The trial of a Columbia man accused of illegally dumping dead geese near a Columbia playground is scheduled to begin today in Howard County District Court.
Edward D. Dillon, 21, of the 9600 block of Sea Shadow in the Kings Contrivance village, is accused of dumping 33 dead snow geese on Columbia Association property March 2.
Police said Dillon turned himself in at the department?s Southern District Station March 10 and claimed responsibility for dumping the geese after the news of the animals? discovery spread through the community.
Dillon told police that he had received the geese from his boss, cut them up for meat and then dumped them in the wooded area near the playground, according to charging documents.
The geese were stacked in four separate piles on both sides of a footpath about 15 yards from local tot lot, charging documents state.
Dillon faces five littering charges, including two for dumping more than 100 pounds. The dumping charges carry penalties of up to a $1,000 fine or one year in jail.
Dillon did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Karen Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Columbia Association, said officials from the association initially investigated the incident after receiving a call from a resident. Upon finding the geese, officials alerted the police.
“It appeared the birds had been shot,” Hawkins said. “The major concern was ?How this could have happened?? and ?Who could have done it?? ”
Ann Selnick, president of Animal Advocates of Howard County, said the killing and dumping of the geese is disturbing.
“There are ought to be more regulations governing the number of animals one individual can kill,” she said.
“It just seems so senseless. These 33 geese lost their lives for nothing.”
