(Editor’s note: this July 17 news story slipped under our radar. Better late than never!)

The Eden town constable, who was arraigned this week for two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty, will remain on the job because the Selectboard has no authority to remove a municipal official elected by local voters.

However, the Eden Selectboard did vote during an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon to suspend Matthew Hill as the town’s Animal Control Officer pending the outcome of his criminal case in court, officials said.

Hill, 47, is not certified by the state as a police officer in Vermont, according to Chris Brickell, director of the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford. He operates a pig farm.

Brickell said constables do have some statutory duties that include serving civil and criminal papers, destroying animals, killing injured deer and helping the town health officer.

The constable also can remove unruly people from Town Meeting.

There has been a huge public outcry since Vermont News First broke the news story initially on Tuesday evening about a pig that game wardens say was shot multiple times, tortured and had her throat sliced twice as she was pulled down a road behind an ATV.

The squealing pig could be heard above the roar of the ATV engine on the video that neighbors used to record the incident, Game Warden Ethan Coffey reported.

Hill told wardens that he had shot the pig and thought it was dead, but it came alive as he dragged it, Coffey said in a court affidavit. Hill said he stopped twice, and each time slit the throat once during the 1.2 miles of dragging the pig, records show.

Coffey and Warden Asa Sargent said there was no evidence of blood found in the area where the pig was dragged along the road. A dead pig was found in a sugarbush on Kittell Road, Coffey said.

The Selectboard met behind closed doors for 12 minutes “to discuss the charges against the animal control officer/constable,” according to a draft of the meeting minutes.

When the public session resumed, Selectboard member Clayton Whittemore moved to suspend Hill as Animal Control Officer.

Selectboard member Tim Bullard, who attended by phone, seconded the motion. It was approved 3-0 with Selectboard member Ricky Morin joining in, the draft minutes said.

The Selectboard members said they recognized that Hill is also a Constable, but they have no authority over an elected official, the minutes note.

They adjourned one minute later, but not before agreeing to send a letter to Hill with their decision.

Hill has pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court in Hyde Park to the two felony charges.

Veteran Judge Mary Morrissey agreed to release Hill on strict conditions, including he is prohibited from using any firearms or dangerous weapons. Morrissey also directed Hill to stay away from two neighbors who helped with the investigation and to allow a game warden and veterinarian to visit the residence to verify the wellbeing of any animals.

A third criminal charge of illegal possession of a live racoon at Hill’s residence has been reinstated by Lamoille County State’s Attorney Aliena Gerhard.

The misdemeanor count for the racoon was initially filed on Wednesday, but there was a computer problem with processing the paperwork and it was not immediately pursued. Gerhard has restored the criminal charge and Morrissey has found probable cause to proceed. Hill will be arraigned on that charge at the next court hearing.

The Eden Selectboard, during the emergency meeting, agreed it would try to find somebody to serve as the interim Animal Control Officer.

The Selectboard will have a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday and the Animal Control Officer discussion is on the agenda.

Eden is a community that elects its constable for a one-year term at the annual Town Meeting Day each March, Town Clerk Melissa Whitcomb said Thursday.

Some Vermont towns have moved in recent years to having appointed constables in the wake of problems over how certain duties have been handled and the resulting potential liability for the community.

Gerhard included the pig-dragging video as part of the public file charging Hill.

A handful of Animal Control Officers from other nearby communities attended the court arraignment. They said they were unhappy with the lack of unprofessionalism displayed by Hill.

It is unclear what is happening concerning Hill’s membership with the North Hyde Park/Eden Volunteer Fire Department, which is a private business and not considered a municipal department.

Volunteer Fire Chief Brent Lanpher said he would decline comment Thursday afternoon.

If convicted on an aggravated cruelty charge, Hill could be imprisoned for up to 5 years and fined up to $5,000.