ROCKMART, GEORGIA — A late-night search for a missing 12-year-old girl has turned into a controversial investigation after HeeHaw, a beloved 1-year-old miniature donkey, was fatally sh0t inside his pasture by Cedartown Police Officer Trenton Garner.
The incident happened shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, while Garner was assisting other agencies searching for the missing child in Polk County. The search eventually led officers onto property associated with Elsberry Riding and Farm near Rockmart.
A newly released incident report provides Garner’s account of what happened. The officer wrote that he was moving along a fence line with a K-9 search team when horses in the pasture became frightened and moved away.
According to Garner, HeeHaw then approached the search team and allegedly began charging toward them. The officer said the group backed away and a K-9 handler attempted to deter the donkey with a Taser. Garner reported that the attempt did not stop the animal and that he ultimately fired one r0und from his service w3apon.
HeeHaw ran away after being struck before collapsing. The animal ultimately lost his l1fe. Part of the incident was also reportedly captured by a drone being used during the search operation.
But Hannah Israel, HeeHaw’s owner, strongly disputes the suggestion that the young donkey posed the kind of danger described in the officer’s report.
Israel says HeeHaw had been bottle-raised, spent time inside the family home and regularly participated in petting-zoo events, where he interacted with visitors. She described him as gentle and accustomed to being around people.
Israel has also said that officers entered the pasture without first notifying her or asking permission. From her perspective, HeeHaw was behaving naturally after unfamiliar people entered his territory in the middle of the night.
The owner initially attributed the sh00ting to a Polk County deputy, but that information was subsequently corrected. The officer involved was Trenton Garner of the Cedartown Police Department. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office previously clarified that its deputies were not involved in the incident.
The missing 12-year-old girl at the center of the original search was later located safely at a church near the pasture. Her identity has not been publicly released in the reliable reports reviewed, and there is no reason to identify the child because she is a minor and was found safe.
Following HeeHaw’s d3ath, Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome confirmed that Garner was placed on administrative leave. The investigation was subsequently turned over to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division for an independent review.
Investigators will now have to determine whether Garner’s use of his firearm was justified under the circumstances and compare his written account with available evidence, including any drone recordings, body-camera footage, witness statements and other material gathered from the scene.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued demanding accountability and has indicated that she intends to pursue legal action. She also launched a fundraiser in HeeHaw’s name. As of September 10, it had received more than $157,000 from over 2,200 donations, far exceeding its original $30,000 goal. Israel says remaining funds will help care for the farm’s animals and support the creation of a HeeHaw Foundation.
For Hannah Israel, however, the controversy is about much more than money. She has described HeeHaw as a member of her family and says the donkey brought happiness to many people through his appearances at petting zoos.
For now, Officer Trenton Garner has not been found guilty of wrongdoing, and the investigation remains active. His account says he fired because he believed the charging donkey presented a danger; Hannah Israel firmly disputes that characterization and believes HeeHaw was simply reacting to unfamiliar people entering his pasture.
What is now confirmed is that the officer was from Cedartown Police, HeeHaw lost his l1fe during the search, the missing girl was later found safe, and an independent investigation is underway to determine whether the officer’s actions were justified.
