Train engineer admits to hitting dogs found decapitated in Hamilton

The case — in which two dogs were decapitated and found near the railroad tracks — was initially investigated as an act of animal cruelty, according to Hamilton Police Sgt. Ed Buns.

“Social media posts claimed that the dogs were shot and left on the tracks,” Buns said.

The dogs were discovered Sept. 13, but police were not made aware of their deaths until two days later. When officers arrived on the scene, Buns said only the remains of one of the dogs (a pure pit bull breed) were found, but a photo of the second dog (a pit bull mixed breed) appeared later on social media, showing that it had also been decapitated at the same location.

Detectives working the case teamed with CSX Railroad to identify trains that were operating at the track location at the approximate same date and time the dogs were killed.

“Through this investigation, detectives located the engineer of a train this morning who admitted hitting the dogs,” Buns said. “The engineer advised detectives that as the train approached, both dogs were playing on the tracks. He stated that the dogs were alive and well and did not appear to be injured or ill in any way.”

The engineer told detectives he sounded the whistle, but the dogs continued to play on the tracks.

He also admitted that the train struck the dogs, causing their death, according to Buns, who said the engineer also relayed that he only learned of the investigation this weekend.

The engineer, whom police did not identify, is “upset that the dogs were struck, but there is nothing he could do,” Buns said. “He said that trains can take a half mile or more to stop.”

Detectives compared the injuries and circumstances surrounding the death of the two dogs with the statement provided by the train engineer and found the engineer’s account of what happened to be accurate.

“Our detectives and the dog warden inspected both dogs for any injuries inconsistent with the statement of the train engineer and also photographs of the scene where the remains were located,” Buns said. “Based on statements, photographs, and the inspections of the remains, detective are confident that — although amazing as it may seem — the information they have obtained is accurate.”

“It looks like they did what dogs do — running, jostling and playing around,” Buns said. “The dogs got too close to the track and there was absolutely nothing the conductor could do. There are no places for these trains to go or turn ...”

The Hamilton detective assigned to the case (who was a former K-9 officer) learned that one of the deceased dogs was a 2-year-old pit bull named Scrappy and belonged to a Ramsey Street resident, who told police that a friend had taken ownership of the animal late last month. The animal reportedly had escaped its enclosure before it was found dead at the railroad tracks.

Buns said the second dog was identified as Deno, and its owner lived a short distance from the tracks.

Deno had been on the loose as well, according to Buns.

Charges for failure to maintain control of the dogs may be filed, according to Butler County Dog Warden Kurt Merbs.

The Hamilton Police Department and Animal Friends Humane Society had offered a reward for information that leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of two pit bulls — and the reward money had grown to $1,000.