Puppy mill - 19 dogs seized, cops threatened Lawrence, IN (US) Incident Date: Monday, Dec 11, 2006 County: Marion Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Case Images: 16 files available Alleged: Sharon Aultman Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 10313 Classification: Hoarding, Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in IN (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Lawrence woman suspected of neglecting dogs surrendered to police on Dec 11 after a three-hour-long standoff in which she threatened to use a gun and kept officers from entering the home, authorities said.

The woman was arrested at the home, located in the 8700 block of East 46th Street, sometime between 4 and 4:30 p.m, police said. She was identified as Sharon Aultman, 52.

Police and animal control officers had gone to the home at about 1 p.m. to serve a search warrant and confiscate the dogs, but Aultman refused to answer the door, authorities said. The woman eventually threatened to use a gun if the officers didn't back off, authorities told 6News' Tanya Spencer.

Police said they tried negotiating with Aultman before calling a SWAT team at about 3 p.m.

At one point, Aultman stepped through a second-story window and went onto her porch's roof and talked to police, 6News video showed. At other times, she stood in her doorway while holding the weapon, according to police.

Authorities said the dogs, many of which were caged outside the home, were neglected, malnourished and living in deplorable conditions.

After Aultman surrendered, animal control officers confiscated 19 dogs, many of which were Great Danes, authorities said.

Authorities said the dogs were neglected, malnourished and living in deplorable conditions. Many were caged outside the home, police said.

Police said Aultman had been breeding dogs for years and had repeatedly refused to comply with orders to get rid of some of them and clean up her home.

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References

	The Indy Channel - Dec 11, 2006
	WISH-TV - Dec 12, 2006

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