Jail, Probation Ordered After Man Killed Service Dog
Hit-and-run accident left Debbie Schultz with a broken foot and without her beloved service dog, Lexi, after Carlos Ward hit them while they were crossing the street in June 2012.
A Milwaukee man who hit and killed a Waukesha woman’s service dog – injuring the woman before fleeing the scene – will spend four months in jail during non-working hours while serving two years of probation.
Carlos M. Ward, 30, of Milwaukee, was sentenced for the hit-and-run causing injury Friday. He pleaded guilty to the crime last week. If he violates terms of his probation, he will spend nine months in jail.
Other probation conditions include not operating a vehicle without a license or insurance, receive treatment as prescribed by his agent and to not consume alcohol or drugs. The judge is waiting 20 days to determine restitution in the case.
"It was something that, in the shock of the moment, I panicked and whatever," Ward said, according to Waukesha Patch's media partners WISN 12 News. "I understand how she feels about her dog, and I apologize for harming her dog. I'm cooperating and making sure that everything is getting taken care of."
At 9:45 p.m. June 8, Debbie Schultz and her dog, Lexi, were crossing North Barstow Street near West Broadway when they were hit by a cream-colored Jeep Cherokee while the vehicle was turning from Broadway onto Barstow. The Jeep continued driving without stopped and eventually turned eastbound onto East Main Street.
On June 14, Waukesha police officers were at an unrelated call in the 400 block of East Main when one of the officers noticed the Jeep and realized it matched the description of the vehicle involved in the hit and run. The officers pulled the Jeep over for license plate sticker violations and Ward was driving.
Ward told officers he lives in Milwaukee and worked at People’s Park. When asked if he had been working the night of the accident he said he had and had left work around 10 p.m. Officers noticed damage to the front of the Jeep, which Ward said was from a 2011 incident.
However, officers found what appeared to be dog fur in some of the damage. Ward admitted to being involved in the accident, saying he took a different route home because Main Street was closed for Freeman Friday Night Live. He didn’t see the victim until it was too late because it was dark. He said he never saw a dog and didn’t stop because he didn’t think he hit the victim too hard. Ward then said he’s a very religious man and was very remorseful about the accident, saying he had been concerned about the welfare of the woman days after the accident.
Schultz broke her foot and Lexi died from injuries sustained in the accident. Schultz left a voicemail with Waukesha Patch this week sharing that she is working with a new service dog that is currently completing training.
Schultz told WISN 12 News she was satisfied with the sentence.
Waukesha Girl
12:38 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Four months in jail is better than no months in jail. Sadly we do not have punishments for killing her dog. I hope Debbie and her new dog are doing well!
clearthinker
12:41 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Who was the judge who imposed this sentence?
Sarah Millard
1:49 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Judge Hassin
clearthinker
2:08 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
No need to reply Waukesha Patch. JS On-Line included the important fact that Judge Donald Hassin imposed the sentence.
Annie Nominous
2:53 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
clearthinker - what a rude comment at 2:08 pm. You should be happy that any media outlet would be so personable and attentive, especially these days.
Mr Lundt
12:47 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Well ole Carlos learned a lesson.
Being an idiot, hurting people, and killing animals has little impact as long as you say you're sorry.
That is why it is called the CRIMINAL justice system not the justice system of the victim justice system.
Kit Kat
1:53 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
I was at the sentencing this am. I arrived about 10 minutes early, and the court acually had to wait for Carlos, he was 10 minutes late! His family members showed up about 30 minutes after the hearing had already started. It was also said by his attourney,that Carlos is employed at Firehouse Subs, in Wauwatosa. He had the job for about 4 weeks. He will get out of jail to work, the huber thing. Anyways, I want you all to know that The Firehouse Subs Corp has also a non-profit organization, that helps to benefit fireworkers, first responders and the community! When Carlos hit Debbie and her dog Lexi, in the crosswalk, he chose to drive away! If I were the first responders that came to Debbie's rescue, I would be very upset to know this man, who plead guilty.....can work at this place? What is up with that? Anyone that thinks this is wrong in so many ways, please respond! Check out the Firehouse Subs web-site, it explains everything! I am in total shock!
Lori Fritz
3:19 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Wow Kathy- thanks for all this information. I am outraged!!!
Jaime Lannister
9:51 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013
@Kathy, don’t whine about crime when you are contributing to the problem by
creating an entire class of unemployable people. Your attempts to rally support here and apply pressure to the business in order to get the offender fired from his job (making sandwiches) will leave him no choice but a dishonest life as a means of survival.
Crime is just as much your fault as it is that of the so-called
offender. Employment discrimination as we see it today is nothing less
than vigilantism, targeted economic assassinations of people who have
served (or are serving) their sentences by cutting them off from an honest means of
gainful employment.
You must love crime since you seem to promote it so well. Enjoy !
CraftyGirl204
3:30 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
victim is severely injured, her life is ruined for past year, her lifeline service dog is dead and this joker gets a bit of huber and probation. Shame on the judge! Only saving grace is this criminal will be back before the court....his type always are.
michelle
5:29 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
I'm a dog lover! Dogs and Cats are like human! I had my dog since he was 2 years old. Now he is almost 8 years old. I love him to death. He is part of my life. I say he Should get more than 4 months.
SG
5:51 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
If he's fired from his job how will he pay restitution.....? At least let him work so he can pay for medical bills and this Kathy person do you have a job? The victim said she was satisfied with the verdict why can't you?
Morris D
11:16 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Four months??? That dog was her life line and her trusted friend. How about this - the dude works on a chain gang until he has enough saved for restitution AND to re-enter society without getting a cent from the gov't. Oh. Wisconsin doesn't have chain gangs? Maybe they should - we have to earn our daily bread - why shouldn't wrong do-ers? Really - you people who don't see irony in where the guy is now working are something else.