By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
An incident at Levy County Animal Services on July 20 in which a customer was touched or shoved by Veterinarian Darlene Esler led to the doctor’s resignation the following day.
Esler, 62, who had worked at county animal services department for many years, voluntarily tendered her resignation, according to County Coordinator Wilbur Dean.
The Levy County Sheriff’s Office investigated and listed the incident as unfounded.
Crystal Pruitt, an employee of animal services, said in a report describing the incident that Michelle Nicole Guthrie came to the office to claim her dog that had been picked up on a citizen’s property on July 18 for killing chickens. Pruitt said Guthrie was “very unpleasant” and she was unable to speak to her.
“I informed her that I was not arguing with her and that a deputy would be here soon to help with the situation since I was unable to speak,” Pruitt wrote.” “I texted Mr. David (Animal Services Director David Weatherford) to inform him that Mrs. Guthrie was being unpleasant. Dr. Esler stepped out front to open the front door asking her (Guthrie) to leave the office until the deputy arrived. At this time, I was on the phone with dispatch requesting an officer.”
Amie Skinner, another employee, wrote in her report that Guthrie was already aggressive when she walked into the building to claim her dog.
“Ms. Guthrie was impolite and demanding answers. She never gave Crystal a chance to speak. When Crystal did have a moment for words trying to inform her what needed to be done to her dog, Ms. Guthrie was speaking over Crystal. After the conversation continued with no end result, Dr. Esler told Ms. Guthrie multiple times to leave the building until deputies came,” Skinner wrote.
Weatherford said he was delivering papers to the county commission office when Pruitt texted him about the incident. He drove back to animal services to deal with the problem.
“I received a text message from Crystal saying Ms. Michelle Guthrie was at animal services being unruly and cussing and was irate so I told her I was on my way back to Animal Services. Tell the lady I’d be there shortly,” wrote Weatherford. When he arrived back at animal services, Weatherford said he called for a meeting in his office between himself, Esler, and Sgt. Todd Houchin, the deputy who responded to the call, and Guthrie.
“I explained to Michelle Guthrie that we were not putting her dog up for adoption. She seemed fine with that but was still a little upset and told me that Dr. Esler had put her hands on her and she wasn’t pressing charges,” Weatherford wrote in his report. “Then she showed the deputy and myself the video of Dr. Esler. In the video, all it showed was Dr. Esler putting four fingers on Ms. Guthrie’s upper arm while asking her to leave the office several times.” Weatherford said the deputy asked Ms. Guthrie to fill out a sworn complaint.
Houchin wrote a report saying when he arrived at animal services he walked into Weatherford’s office with Guthrie and Weatherford. He said Guthrie and Weatherford worked out their differences and Guthrie was issued a citation in connection with her dog. Guthrie showed Weatherford the video she took of Esler touching her.
“The video shows Guthrie and another worker having a disagreement over the issue when (Esler) came out from the office area where Guthrie was located. Esler asked Guthrie to exit more than once. The video showed Esler placing her right hand on Guthrie’s left shoulder as she was walking out the door. During the interview, Guthrie said she did not wish to press charges,” Houchin wrote.
After Guthrie left the office, Houchin said he offered her a chance to sign a waiver of prosecution, “but she stated she would only sign it if they dropped the citation.” Houchin told Guthrie he had no control over whether animal services dropped the citation and she could press charges with the State Attorney for review. Houchin said he explained that when Esler touched her shoulder, she had the right to press charges.
“Guthrie became angry that I had stated that Esler touched her shoulder. Guthrie said she was shoved out the door hard enough to lose her balance to the point she scraped the toe of her sandal on the ground,” Houchin said. “Guthrie showed the sandal, but I could not see any marks on the toe that was any different from the other sandal. I did not see any injuries on Guthrie and she did not complain of any injuries.”
Houchin then spoke to Elser. She told the deputy that Guthrie “was being very belligerent toward the other witnesses, Amber Christine Spivey, and Crystal Marie Pruitt” when she got involved.
“Esler stated she was not going to allow Guthrie to speak to her fellow employees in that manner and went out to tell her to leave. Esler said after telling Guthrie to leave at least two times, Gutherie slowly gathered her items and started walking to the door. Esler stated that as Guthrie started walking through the door, she put her hand on her shoulder to make sure she did not stop. Esler stated that once Guthrie was out the door, she closed the door and locked it,” Houchin said.
Houchin said he asked Guthrie if she would send him the video. She said she wanted a different deputy. Houchin said he was handling the case and no other deputy would respond.
“At this point, Guthrie became uncooperative and refused to supply me with the video she took. Guthrie then asked if she was free to leave, and I told her she was free to leave,” Houchin said. “Due to Guthrie being uncooperative, no injuries being caused and there was no intent to cause injuries by Esler, I determined that there was insufficient evidence to support charges. Case unfounded.”
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Enterprise Reporting August 17, 2023; Posted August 17, 2023
