A suspect in an animal cruelty case in Battle Ground was apprehended without incident just hours after the Battle Ground Police Department used social media to seek the public’s assistance in locating the man.
On March 7, Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies located Andre Terwilleger, 35, of Battle Ground, who was wanted in connection to a gruesome November discovery of five deceased dogs and four severely malnourished dogs. The city of Battle Ground stated in its Facebook post that the dogs appeared to have been abandoned. Following an extensive police investigation, Terwilleger was identified as the individual responsible for their care, the city added.
The Battle Ground Police Department was overwhelmed by the outstanding show of support from the public, Battle Ground Communications Manager Alisha Smith stated in an email.
“Officers rely on a variety of investigative tools and resources when attempting to locate wanted subjects,” Smith stated. “In the modern age of law enforcement, a very significant resource is social media. Officers may use social media to gather information, track suspect activity, and/or to solicit the public’s assistance to either identify or locate a suspect.”
She described the benefit of taking to social media as increasing public awareness of specific crimes and possibly increasing the speed in which a suspect can be identified and apprehended.
While social media is a powerful tool and worked in the favor of the animal cruelty investigation, Smith provided details as to how police departments need to utilize severe caution when sharing information across social media.
To ensure accuracy, information must be verified, including suspect names, photos and case details in order to prevent misidentification and misinformation, she stated. Also, the privacy rights of suspects must be preserved.
“Privacy laws must be followed and additional legal considerations must be made prior to sharing case information,” Smith stated. “This would include, but not be limited to, restricted records related to juveniles and other sensitive and/or personal information restricted from public disclosure.”
The rights of the accused must also be considered as the suspect in a case is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. Smith stated the police department must ensure there is no assumption of guilt when issuing public information.
Smith stated the agency must consider releases of information on a case by case basis as sharing too much information can create negative impacts on the case and even the potential for legal proceedings that follow an arrest.
“Agencies must balance public interest with the need to preserve their investigation,” Smith stated. “Information pertaining to public safety, such as immediate threats or dangerous suspects at large, would be prioritized and shared, as appropriate.”
The city of Battle Ground currently utilizes three platforms of social media to spread information: Facebook, Instagram and X (@CityofBGWA). The city shares routine business, including job postings, public project updates, road closures and police bulletins.
To learn more about the city of Battle Ground connecting with the community through a variety of methods, visit cityofbg.org/Connect.
