Report: Coach behind attack on dog

Keith Paul

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

A Mojave High School football coach planted the idea of kidnapping a rival school's bulldog mascot that was tortured by a group of students, according to a Metro Police document obtained by the Sun.

Mojave health teacher and coach Steven P. Gresh, on or before Sept. 27, "suggested to several members of the football team they should steal the English bulldog, which is the Centennial High School mascot," according to the Metro document.

That night the bulldog named Blu was stolen from the back yard of the home of her owner, Centennial student Tiffany Clark. The 20-month-old pet was then taken to Raul P. Elizondo Elementary School and was allowed to be attacked by a pit bull belonging to one of the Mojave football players.

Metro detectives forwarded a document to prosecutors for five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor against Gresh, a 35-year-old defensive coach for the football team. Prosecutors declined to proceed with the charges, and Gresh was not arrested.

According to the Metro document, Gresh met the students at the elementary school and asked them if they had the dog. One of the students was holding the dog while students talked to Gresh.

"Gresh told the students to shave the letter 'M' on the dog, to paint it orange or put a Mojave T-shirt on the dog and take it to the Centennial High School football field," according to the document.

Blu was found injured and wearing a Mojave T-shirt while tied to a stake on the 50-yard line of Centennial's football field the morning of Sept. 28 -- the day of the game between the two Clark County schools.

While Gresh will not face prosecution in the case, his status as a Clark County School District teacher may be in doubt.

School district spokeswoman Mary Stanley-Larsen would not comment Monday on Gresh's status as a teacher, saying it was a personnel matter. Gresh has been employed by the school district for six years.

Assistant Superintendent Edward Goldman said if a teacher was in the process of being fired, his status would be considered a personnel issue.

Goldman said a teacher could be suspended with or without pay or allowed to continue teaching during an appeal of being fired. He said the teacher's status would depend on the circumstances.

Gresh, reached at home during school hours Monday, declined to comment.

Eleven students face a variety of charges ranging from a citations for witnessing a fight between animals to felony theft. Two 18-year-old students -- Douglas Stumpf and Richard McDonald -- and nine juveniles were charged in the case, Capt. Rick Bilyeu said. Metro considers the case closed.

Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Ronald Bloxham said prosecutors went forward with charges that they felt they could prove in court.

Blu has received hundreds of get-well cards and e-mails from Clark County students and from around the country. Included in several of the cards were donations, which has led to the creation of a scholarship fund named after the dog.

Blu has recovered from her wounds and is back on the sidelines for Centennial football games, said Sue Clark, Tiffany's mother. But there has been a change in the dog's personality since being kidnapped and bitten by the pit bull.

"Blu is great, but she doesn't like other dogs now," Clark said. "She didn't fight back with the pit bull, but now she doesn't like other dogs. She's still great around people."

As for the students charged in connection with Blu's kidnapping and abuse, Clark said she would like them to have to perform community service in an animal shelter.

Clark said she hasn't heard anything about Gresh or his status as a teacher.

"I'm sorry if it turns out ruining someone's career, but if a teacher did indeed incite his students to commit a felony act, then that's not funny," Clark said.