New bodycam video shows Liberty County Animal Services crossbow incident; state found cruelty allegation sustained

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - New video and new details are emerging about a controversial incident involving Liberty County Animal Services and the use of a crossbow to kill stray dogs.

Hinesville Police body camera footage from October shows officers responding to a call about five stray dogs on Paul Caswell Boulevard.

What the Documents Show

Investigative records obtained by WTOC from the Georgia Department of Agriculture show the agency’s investigator found the animal cruelty allegation sustained and recommended felony charges of Aggravated Animal Cruelty against both Marrero and Officer George Lynch.

The investigative report described the crossbow use as “depraved indifference” and “callous, extreme, and reckless disregard for the suffering of animals.”

No criminal charges were filed.

Georgia law explicitly requires sodium pentobarbital or a clinically approved equivalent as the exclusive method of euthanasia for dogs and cats at animal shelters and animal control facilities, according to O.C.G.A. 4-11-5.1. The law does allow for exceptions in cases of extraordinary circumstance where an animal poses an extreme risk or danger.

State records also show officers had no formal crossbow policy and no proficiency training — only informal safety training.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture issued a stop order to Liberty County Animal Services on Feb. 10, 2026, citing three violations: euthanasia standards, humane care, and animal cruelty. The stop order prevented the agency from taking in animals for more than a month.

During that period, animal bite cases continued to be reported in Liberty County. Records from the Georgia Department of Public Health obtained by WTOC show that in at least one case, an officer noted they were unable to respond to a stray dog bite “due to the GDA stop order.”

The Consent Order

The investigation closed after Liberty County signed a consent order with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Under its terms, the county must:

• Pay a $2,500 civil penalty to the Georgia Department of Agriculture
• Spend at least $2,500 on required training for all animal services staff within 12 months
• Submit revised standard operating procedures to the state within 30 days, addressing humane care and compliant euthanasia from first encounter to disposition
• Ensure all staff undergo training with the Department’s Companion Animal Program within 12 months
• Pay an additional $3,000 fine if any condition of the consent order is violated within 12 months

The stop order was lifted upon execution of the consent order. Liberty County also conducted its own internal investigation and took independent personnel action against select employees. The consent order does not specify what that action was.

Bodycam Footage and Marrero Responds

Hinesville Police released body camera footage from the scene, showing the chaotic moments on Paul Caswell Boulevard. An officer can be heard on the footage expressing concern about the crossbows — and at one point, one animal control officer was facing six dogs alone.

In an exclusive on-camera interview with WTOC, Marrero defended the decision, saying officers had no viable alternatives. He said firearms are illegal to discharge within Hinesville city limits, and that a tranquilizer gun was not feasible — the required medication had to be signed out from a veterinarian approximately 35 minutes away.

“It’s either that or you have a pack of wild dogs in your neighborhood,” Marrero said.

Marrero said the crossbows were purchased by him on Amazon and issued to officers as an alternative to firearms in situations where discharging a gun within city limits was not permitted. He said this was the first time crossbows had ever been used in his five and a half years as director.

“It sucks that we had to use it,” Marrero said. “You ask any officer — they probably go through their whole career not ever firing their firearm. But they have it just in case.”

Marrero said he reported the incident immediately to the county administrator, county chairman, and city manager. He said the city manager at the time praised the response at a subsequent council meeting.

Community Concerns

Community advocates say the crossbow incident did not happen in a vacuum.

Sandra Fry, director of the Liberty Humane Shelter, said years of inaction by animal control created the conditions for what happened in October.

“If animal control would have been doing what they should have six, eight months ago, they would not have become such a big aggressive pack,” Fry said.

Veterinarian Rachel Peeples of Coastal Community Veterinary Clinic said the crossbow choice raises broader questions about the agency’s practices.

“If you’re willing to pick up a crossbow and kill an animal instead of other choices you could have had at the moment, then what other choices are you making that the public doesn’t know about?” Peeples said.

Moving Forward

County Administrator Joseph Mosley is coordinating new preventative and educational efforts, and shelter staff has already begun training, according to Liberty County Commission Chair Lovette.

Marrero confirmed the agency will no longer use crossbows going forward.

“That’s something we no longer are going to use,” Marrero said.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has not responded to WTOC’s requests for comment. Liberty County Animal Services has resumed normal operations.

WTOC obtained investigative records, the consent order, the stop order, and animal bite reports through Open Records Requests filed with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Liberty County, and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Those documents are available below.