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Posted on Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.

Man accused of running over and killing gosling will stand trial

By Kyle Feldscher

The man accused of running over and killing a gosling because it didn’t get out of his way is scheduled to start his trial at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7.

Norman Stowell was arrested in May after he was accused of running over a gaggle of geese walking in the grass on May 14 near the American Legion in Milan, 44 Wabash St. Police said Stowell told them he didn’t mean to run over the group of birds, but he wasn’t going to stop, wait or drive around them to get to a parking spot.

Stowell waived his right to a preliminary examination in July and has had few delays in proceeding forward with his case. There have been no indications from the defense or prosecution that a plea deal is in the works. He will be in Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown’s courtroom when he stands trial.

Stowell is charged with one count of killing or torturing an animal. He was back in court on Wednesday and his case was moved ahead by Brown after a short discussion.

According to a Milan Police Department report, neighbors reported seeing Stowell drive over a group of baby Canada geese after 7 p.m. Police responding to the American Legion found a gosling lying dead in the grass about 50 feet behind a rear paring lot, the report stated.

Witnesses told police that Stowell sped up and drove directly over the group of geese while they were walking in the grass. The witness stated Stowell was doing a wide U-turn in the parking lot.

Stowell reported gave the middle finger to a woman who yelled at him after he allegedly ran the bird over while he walked back into the building. The police report stated Stowell told police officers that responding to the incident was “a great way to waste our tax dollars.”

Ford Lake is near the area and neighbors said birds often wander through the American Legion parking lot.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

snapshot

Sun, Oct 30, 2011 : 4:19 a.m.

I don't even know what a "Goslin" is and think animal cruelty should be punished, but I do know that several bicyclists have been hit, pedestrians are being run down and these folks aren't being prosecuted. Where are law enforcements priorities? As far as I'm concerned someone playing with radio dials or talking on a cell phone when they run down someone, ought to go to jail too.

Sallyxyz

Fri, Oct 28, 2011 : 2 p.m.

Please put the photo of the perp with the article. This is sloppy and incomplete journalism.

Kyle Feldscher

Fri, Oct 28, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.

We have a request for his mugshot with the police and were not provided with that picture. He also does not have a criminal background and, as such, no mugshot is available on the Offender Tracking Information System. As we have noted in previous responses, sometimes the mugshot of the suspect in a crime is not always available depending on the policies and cooperation of different police departments.

SuzzieKaye

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.

I find it interesting that this guy is going to be ripped through the ringer for hitting a goose, but when a kid on a bike gets hit by a car, the driver gets away with nothing. No ticket, no nothing. Teach your kids that if they get hit by a car, don't let them say that they are alright...... Hit by a car, child's head smacks with the pavement and child is a minor. Police did nothing after Offender was found. Still haunting.......

jns131

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.

I was told road rage is illegal and giving the finger to someone in a car while operating it is a fine and can impose some jail time. Is this still valid I wonder? A cop told me this. As for the birds? Keep him away from that ice rink on Michigan near Canton. Every single time I drive into that area? Wow. Now they are crossing Michigan from that area making it even more fun. Going to give the Canton police a new job to do. I really hope the guy does time. He can sit next to that other guy who did the ducks in.

nonoseknows

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.

High schoolers like klondike and A2_wookie whining about tea partiers and republicans when I don't believe the article mentioned either.

Dog Guy

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.

County prosecutors pander to a broad spectrum of voters. This trial is for those who cannot differentiate between animals and humans. In the Ann Arbor area, prosecuting a gosling squishing more than makes up for no rapist to prosecute.

Hmm

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.

I was talking to Dog Guy not the other comment before mine. That person is obviously one of the people that is being pandered to

Hmm

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.

Totally agree with you!

craigjjs

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.

Irrational and offensive. Congratulations. Would you feel that way if someone squished your dog?

Macabre Sunset

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 2:20 a.m.

I'm sure this is worth prosecuting, but why does the city continue to offer sweetheart plea deals to serious, life-long violent criminals? Why does this go to trial when a murderer can plea to just a couple of years behind bars?

mermaid

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.

Killing animals is not a violent crime? He deserves time in jail & a large fine to change his warped views

Marilyn Wilkie

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 11:46 a.m.

The guy probably pushed for the trial in order to stick it to the taxpayers.

Roadman

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 5:01 a.m.

And how many vehicular homicide cases result in probationary sentences out of the local circuit court?

Wolf's Bane

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 1:40 a.m.

Proving once again that any Turkey can take the wheel. Vote Republican, make running over Goslings a right to bear us arms.

OLDTIMER3

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.

You have no idea of what his political party is or if he even has one.

Wolf's Bane

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:15 p.m.

Arm Bears and Geese. Let them fight it out and vote Republican.

a2citizen

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 3:07 a.m.

But at the rate people are killing animals in the area, maybe we better arm the bears.

Bear

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.

I believe in the right to arm bears

RJA

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.

If Stowell wasn't going to stop, wait and go around them, then he meant to run over them. At the same time he was very dis-respectful to the woman to yelled out to him. Great Job Milan Police Dept. I hope Archie Brown gives him some time.

r treat

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.

People kill animals for sport every single day in this country and they can be seen at a huge store in Milan. Quite ironic that a man goes to court for killing an animal, yet the economy in Milan has flourished by selling equipment and showing the trophies of the "sport". These geese have polluted are ponds, lakes, sidewalks, and golf courses. I suppose if I were to hit one of these over populated creatures with a golf ball the police would come get me before I putted.

Grimey

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.

If you're referring to Cabela's Sporting Goods store, that's located in Dundee, not Milan.

Atticus F.

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.

bear, humans are capable of cleaning up after themselves...Geese are not. And yes they are extremely overpopulated. And arbuckle, How can you not recognize the difference between killing a overpopulated nusence animal and a beloved familly pet? It's a clear cut case of comparing apples to Oranges.

Arbuckle

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.

Bear- very well said, I couldn't agree more. I'll bet r treat would be crying bloody murder had it been their family pet...

Marilyn Wilkie

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 11:45 a.m.

Do your research..Cabellas is not by Milan.

Bear

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 2:14 a.m.

r treat, humans have polluted 'are'(sic) ponds, lakes, aquifers, air & land for centuries. Are you suggesting we kill humans, regardless of whom it is? It is one thing to hunt in order to consume wild game, it is another thing to recklessly & thoughtlessly kill another of God's creatures without so much as a second thought. Do not equate what this sociopath did with hunting or accidentally hitting a bird while trying for a birdie. Your assumption is both ludicrous & thoughtless. Those who would kill a baby goose, just because it didn't get out of his way and he didn't want to wait or drive around it (pure selfishness) are the same type of people who would kill you without hesitation, because you got in their way and they didn't 'feel' like going around you. Be careful about who you defend, this world has a way of bringing that sort of thing back to you in full circle. Then you can talk about irony.

Tesla

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:32 p.m.

Awesome. I hope he gets the maximum allowable penalties. Good Work Milan and thank you to the witnesses coming forward!

klondike

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.

Wow, I saw a 60 minutes episode on these types of guys. They are like militant tea-partyists that have no regard for the law. It would be a waste of taxpayer dollars to not prosecute this guy. Next time, he'll run over a human being and we'll lose that person's tax revenue. I wish these types of crimes against animals were treated with equal punishment as the same crime against a human. We should do more to protect animals, since they are defenseless creatures.

jcj

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.

That's like saying all Democrats are perverts because Clinton could not control himself. Or all Democrats are adulterers because more than one of the Kennedy clan committed adultery. This guy should be prosecuted but lets stay on topic!

Smart Logic

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.

I was with you until you mentioned the tea party. I agree with the rest of your post, but there are whackos all over the political spectrum.

trespass

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:02 p.m.

If we spend taxpayer dollars on prosecuting everone who is a jerk, we will go bankrupt.

johnnya2

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.

Not if you fine the hell out of them. By the way, he wasn't just a jerk, he committed a CRIME. Are you suggesting we do not prosecute crimes? We could save a ton not prosecuting murder, rapes, and burglary. In fact, all our taxes could be lowered significantly if we empty the prisons Michigan is one of the least effective states in prison dollars spent <a href="http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/18-reasons-michigans-prison-costs-cannot-be-ignored/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/18-reasons-michigans-prison-costs-cannot-be-ignored/</a>

ex734

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 11:40 p.m.

this is beyond being a jerk.

Marilyn Wilkie

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.

Now this is good news. He probably won't get much punishment but at least it may be something. What is wrong with people? Animals are totally innocent.

Atticus F.

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.

Also, if animals are &quot;so inocent', then why don't you make it your personal mission to head in the woods every day and chase after coyotes, foxes and racoons?...After all, they kill Thousands of &quot;innocent animals&quot; every day. But I guess you probably don't understand the circle of life, and that by doing that, you would be contributing to baby foxes and coyotes starving to death

a2citizen

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 3:05 a.m.

Geese might be innocent. But, man, they are filthy. They are nothing but minature crap factories.

Roadman

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.

I'm glad this criminal case did not get the international publicity or local attention that the other fellow's did. Can anyone not guess who I'm referring to?

jns131

Thu, Oct 27, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.

This guy will get the same jail cell as the other guy.

Ricardo Queso

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.

Time for a new goose crossing ordinance.