Division Headquarters
Columbus Division of Fire
3675 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43207
Attorney Sam Shamansky, left, and Columbus firefighter David Santuomo appear in Municipal Court. Santuomo pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges.
Columbus firefighter David P. Santuomo will spend 90 days in jail and pay $4,500 in restitution for shooting his two dogs in the basement of his home and wrapping their bodies in a plastic sheet.
Investigators say Santuomo, 43, of 2945 Rushbury Dr. , has admitted that he was going on a cruise with his girlfriend and didn't want to pay to board the dogs Sloopy and Skeeter even though two neighbors offered to watch the animals in his absence. At the time, he lived on Essington Drive near Dublin .
Franklin County Municipal Judge Harland H. Hale accepted guilty pleas to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possessing a criminal tool a homemade silencer Santuomo used on the end of a rifle.
The pleas today could jeopardize Santuomo's career. He still faces an internal disciplinary hearing with Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. He has been a firefighter since 1996.
Assistant County Prosecutor Heather Robinson said the facts of the case are brutal:
On Dec. 3, Santuomo laid down a plastic sheet in his basement and tied the dogs to a pipe, partially suspending their bodies. He shot them multiple times, then dumped their carcasses in a trash bin behind Fire Station 27 at 7560 Smoky Row Rd. , where he was assigned.
"He later bragged about killing his pets to fellow firefighters, and he showed no remorse, even joking about it," Robinson said. "Fellow firefighters were disgusted by what he did, and the Capital Area Humane Society was called to investigate."
Hale sentenced Santuomo to 90 days in jail and ordered him to pay a $150 fine. He must have no pets or firearms in his home for five years and serve 200 hours of community service; undergo random home inspections; and pay $4,500 in restitution for the costs of the investigation to the county and the Capital Area Humane Society, from which he had adopted the dogs.
He also was ordered to write a letter of apology to a firefighters magazine and to readers of The Dispatch.
Hale said Santuomo will be permitted to serve his jail time in 10-day stints over a two-year period.
5 comments:
Here is what I wrote:
June 25, 2009
Division Headquarters
Columbus Division of Fire
3675 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43207
Dear Fire Chief Ned Pettus,
I am sure you are receiving a lot of letters regarding Columbus firefighter David Santuomo. I want you to make a decision that you feel is right for the community, your fire department and for the children that look up to firefighters. I am not going to tell you what you should or should not do / allow. I am only writing to you today to remind you that a firefighter regardless if he likes it or not, is a role models for children and really everyone in the community.
I hope that you stop and think of a few things while you decide what decision you should make.
*Would you want your child to grow up and be just like Mr. Santuomo?
*Remember that ALL serial killers, most abusers, majority of rapists, torched / abused animals as a child.
*If you can kill your family pet who is next?
*How much does Mr. Santuomo value life?
*If money was a motivating factor, could he put your fire house at risk for the right “price”
Thank you for your time and I realize this is a difficult decision. I am sure you will make the right decision.
Amy J Hunt
WOW i read this article in our local paper today and couldnt believe it. I am so disqusted that they would even think of letting this man keep his job. I know what id do with him but its against the law so i cant. im writing a letter too i just cant stomach the thought of what these poor dogs went through.
OMG this is DISGUSTING. What a CREEP and how cruel.
Sending a letter and having everyone I know send a letter.
Obviously wrong on so many levels.
He can afford a cruise for two, but can't suck it up to pay for boarding for two? That's disgusting enough, but when the neighbors volunteered to dog-sit, it's beyond surreal.
The fine for this is only $150 plus court costs?
I'm stunned that someone with this little regard for life has actually chosen a safety profession as his career. It makes me question just who he would/wouldn't rush into a burning building to save. If he'd do this to his own dogs, how much faith do you have that he'd rescue the neighbor's noisy kids or the guy that checked out his girlfriend at a bar the weekend before?
He's untrustworthy, and as a firefighter, that makes him a liability. I know I wouldn't want him in my fire company watching my back with my life on the line - let alone in my personal company anywhere on earth.
Post a Comment