ASHLAND - A borough man charged with shooting and severely injuring a dog waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Senior Magisterial District Judge Elizabeth A. Romig.
Lee Golazeski, 46, of 1003 Chestnut St., was charged with one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals, one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and one summary count of disorderly conduct.
Ashland police Sgt. Michael Aulenbach withdrew the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and Golazeski will face the remaining offenses in Schuylkill County Court.
Aulenbach said he was called about 4:05 p.m. June 15 to the 900 block of Market Street for a dog that had been shot and was lying on the roadway bleeding. A neighbor who was on his deck at 920 Market St. reported hearing a shot near 1003 Chestnut St. and then a dog yelping, and he found the black and white Shih Tzu on the road.
The dog was taken to an area animal hospital and has since recovered.
At the scene, Aulenbach said he followed a trail of blood down a set of cement steps to where the dog had been shot near Golazeski's home.
Aulenbach said he asked Golazeski if he had heard a gunshot, but Golazeski said "no" and that he just heard a dog yelping. Golazeski also denied shooting the dog.
Aulenback then asked Golazeski if he could check inside his home for weapons and Golazeski gave him permission. Inside, Aulenbach found 50 guns and Golazeski said that he had been drinking heavily and had a "bottle of scotch" in his system.
Aulenbach said Golazeski came to the police station the next day and spoke with Chief Adam Bernodin.
After being read his rights, Golazeski told Bernodin that the dog defecated near his home and he used an air rifle to shoot toward the animal to scare it, but struck the dog instead, Aulenbach said.
Golazeski also again said that he had been drinking heavily, Aulenbach said.