Update To ISP Investigation Involving Dog On Trailer
Update – Erik McClinton is in custody at the Lake County Jail.
On February 11, 2025, at approximately 12:44 PM, the Indiana State Police were contacted about a Facebook Live video that was circulating on social media. The video captured a black Chevrolet Tahoe transporting a canine on an open-aired flatbed trailer, on Interstate 80 at the 1.5 mile marker in Hammond, according to court documents.
The video was recorded by a passerby. At the beginning of the video, the passerby was traveling behind the black Tahoe. At one point during the video, the passerby drove parallel to the Tahoe, and his recording depicted a large brindled canine, with a black collar and a silver choke chain, confined to an unsecured, wired dog cage, which was positioned near the rear of the trailer. The canine breed appeared to be either a Cane Corso or Mastiff. The cage was approximately 2 ½ feet tall and 4 feet long, and the metal railings along the edge of the trailer were approximately 1 foot tall. A ramp located at the rear of the trailer was in its upright position, and was approximately 5 feet tall. A yellow tow-strap was observed on the trailer; however, it was not being used to secure anything. The cage and dog appeared to be both held down by their own weight.
At approximately 1:36 PM, The Weather Channel indicated the current temperature in Gary was 28 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the Tahoe’s trailer was open-air and not enclosed, the canine was not sheltered from the freezing temperature and highway environment.
According to court documents, through its investigation, ISP determined the identity of the registered owner of the vehicle as Erik McClinton, and troopers were dispatched to the registered owner’s address on the 5100 block of Jefferson St, Gary, IN. Upon arrival, the trooper observed a large, brindled canine that resembled the canine that was confined to the cage on the trailer. The canine was roaming freely on the street, as well as the perimeter of a house. The canine was not tethered to anything, and it moved freely from one residence to another. The canine had no immediately visible supervision or identifiable owner.
In addition to sharing the same physical characteristics as the canine seen on the highway, the trooper was also able to observe the same black collar and silver choke chain around the canine’s neck.
According to court documents, there was no owner information located on the canine’s collar. The trooper was able to identify that the canine was a male, and further observed that it had dried blood on the top of its head and was missing a small part of its ear. The canine appeared to be underweight because its ribs were slightly visible. After being unable to determine a response time from Gary Animal Control, the trooper decided to transport the canine inside his canine police vehicle to the Hobart Humane Society.
Erik McClinton subsequently contacted the Hobart Humane Society and informed the staff that his canine, which McClinton identified as a Cane Corso named Midnight, had been taken by the police and transported to their facility. The staff were able to obtain a callback number for McClinton, which was provided to the police.
During a phone interview with McClinton, he confirmed that he was driving his black Tahoe earlier in the day, which was towing a flatbed trailer with his canine, Midnight, on it. McClinton stated that, at approximately 12:30 PM, that afternoon, he had to move from the residence he was living. According to court documents, McClinton stated that, because he had puppies inside the Chevrolet Tahoe, he placed his canine, Midnight, in the kennel located on the flat bed trailer. McClinton advised that he initially placed a blanket over Midnight’s kennel, but it must have blown off while they were driving. McClinton also claimed the kennel was bolted to the trailer, and that it could not move.
Around 6 PM, the officer transferred the custody of Midnight to Gary Animal Control, where he was housed at their facility.
The passerby reported that he recorded the black Tahoe that was transporting Midnight on February 11 and that the video was posted to Facebook. The reporting party stated that they entered onto I-80 from Calumet Avenue with the Chevrolet Tahoe, and followed the Tahoe until it exited at Grant Street. The reporting party stated that when the Tahoe hit a bump in the roadway, he observed Midnight’s cage bounce and separate from the flatbed trailer. It was also noted that the yellow strap that was observed on the trailer, but not being used to secure anything, fell off and dragged on the ground creating sparks.
Erik McClinton has been charged with: Cruelty to an Animal – Class A Misdemeanor
Erik McClinton, 37, who resides in Lake County, IN. Mr. McClinton is not currently in custody, but he has been asked to turn himself in to the Lake County Jail.
Midnight was originally transported to the Hobart Humane Society and then later to the Gary Animal Control Facility. Midnight has since been placed in a foster home to receive needed care.
The Indiana State Police Lowell Post has received numerous calls, messages of concern, and requests to adopt Midnight. While they truly appreciate this outpouring of support, if he is put up for adoption it wouldn’t be for some time. He will continue to be housed with the foster home until this case is adjudicated or unless otherwise directed by the court.
Update – Erik McClinton is in custody at the Lake County Jail.
