August 05, 2016
Tawn Crowther/Facebook
Facebook user Tawn Crowther was traveling in Ephrata, Lancaster County, with a friend when she saw an Amish man, identified by Ephrata police as Marvin M Sensenig, allegedly striking a horse that had been pulling his cart full of watermelons. The horse had collapsed due to the burden of pulling the loaded wagon and later died. Sensenig was charged with cruelty to animals on Friday, Aug. 5, 2016.
An Amish man was charged with animal cruelty after beating a horse that collapsed due to exhaustion on the side of a Lancaster County road.
Marvin M. Sensenig, 20, of Ephrata, was charged Friday with two counts of cruelty to animals, police announced.
The incident occurred Tuesday at about noon near the intersection of Bethany and Brossman Roads in Ephrata, according to police at a press conference.
Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the fallen horse partially blocking the roadway. Once the roadway was cleared, officers tended to the horse. The Akron Fire Department later responded and sprayed the horse with water to keep the horse cool. However, the horse was ultimately euthanized.
A witness told police that the horse was mistreated. After further investigation, police allege that Sensenig "unreasonably struck a horse that was overburdened with a heavy load."
In a Facebook post, Tawn Crowther claimed to have witnessed the incident. She said the horse was unable to pull a wagon loaded with watermelon and two men.
Facebook user Tawn Crowther was traveling in Ephrata, Lancaster County, with a friend when she saw an Amish man, identified by Ephrata police as Marvin M Sensenig, allegedly striking a horse that had been pulling his cart full of watermelons. The horse had collapsed due to the burden of pulling the loaded wagon and later died. Sensenig was charged with cruelty to animals on Friday, Aug. 5, 2106.
Crowther's post has been more than 38,000 times as of Friday evening.
The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office has also reviewed the case.
