Golfer charged with killing noisy bird during video shoot

[JakeT.]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Professional golfer Tripp Isenhour is charged with killing a bird on purpose with a golf shot.

The incident happened in December when Isenhour was filming a video segment for a television show "Shoot Like A Pro" at the Grand Cypress Golf Club.

Prosecutors say a red-shouldered hawk was making noise, forcing a video crew to film another take.

According to court records cited by the Orlando Sentinel, Isenhauer hit a number of shots, once hitting a tree trunk. The paper reported that on Isenhour's 10th swing, the ball hit the bird.

"I didn't think I would hit it," Isenhour said, according to court records.

A witness says the bird fell to the ground, bleeding from both its nostrils. The species is protected as a migratory bird.

The bird was buried on Grand Cypress property, the Sentinel reported, but wildlife officials dug up the bird in case it is needed at trial.

The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, is charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.

He could face up to a $10,000 fine.

Isenhour hasn't played in a PGA Tour event this year. He won $471,980 a year ago and was 135th in the FedEx Cup standings.

He has played in three Nationwide Tour events this year, making one cut.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

 

[steaktartar]

put him in with vick..........i guess

 

[Mopisgood]

so he got a birdy?

 

[HisIsTheHand]

Gambling is illegal at Bushwood

and I NEVER slice

 

[steaktartar]

Gambling is illegal at Bushwood

and I NEVER slice

moose rocco help the judge find his wallet

 

[WorldNumberOne]

moose rocco help the judge find his wallet

Judge , my dad , ah , never liked you .....

 

[Doug]

so he got a birdy?

:toast::Carcajada::lolBIG::missingte

 

[billsfan]

I just heard this on the radio. The only thing the above did mention, was that there was a few of them trying to hit the bird, and he was the one that nailed the Hawk! Look what he gets for being so accurate

 

[Doug]

A fine seems appropriate, but not jail time.

 

[buddyboy]

they'll drop the cruelty to animals charge if the animal died instantly, but getting out of the other charge is gonna be hard.

 

[red007]

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 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 Wednesday 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.








imo
he should do jail time and be suspended from tour

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

spend some time in jail, pair him with the slowest player every single time, and make him go to Q School every fuking year...

 

[TescoVee]

he goes by the name tripp. what a douche

 

[audude]

Bird did not die instantly said it fell to the ground bleeding from its nose. Fuck him I hope he gets what he deserves.

 

[ECS]

not cool, when did it become fun to hurt animals?

 

[punter]

Curious scenario.

No way they can prove it was on purpose. If he was just trying to scare the bird away and killed it by accident, is the charge the same? what about someone who hit a hawk with their car?

 

[Mopisgood]

its a fucking animal.....grow up you cry baby's. I don't see anyone going to jail for putting a shotgun to a cow's head. If any of you stupid fucks have tried to hit a bird with a golf ball, you would know that "actually" doing it is about 1/1,000,000. Its next to impossible to pull it off, but yeah lets go ahead and put the guy in jail. MORONS.

 

[audude]

its a fucking animal.....grow up you cry baby's. I don't see anyone going to jail for putting a shotgun to a cow's head. If any of you stupid fucks have tried to hit a bird with a golf ball, you would know that "actually" doing it is about 1/1,000,000. Its next to impossible to pull it off, but yeah lets go ahead and put the guy in jail. MORONS

Can you read there is a difference between this hawk and a crow u dumb fuck? I guess we should go hunting bald eagles and every other protected animal now huh? What a piece of shit you are.

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

 

[Seymour]

not cool, when did it become fun to hurt animals?

It's the new fad - everyone is doing it - it's so much fun

 

[Seymour]

Curious scenario.

No way they can prove it was on purpose. If he was just trying to scare the bird away and killed it by accident, is the charge the same? what about someone who hit a hawk with their car?

The law does not work like that - did he intend to kill the bird - intent means actual intent or it means "knowledge with substantially certainty" - certainly he had knowledge that he could kill the bird by firing a rock hard ball 100 mph at it but I don't know if he had the "substantial certainty" element because the chances of hitting the bird were remote.