Judge: “This case has resolved itself”

Two Walhalla neighbors saw their city court case resolve itself when Municipal Judge Jim Williams instructed a police officer there shall be no further prosecution of a citation issued to Dogwood Drive resident Scott Smith.  The police issued a citation charging Smith May 16 with failing to prevent his German Shepard from running at large.  Smith later surrendered the dog to the county’s Animal Control.  The dog has since been sent to a rescue center.  At Smith’s request a jury had been drawn to hear the case, but Williams said the law had been satisfied by Smith’s voluntary surrender of the animal.  Smith’s neighbor, Steven Welch, claimed the dog killed four of his goats, but the judge said the municipal court was the wrong forum to pursue that claim.  He urged the two neighbors to settle whatever other differences there are between themselves.  Williams also said the police officers who responded to Welch’s complaint followed proper procedure and protocol.