Court acquits former chief

A former Melrose police chief was acquitted Thursday by a Magistrate Court Jury on one count of animal cruelty.

A magistrate judge last week ordered the District Attorney’s office to dismiss the six other animal cruelty charges against Michael Trammell based on the fact that due process deadlines would expire before the court could accommodate seven trials, according to court documents.

Trammell, 37, resigned as police chief in October after he was charged with seven counts of animal cruelty.

“He’s pleased to put the matter behind him,” Trammell’s attorney, Tye Harmon said. Harmon said his client would not seek job reinstatement, but civil action is possible.

District Attorney Matt Chandler said the jury decided Trammell was acting within the scope of his duties as a police officer when he transported a dog to a county road and shot it three times with his service weapon. The dog had attacked chickens.

Chandler said because of a magistrate judge’s ruling, the state was unable to introduce evidence from the other cases and thereby establish a pattern of cruelty.

Chandler said his office will re-evaluate whether or not to move forward with the remaining cases of animal cruelty against Trammell.

He said an assistant district attorney is going to meet with the owners of the animals Trammell allegedly killed before a decision is made.