Suspect in dog killing, school assault indicted

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man was recently indicted for two cases in which he was criminally charged. Tyler D. Waddington, 33, of the 400 block of Douglas Drive, is facing one fifth-degree felony count of cruelty to companion animals, one fifth-degree felony count of assault and one first-degree misdemeanor count of inducing panic. The bond he posted for the cruelty case, $5,000, was continued for both cases. He has two arraignments scheduled. For the assault and inducing panic case, he has a 1:30 p.m. arraignment on June 30 with Judge Beverly McGookey. For the cruelty case, he has a 1:30 p.m. arraignment next Wednesday with Judge Tygh Tone. A conviction of a fifth-degree felony carries up to one year of prison time. Dog killed Just after 3 p.m. on Feb. 7, officers were called to Waddington's home for the report of a man who killed the family's dog. When they arrived, a woman told officers that Waddington got upset with the family pet, named Ollie, after the dog got into a trash can, according to a Perkins police report. The woman told officers that Waddington said Ollie was an older dog and it was "time to go," the report states. Waddington then allegedly placed Ollie into a garbage bag and purposely suffocated the pet. When Ollie was dead, Waddington reportedly placed the bag containing the dog in an exterior trash receptacle along with other bags of trash. School assault In May, a staff member sent Sandusky Intermediate School into lockdown and was arrested due to "an emotional/medical episode" he was experiencing, superintendent Denny Muratori said. A custodian, Waddington, was removed from the property and charged after the incident. Building staff's "quick response allowed the situation to de-escalate quickly," Muratori said. "We are grateful for the rapid response and assistance provided by our school resource officer and the Sandusky Police Department." Waddington was told he cannot access or try to access school property, and his keys and security badge were taken. He was initially placed on paid leave. He is now on unpaid leave, according to district Superintendent Denny Muratori. Waddington faces further discipline from the district based upon his union's contract, Muratori said.