Milan man accused of running over geese will stand trial in November
Norman Stowell, the Milan man who police say ran over a gaggle of geese will stand trial in November for one count of killing or torturing an animal.
Stowell’s trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7 in the Washtenaw County Trial Court in Ann Arbor.
Police say Stowell ran over a group of geese walking in the grass on May 14 near the American Legion, 44 Wabash St.
Officers responding to the scene found one gosling laying dead in the grass about 50 feet behind the parking lot.
The incident report from May 14 stated that Stowell told police that the gosling that was killed didn’t move out of his way.
Stowell waived his right to a preliminary examination in July.
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
John Hritz
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
After a good bit of thought, I'm inclined to agree that Stowell was over-charged in this case. Based on what we know, he lost his temper, took a run at the geese and flattened one. His actions were observed and people weren't too happy about it or his lack of contrition. That sounds more like disorderly conduct than animal cruelty. From the Ann Arbor City Code: 9.62 (20) Knowingly destroy, damage, deface or remove any public property or other property not his or her own. VS. 9:35 No person shall torture, torment, cruelly beat, cruelly kill or otherwise inflict cruelty upon any animal or bird.
Smart Logic
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 11:15 a.m.
This speaks volumes: "I might not run over a dog, but I would definitely run over a cat," Norman Melvern Stowell told an officer who interviewed him that day, shortly after the goose was found. He's flat out saying he'll willingly run over stuff he doesn't like. Enjoy your criminal record and infamy, friend.
Dog Guy
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
How much are tickets for the fair and impartial trial of this vicious and guilty duckling squasher? There should be a specially decorated courtroom and a pep band for trials held only to re-elect the county prosecutor. I predict hung jury trials until they voir dire out everyone with any sense of proportion.
treetowncartel
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 4 p.m.
While I don't condone this behavior, i do understand the problem some people have with the hierarchy that is arbitrarily assigned depending on where you fall in the kingdom and phylum territory. From some of the comments i gathering that Its ok to intentionally kill a mouse in the house with a trap, or maybe put out some poison in the form of an ant trap,perhaps have the exterminator come and control an infestation, maybe even own and operate a fly swatter or bug killer, but any intentional killing of waterfowl, unless it is done in a sporting way and the carcass is retrieved and cooked, is not acceptable? And we wonder why birds poop on us.
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
I've never been in the American Legion in Milan, but I've been in lots of other American Legion halls and all of them have bars. The truly remarkable aspect of Norman's wild goose chase seems to be that it happened BEFORE Norman even had a chance to belly up to the bar.
Atticus F.
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
Ron, animals die by the millions on a daily basis. I just dont feel the need to punish, punish, punish this old man because of this. Also, I don't like my children to see squirells or cats that have been hit by cars on the side of the road. Maybe we could set up security cameras at the sites where we find road kill so that you dont have to explain to your children that animals die.
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Yes because unavoidably running over an animal that darts out is the same as intentionally running over an animal that's not moving fast enough for ya! Puhleeze!
Ron Granger
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
He did not shoot the baby goose. He ran it down with his vehicle. We don't get to run things over just because they are in our way. You want to get a license and go shoot geese legally in a field? Have at it. That is not this. A car is not a weapon A drivers license is not a hunting license A parking lot is not a killing field It is about respect for life I do not want my children to see animals crushed beneath a car, and I don't want to see it either.
Ron Granger
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:28 p.m.
I say throw the book at him. Some have apparently forgotten the original reporting: Norman Stowell said he didn't mean to run over a group of animals May 14, but he was not going to stop, wait or drive around them to get to a parking spot. [ the parking lot was otherwise empty ] "I might not run over a dog, but I would definitely run over a cat," Norman Melvern Stowell told an officer who interviewed him that day, shortly after the goose was found. The witness told police the suspect, who has since been identified as Stowell, drove into a rear parking area of the American Legion and made a wide U-turn as he headed back toward the building. In the process, he "sped up" and drove directly over a group of geese walking in the grass, as they began to scatter, she said. The woman told police she yelled at Stowell for apparently running them over and he then "flipped her off" as he walked back into the legion building.
Atticus F.
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
ADK, that reasoning has been used against people who hunt by PETA since the 70's. I dont think there was anything sadistic about what this guy did. And according to his record, he has never done anything to hurt a human being, nor do I think he has the capacity to do so. your logic is flawed. This is about city folks, who have never lived on a farm, telling country folks what to do. At least as I see it.
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
Oh Atticus, when you've made a mistake, you own up to it, this man flipped off the witnesses, acted like an idiot and proceeded to make it worse with his justifications. I hardly think its the first time he's acted that way, otherwise he would be mortified by his behavior and the noteriety of what he's done.
Atticus F.
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
Rural mom, if I found a dead chip munk on the side of the road, or under my car tire in my driveway, I would probably say the same thing "it didn't get out of the way, APPARENTLY". As for running a cat over, but not a dog, I think those could simply be a gruff old war veterans way of speaking... doesn't neccesarily make him into the sadistic murdered that others have made him out to be.
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.
Atticus then you didn't read his quoted comments about how he wouldn't run over a dog, but would a cat! He did this on purpose, otherwise how would he know the animal wouldn't get out of his way? Because he was LOOKING at it!
Atticus F.
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
Rural mom, somehow I don't see this old man in the parking lot chasing down animals for the fun of it. I think he probably either didn't see the animals, or he was expecting them to get out of the way. And I personally think it's a disgusting miscarriage of justice to charge him with a felony. The truth is ducklings are killed by predators, cars, disease, and starvation...Perhaps we could file felony charges against mother nature as well...That would be a great use of tax dollars.
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2 p.m.
No its not, its about someone in a VFW parking lot, not being able to control himself and intentionally running over an animal. So you see it like it is, we don't run over animals for the sport of it, its insulting that you equate it this way.
ADK
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:42 p.m.
Atticus has a good general point about ethical consistency in the treatment of animals, but the specifics in comparing this case to the mass consumption of meat in the food industry make these very different situations, and we know that there's a great likelihood of criminal psychology and future crimes with the person who commits the kind of animal cruelty that Norman Stowell committed, which makes it important to take these crimes seriously and to see them as distinct from the bigger, more general ethical quandaries about the meat industry. Also, Mr. Feldscher, "one gosling" was "*lying* dead"...
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
I found it, all 189 comments too! <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/man-accused-of-running-over-goose-behind-american-legion-in-milan/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:e60d32bf-cfb0-46fc-aa4a-f60fcffd48cd">http://www.annarbor.com/news/man-accused-of-running-over-goose-behind-american-legion-in-milan/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:e60d32bf-cfb0-46fc-aa4a-f60fcffd48cd</a>
Atticus F.
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
It amazes me that people who are responsible for killing 50+ chickens per year (via purchasing chicken at Kroger), somehow find the nerve to condone pressing felony charges against an old man. Welcome to the hypocrite police state.
Smart Logic
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
Wow, maybe we should all just go vegan. After all, raising and killing animals for food is sooooooo similar to someone killing for random fun. Your attempt at that comparison astounds.
Atticus F.
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
Who said he was killing for fun? He said the ducking didn't get out of his way...Which could have meant 'I didn't see the duckling, and it didn't get out of my way'. He never said 'the ducking didn't get out of the way, so I intentionally chased it down and killed it'. This was an old man, who has probably done more to serve his country than most people commenting on this thread. And there are alot of peole acting as if he was some crazed spree killer chasing around ducklings for fun.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
I wouldnt have a problem with this at all had he consumed the animals. Its the killing for fun I have a problem with.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
"It amazes me that people who are responsible for killing 50+ chickens per year" If i buy the boneless skinless breasts and you buy the thighs who gets credit for the kill?
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
I don't know what to say anymore. I now know the "admitted" duckling killer is being held in custody. That was not stated in the inital story after his latest arrest. I left my thoughts about how this might wake him up and send him on a better path in life and my comment gets deleted. My concern was his age and his past conviction of doing domething disrespectful directed at the Police. Then he pulls this duckling stunt and allegedly continues mocking the legal system. He is being held in custody right now which may do him a world of good considering his age. Now that he is safely tucked away for a taste of prison I believe he might get a good eye opener and maybe straighten up his act. Now we have an alleged goose killer. Is he walking free? How old is this one? Does he have a past record? What was he allegedly driving? It is alleged that this was done intentionally? Some answers to these questions would be helpful. That is if my comment lasts 10 minutes here without the A2.com police deleting this. Right now I am thinking of nursery school and a game we called "duck duck duck duck goose".
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
The original article has the quotes of Mr.Stowell saying "I ran it over cuz it wouldn't move out of my way", so its more than alledged he admitted to, after witnesses called the police. Funny thing is usually there is a link to the original story, but in the original story on Mr.Stowell we were getting hammered for comparing the two stories (Dylan Pierce), when AnnArbor.com had them linked on that very page! So I suspect they are NOT using those links to keep us all playing nicely in the bullpen!
huh7891
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 11:43 a.m.
Why not the same amount of comments on this story as on the duckling killer? Why no mug shot of the gosling killer? This guy admitted he did it, yet commenters don't seem to be as outraged about this guy as they were about Dillon Pearce...so ducks are held in higher regard than geese?
arborani
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
@ Craig L: How COULD you forget Unca Scrooge?
RuralMom
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:36 p.m.
Well welcome to the party huh7891, had you looked for the original story, you would see there is equal outrage to this story! However this follow up was only posted at 6am today. Either look up the original story with all the comments! or just wait!
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:36 p.m.
"so ducks are held in higher regard than geese?" Of course they are..... Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Need i say more? ;)
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:33 p.m.
Why not the same amount of comments on this story as on the duckling killer? ...because Norman's daddy didn't buy him a high priced mouthpiece ...because Norman's mommy didn't find her car in the river, under odd circumstances ...because Norman wasn't driving his mommy's car ...because Norman didn't have drugs in his car ...because Norman didn't lip off to the cops ...becasue Norman didn't take a dump on a cop car .... Just a couple of guesses.
Terrin Bell
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 11:51 a.m.
Both acts are disgusting. It isn't legal to just run an animal over if you can safely stop. The gosling not getting out of the way, is not an excuse. At least this guy admitted he is a low life, as opposed to the Pierce guy who actually went out of his way to run the baby ducks over.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
"Stowell's trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7" For those interested Goose hunting season goes from October 8 to November 10 and November 24 to December 4 in our part of the state. Daily bag limit = 2.... that means your allowed to kill 2 geese a day with your gun. Whether you actually put them in a "bag" after you kill them is optional.