Isenhour charged with killing noisy bird during video shoot

[phinphan896]

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3279958

ORLANDO, Fla. -- PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show.

Isenhour

Isenhour was with a film crew for "Shoot Like A Pro" on Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course. The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged Monday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.
According to court documents, Isenhour got upset when a red-shouldered hawk began making noise, forcing another take. He began hitting balls at the bird, then 300 yards away, but gave up.
Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 yards, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine indicated in a report.
Isenhour allegedly said "I'll get him now," and aimed for the hawk.
"About the sixth ball came very near the bird's head, and [Isenhour] was very excited that it was so close," Baine wrote.
A few shots later, witnesses said he hit the hawk. The bird, protected as a migratory species, fell to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.
Isenhour's agent, John Mascatello with SFX World Sports Management, did not immediately return an e-mail or telephone message Thursday.
"He just kept saying how he didn't think he could have hit it, which I think is a stupid thing for a PGA Tour golfer to say," said Jethro Senger, a sound engineer at the shoot. "He can put a ball in a hole from hundreds of yards away, and here he is hitting line drives at something that's, I don't know, a couple hundred feet away?"
Senger said it was "basically like a joke to [Isenhour]." He said no one in the roughly 15-person crew intervened, and many later regretted it.
"It was one of those cases where there's some trepidation on whether or not they should speak up and do something," Senger said.
Senger said the killing was not captured on video. The bird was buried at the golf course and later dug up by Florida investigators.
Isenhour, of Salisbury, N.C., turned pro in 1990. He had two wins on the Nationwide Tour in 2006.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Pres

lmfao...

 

[Vertical Limit]

Should be an interesting story to tell while in jail when the criminal that shares his jail cell who just killed his entire family asks him why he's in jail for.

 

[Den54]

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3279958


lmfao...

It's very sad if you find that amusing.

 

[djfresh47]

I think it is pretty funny. Who while at the driving range doesn't try to hit the guy driving the cart to pick up balls? I'm sure PETA will press for the death penalty. Tiger hit a guy a few weeks ago with a drive should he be arrested?

 

[unluckyluciano]

I think it is pretty funny. Who while at the driving range doesn't try to hit the guy driving the cart to pick up balls? I'm sure PETA will press for the death penalty. Tiger hit a guy a few weeks ago with a drive should he be arrested?

If the guy presses charges and can prove intent yes. Otherwise bad example.

 

[Muck]

I think it is pretty funny. Who while at the driving range doesn't try to hit the guy driving the cart to pick up balls? I'm sure PETA will press for the death penalty. Tiger hit a guy a few weeks ago with a drive should he be arrested?

The difference is, the animal doesn't know it's in any danger.

It's this man's responsibility as a higher functioning life form to exercise restraint and ecosystematic decency. Not to mention it's a protected species, meaning you can't harm or kill it by law. Any knuckle-dragger can harm an innocent life form for sheer pleasure, which is what makes them a knuckle-dragger. And it's narcissistic simpletons like this man that are the reason such laws have to be put in place.

I doubt Tiger had similar intentions, if that. :rolleyes2:

This society's inability to empathize or associate is completely lost on me. Its ability to rationalize, however, is overwhelmingly apparent.

 

[Den54]

The difference is, the animal doesn't know it's in any danger.

It's this man's responsibility as a higher functioning life form to exercise restraint and ecosystematic decency. Not to mention it's a protected species, meaning you can't harm or kill it by law. Any knuckle-dragger can harm an innocent life form for sheer pleasure, which is what makes them a knuckle-dragger. And it's narcissistic simpletons like this man that are the reason such laws have to be put in place.

I doubt Tiger had similar intentions, if that. :rolleyes2:

This society's inability to empathize or associate is completely lost on me. Its ability to rationalize, however, is overwhelmingly apparent.

I salute you brother.:)

 

[DuderinoN703]

It's very sad if you find that amusing.

Doesn't surprise me one bit

 

[Roman529]

I think it is pretty funny. Who while at the driving range doesn't try to hit the guy driving the cart to pick up balls? I'm sure PETA will press for the death penalty. Tiger hit a guy a few weeks ago with a drive should he be arrested?

You probably think it is funny when people set puppies and cats on fire as well. People like you make me sick.

 

[djfresh47]

You probably think it is funny when people set puppies and cats on fire as well. People like you make me sick.

That maybe the dumbest comparision i've ever heard. What makes me sick is that animals are viewed higher in society than humans by many. I suppose you're obviously also a strict vegan or else I think you've got no place to criticize.

 

[djfresh47]

The difference is, the animal doesn't know it's in any danger.

It's this man's responsibility as a higher functioning life form to exercise restraint and ecosystematic decency. Not to mention it's a protected species, meaning you can't harm or kill it by law. Any knuckle-dragger can harm an innocent life form for sheer pleasure, which is what makes them a knuckle-dragger. And it's narcissistic simpletons like this man that are the reason such laws have to be put in place.

I doubt Tiger had similar intentions, if that. :rolleyes2:

This society's inability to empathize or associate is completely lost on me. Its ability to rationalize, however, is overwhelmingly apparent.

Do you believe he knew it was an endangered species? Or the crew he was with knew it was endangered? If I were guessing he tried to hit the bird but didn't think he actually would end up hitting it.

 

[unluckyluciano]

Do you believe he knew it was an endangered species? Or the crew he was with knew it was endangered?

Irrelevant. If I kill a panda needlessly versus killing some overpopulated animal needlessly. Fact remains I killed an animal needlessly. Thats the equivalent to me using a weapon in a robbery and saying well I didn't know it would be aggravated robbery, therefore don't hold me accountable for committing aggravated robbery.

If I were guessing he tried to hit the bird but didn't think he actually would end up hitting it.

If I were guessing that I would think when he came close he would have backed off. The fact he did hit it, hard enough to kill it, tells me he achieved his goal, or was dumb enough to not think about the consequences. Regardless, ignorance is not a justification.

 

[djfresh47]

Irrelevant. If I kill a panda needlessly versus killing some overpopulated animal needlessly. Fact remains I killed an animal needlessly. Thats the equivalent to me using a weapon in a robbery and saying well I didn't know it would be aggravated robbery, therefore don't hold me accountable for committing aggravated robbery.

If I were guessing that I would think when he came close he would have backed off. The fact he did hit it, hard enough to kill it, tells me he achieved his goal, or was dumb enough to not think about the consequences. Regardless, ignorance is not a justification.

I forgot the boxing match but there is a famous bout in which one participant died. Now the rate of death in boxing is very low compared to other sports. Though should we sanctioning assault as opposed to a bar fight is the same thing to me. To each there own though.

I don't want to hi-jack the point and make it political but as a society things are killed "needlessly." Whether it's our minds by drugs and television or the planet by the mass consumption of military assault vehicles to reflect status.

Was hitting golf balls at a bird mindless? Yes, but how though provoking is watching grown men run into each other as hard as possible in order to get into an end-zone? Or how about MMA? I love the sweet science but as it was so eloquently put it is really something to entertain a "knuckle-dragger."

I believe the fine is 10K that's fair considering the amount of chances that other people get for far more serious crimes, IMO. Really I just don't think it's that big of a deal.

 

[unluckyluciano]

I forgot the boxing match but there is a famous bout in which one participant died. Now the rate of death in boxing is very low compared to other sports. Though should we sanctioning assault as opposed to a bar fight is the same thing to me. To each there own though.

I don't want to hi-jack the point and make it political but as a society things are killed "needlessly." Whether it's our minds by drugs and television or the planet by the mass consumption of military assault vehicles to reflect status.

I don't really agree with this comparison, but yes things are killed needlessly. That does not excuse the needlessly killing of other things. That is the equivalent to me saying why care when one person is murdered because people have been murdered in the past and will continue to be murdered.

Was hitting golf balls at a bird mindless? Yes, but how though provoking is watching grown men run into each other as hard as possible in order to get into an end-zone? Or how about MMA? I love the sweet science but as it was so eloquently put it is really something to entertain a "knuckle-dragger."

I believe the fine is 10K that's fair considering the amount of chances that other people get for far more serious crimes, IMO. Really I just don't think it's that big of a deal.

Saying it isn't a big deal is one thing, saying you find it entertaining completely different. And again the fact that their are othe rmind numbing things on t.v., sports, etc. Does not excuse the golfers actions or any person who would kill anything needlessly.

 

[DuderinoN703]

That maybe the dumbest comparision i've ever heard. What makes me sick is that animals are viewed higher in society than humans by many. I suppose you're obviously also a strict vegan or else I think you've got no place to criticize.

What's it gotta do with human beings surviving by eating animals? A guy who decides to hit golf balls at a bird who's just being a bird compared to a family who eats chicken and beef to survive?It isn't even close to being the same thing yet this illogical arguements occurs everytime someone mentions that an animal was killed by someone for no apparent reason.