former animal control officer Michael Pearson, who resigned from the office last June; Donnie Ray Crowe, who was assigned to another post on Wednesday; and Gaffney Police Department animal control officer Dewayne Fowler.

All three men were released on personal recognizance bonds after being booked at the Cherokee County Detention Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Paperwork provided by SLED showed all three men are charged with the misdemeanor offense of ill treatment of animals, first offense. SLED Senior Agent Jeffrey Crooks, who filed the warrants, charged that each of the men "did knowingly and intentionally ill-treat and inflict inneccessary (sic) pain or suffering upon animals at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter by employing the 'heart stick' method of euthanasia without first providing sedation."

In Crowe's case, the alleged offense occurred between Jan. 1, 2006 and June 1, 2008; in Fowler's case, the alleged offense occurred between July 7, 2005 and June 1, 2008; and in Pearson's case the alleged offense occurred between Sept. 27, 2007 and June 1, 2008; the officer alleged in the arrest paperwork.

The alleged offenses were witnessed by other employees and volunteers at the shelter, the agent wrote in each of the warrants.

Telephone numbers listed on arrest paperwork for Crowe and Pearson were not active on Thursday. Fowler could not be reached for immediate comment late Thursday afternoon.

Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue declined comment on the charges, but confirmed Crowe was transferred Wednesday to the county's recycling department.

The transfer leaves only one animal control officer at the shelter. But Belue said the existing staff can handle the workload.

"We can complete the work assigned," Belue said. "This is normally the slow time of the year and we'll be able to cover the needs of the county."

Gaffney Administrator James Taylor was unavailable for comment.

Gaffney Police Chief John O'Donald said Fowler would not be reassigned and would continue to transport animals to the shelter.

"There are a lot of extenuating circumstances," O'Donald said. "He was just following the standard operating procedures. The law changed subsequently to that and they weren't aware of it."

Pearson resigned from the shelter last June, just a few weeks before he pleaded guilty in Cherokee County Magistrate Court to an unrelated charge of ill treatment of animals. That charge stemmed from a June 21, 2007, incident during which he shot a dog with his personal rifle because he was unable to catch it. SLED, which investigated that incident as well, claimed in court documents Pearson was not certified to use his personal rifle in the course of his duties.

Pearson was fined $200 for that offense.

The new ill-treatment allegations stemmed from complaints by animal rights activists who claimed that intracardial injections, or "heart sticks," could cause the animals great pain if done incorrectly. Through this method, a euthanasia solution is injected into the animal's heart.

Based on repeated complaints, Cherokee County Council agreed last May to prohibit animal control officers from performing "heart sticks" and also to hire a veterinarian to do the job for the county.

Libby Swad, an official with the now defunct Cherokee County Humane Society, had claimed last May that state law requires animals to be sedated before being euthanized. She had further claimed a review of invoices showed the county had purchased euthanasia solutions but no tranquilizers from a local veterinarian.

Cherokee County Council last August agreed to pay for the legal defense of animal shelter employees if they were charged. The move came after the animal shelter employees received letters from the Attorney General's Office advising them to seek legal representation.

"The employees have not done anything illegal," interim County Manager Ben Clary told council members last August. "They've been doing what we instructed them to do, and we said we would provide legal defense for them."

Charged by the State Law Enforcement Division with ill treatment of animals are: Michael Pearson Donnie Ray Crowe Dewayne Fowler