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Strategies & Market Trends : Anthony @ Equity Investigations, Dear Anthony, -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Anthony@Pacific who wrote (52371)	3/3/2000 2:52:00 PM
From: Anthony@Pacific	Respond to of 122087

HEre are your real sickos..folks!! Related Features Education Gary Richards Joe Rodriguez Special Reports Seven-Day Archives Posted at 9:49 p.m. PST Thursday, March 2, 2000 Dog killer reward money pours in Two officers assigned to case of pet slain by road-rage driver BY GEOFFREY TOMB Mercury News Staff Writer Information on where to report tips Swept up in a rush of sympathy for a woman whose dog was hurled into traffic in an act of road rage, Silicon Valley residents responded Thursday with more than $40,000 in reward money and provided so many tips that San Jose police assigned two officers to the case. ``We do have some promising leads,' said Sgt. Derek Edwards, a police spokesman. He said that in addition to animal cruelty, the road rage aspect of the case could lead to felony charges if someone is arrested in the incident. ``Somebody who could do this, he probably does need our service,' said Edwards. Two officers in the assault unit have been assigned full time to the case, he added, to handle the tips that resulted from a story the Mercury News first reported Thursday. The dog, a 10-year-old bichon fris‚ named Leo, belonged to Sara McBurnett, a 38-year-old Lake Tahoe real estate agent. She was driving to San Jose International Airport when she was involved in a minor fender bender on Airport Drive. The other driver jumped from his vehicle, described as a black SUV or a big truck with a camper top, with Virginia license plates, and began to shout at her. When she opened her car window to speak to him, the man reached in, grabbed the dog from her lap and threw him into traffic. The dog was run over as McBurnett tried to save him. He died shortly afterward at a veterinary hospital. McBurnett had been on her way to the airport to pick up her husband, Patrick, when the altercation took place. ``I keep seeing his little body going under the car,' she said in recounting the Feb. 11 event. McBurnett's friends this week offered a $5,000 reward leading to the apprehension of the driver. A news story about the case resulted in hundreds of responses. Ronn Owens, morning host on radio station KGO and the owner of a bichon fris‚ named Sophie, went on the air to contribute $500 to the reward fund, and within minutes listeners began donating too. ``This overloaded our voice mail system,' said KGO's Meredith Steiner, who counted more than 800 calls and e-mails. At the same time, offers of several thousand dollars came to the Mercury News. By late Thursday a special ``Leo Reward Fund' had been established at the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley, where the amount climbed to more than $40,000. ``The picture of the dog really got me,' said Owens. ``There was something about that whole story that really hit a nerve.' Meanwhile, the story spread nationwide as other newspapers, television and radio picked it up. McBurnett said she remains brokenhearted, haunted by the memory of the incident at the airport. ``Nothing will bring my dog back,' said McBurnett, who sobbed during a live interview with Owens. As for the enraged driver, she said she hopes he is caught by police and brought to trial. He was described as white, in his 20s, with a slight build and a goatee. ``Public humiliation may be the most important thing,' she added. She also has a new bichon fris‚ puppy. His name is Stormy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Geoffrey Tomb at gtomb@sjmercury.com or at (408) 920-5692.