Harassment case involves dead rabbits

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - It was a terrifying night for a Roswell woman.

The night started with someone trying to run her off the road and ended with her finding a pile of dead animals outside her home.

Police are investigating it as a case of harassment.  

A woman told police someone was following her on her way home from work in Roswell Sunday and was trying to run her off the road.

"The woman had asked officers to do a close patrol of her house, where they would just keep an eye on it for a certain period of time to make sure nothing had happened," said Sabrina Morales, Public Information Liaison for the Roswell Police Department.

However, patrol officers were not able to catch a glimpse of whomever left a nasty surprise in front of the woman's house.
     
Around 12:30 in the morning, the woman said she woke up to a loud vehicle outside her door. The woman told police it was still dark out when she walked outside, stepped on what she thought might be a cat, and found several dead rabbits placed right by her vehicle.

There were seven carcasses total, what appeared to be cotton tails or jack rabbits. 

"They'd been shot with a small caliber, maybe a .22, looks like they may have been hunted," recalled Roswell Animal Control officer, David Allen.

Allen said it appeared the rabbits had been dead for a couple days.

Animal Control officers said picking up carcasses that are improperly discarded is not uncommon and since cotton tails aren't protected, it's not illegal to shoot them.

"Rabbits were already decaying, and it looks like they were just discarded on a quiet, dark street late at night," said Allen.

The woman who lives there is frightened and told police she has no idea who may be harassing her.

One thing is certain, police say finding seven dead rabbits left by your home is bizarre.

"It is listed as a harassment case, so it is possible that someone has targeted her for some reason," said Morales.

The woman said she didn't get a good look at the vehicle she claims tried to run her off the road, so police said it's unclear if the dead rabbits and that incident are related.  

Morales said police are waiting on more leads to follow up on this case. The person responsible could possibly face harassment charges and illegal dumping.