DA Drops Animal Abuse Charges Against Tulsa Pastor

The Tulsa County District Attorney has dropped a felony animal abuse charge against a Tulsa pastor accused of beating his dogs.

Neighbors videotaped Clement Hall hitting his pit bulls in May, and hall was arrested after the video was posted online.

5/7/2014 Related Story: Tulsa Neighbors Work Together To Report Accused Animal Abuser?

The district attorney's office said they dropped the charge for further investigation, but plans to refile them.

Still, Hall got his four pit bulls back from the pound last week. He maintains what others called abuse was actually discipline.

"Had someone come to me just one time I would have been alerted that someone was displeased with the way I handle my dogs, and I say my way because it's different than other people's way,” Hall said.

5/8/2014 Related Story: Tulsa Man Accused Of Animal Abuse Says He Was 'Disciplining' Not Beating

That way includes whipping the dogs. Hall said just days after he moved, his neighbor had questions about his pets.

"He said ‘was it a pit?' I said yes. He says ‘well your dog is going to have to go.' It stunned me, it left me speechless,” said Hall.

Then abuse allegations came, but he didn't he know the exchange - which led to the arrest - was being recorded.

"His voice angered me, culturally I mean, 'hey stop beating those dogs' I would have spoken more kinder. He could've said Mr. Hall or Reverend Hall, he knows me, he reported me to the police, but he chose to be insulting," said Hall.

He said the cell phone video was taken out of context because the dog had just bitten him.

After five months and a dismissed felony charge of animal abuse Sugar, Sheba, White Face and Red are out of the pound; but the pits and Hall no longer live in his old neighborhood of Reservoir Hill.

"They could've been decent and told people I wasn't a nut with a zoo in my backyard. She had eight puppies,” Hall said.

He said the video tape - which is still being reviewed by the D.A. - paints a poor picture. He points out his dogs have since been spayed.

The district attorney is expected to file animal abuse charge this week. Hall said he isn't concerned with charges and has talked with his attorney.