Back in early December, 2018 a video of a teen beating a raccoon to death in Lacey Township went viral. It was a gruesome depiction of one teen beating it repeatedly with a baseball bat, while another teen off camera, was taunting him and egging him on.
The video was so gruesome we chose to not be part of the reporting, and not only didn’t we post the video, we didn’t even report the story, allowing for other outlets to do so.
When the news made rounds in February that no one was taking action, and no criminal charges were filed, nor were any investigations were ongoing, we got involved.
We processed the video, put “warning” tags across it, before it, and warned everyone. We posted the video calling for some sort of action, while we and other news agencies continued to make contact with agencies to see what was up with this investigation and the teens depicted.
We took criticism for doing so from some of our fans, one of which called us out saying it was a humane slaying, and that the teens did absolutely nothing wrong. Citing NJ code that allows for the swift dispatch of an animal caught in a trap using a blunt object when the situation does not allow for the discharge of a weapon.
But a recent OPRA Request made by Gavin Rozzi of Lacey Township Online and Ocean County Politics may have uncovered an active investigation by the NJ-DEP (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection).
The OPRA Request (made via OPRA Machine) asks for all emails sent or received by “Captain Lisa Lacroix” of the Division of Fish & Wildlife which contain the keywords “Raccoon” or “Lacey” during the periods between December 7th, 2018 and February 7th, 2019. The requests instructs the OPRA guardian to search both the subject and body of the emails.
The OPRA Request was delayed and not responded to till March 4th, 2019 citing an issue with the email address having too many characters, the ultimate response denies the request with the following note:
Addendum Disposition Notes: Your request for “all emails sent or received by Captain Lisa Lacroix that contained either Raccoon and/or Lacey for the period of December 7th, 2018 to February 7th, 2019” has been denied on the basis that the identified 15 email records are not considered government records pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1, being intra-agency advisory, consultative, and/or deliberative material; and on the basis that the requested records relate to an actor that is a juvenile in a civil enforcement proceeding and as such are confidential pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.3.a.
https://opramachine.com/request/3987/response/8407/attach/2/244171%20OPR190001%201693934.pdf
While this citation could mean that they just don’t feel the need to release the information and are fighting it, it also allows for the fact that the DEP considers this information to be part of an ongoing investigation.
Mr Rozzi himself states that:
While they have refused to release the emails, their denial of the public records request revealed that there is a pending civil enforcement proceeding against the boy who beat the raccoon to death.
Gavin Rozzi – Lacey Township Online
This story is always updating, and we will do our best to offer continued coverage.
The horrible. Sick, heartless murderers need to be held responsible for their cruel actions.
Nothing done I think not for those involved your days will be filled with your actions coming back to you times 3…
This was an innocent animal abused by twisted mind.
This was an innocent animal abused by twisted mind.
Thank you for keeping us up to date on this!
Thank you for keeping us up to date on this!
The next serial killers… prob predominant parents…but when they murder someone’s young child..I know this is going to sound to sound horrible…but hopefully within their own family… this is out there as the warning sign for the turn a blind eye family.
This stuff sickens me
Of course your
There is no investigation going on. Several members of a local animal advocacy group attended a council meeting at Fish Game and Wildlife. FG&W wouldn’t even remove the hunting and trapping license that the person videotaping this has when the group requested they do so. We have to remember that Capt Lisa Lecrioux of FG&W was the one who said what these boys did was legal and that clubbing an animal in a leg hold trap is fine when you cant use your firearm to do so….
Street justice needs to be taken care of for these pieces of shit
Do yall eat? Do you kill your food? I do kill my food. I also grow my food. While you concern yourself with the legal actions of fur trappers. Ocean county sherrifs department is actively raping and beating women prisoners that are incarcerated. The police are digging up dangerous drugs at Robert Miller. And drunk cops are speeding around killing people. I watched the video. I understand your inability to know what it neccessary to keep wildlife healthy. Rabies is not as kind as a bat. Neither is distemper or starving to death. You are soft from decades of being fed and not having to provide sustenance for yourself. Keep crying out for animals that were legally dispatched while your kids are over dosing. At least these kids are not shooting up being a waste of oxygen. I will take on any and all comers in this debate. Your knowledge of this subject could not fill a thimble. Killing is a skill. This kid is just learning. Have you ever seen a cat (cheetah lion leopard) teach their kids to kill. There is no difference. I kill with a single blow be ause I have honed my skills over years of poorly place shots. You have sat at a table chewing the animals I had to look in the eyes of and kill. I dont take life without prayer and often tears. You eat without concern for even your own health. Come at me bro!
no they just violent they are a waste of o2
I’m hope they will discipline these things. A innocent animal murdered so pay up with a stiff penalty. People who commit these acts are known to be off balance ?