Disgraceful: Veteran beaten up for trying to stop torture of turtle

On Tuesday, Daytona Beach, Florida, disabled Navy veteran, Gary Blough, said his wife took their toddlers out for a walk. When they returned they were crying hysterically and told him there were three guys outside killing a turtle.

Blough went to investigate and discovered three young men absolutely torturing the creature.  He told FOX Orlando.

“To see the guy throwing the turtle down on its shell as hard as he could and they were kicking the turtle that way, away from the lake away from the pond.”

Blough asked the guys to knock it off and tried to help the turtle get back to the water.  That’s when, according to Blough, the men started assaulting him.

“While I had my head turned two of them started hitting me in the back of the head and punching me. Next thing I know we’re in a scuffle and I’m fighting three of them at the same time defending myself.”

The suspects allegedly got Blough on the ground and repeatedly kicked him, including in the back of his head.  He said he may have gotten a concussion and his eye is severely swollen and purple, but concluded that he’s in better shape than the turtle.

Blough gave reporters a gruesome description of the turtle and he has no doubt the turtle died.

When police arrived, they arrested all three suspects who were charged with aggravated battery and animal cruelty. The men were identified as Johnnie Beveritt, 18,  who reportedly picked up the turtle and threw it down on the sidewalk; Ryan Ponder, 23 and a 16-year-old boy, who kicked the turtle toward the apartment building away from the pond.

Blough said he hoped the three men are punished, but he would, without a doubt, intervene in such a situation again.

 “Yeah, I’d do it again and take the beating again if it meant saving that turtle.”

[Feature Photo: Daytona Beach PD]