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Dog-fighting - 8 dogs seized
Columbia, SC (US)Incident Date: Monday, Feb 4, 2008
County: Richland
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Gary Gadson
» Robert Graves
» Kenneth Gadson
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
There is new evidence and more arrests in connection with dog fighting in the Midlands.
Several beaten and battered dogs have been seized and Richland County officials have made new arrests.
Neighbors tell News 10 they are surprised to find out what had been going on in their neighborhood.
Three Columbia men are in jail accused of dog fighting -- 31-year-old Gary Gadson, 33-year-old Robert graves and 34-year-old Kenneth Gadson.
Gary Gadson is also facing drug charges, and Kenneth Gadson is facing additional charges of ill treatment of animals.
Robert Graves and Kenneth Gadson both had bonds set at $50,000 and Gary Gadson's bond was set at $35,000.
A tip about four dead dogs in the woods at the dead end of a Columbia street leads deputies to a house on Cora Drive.
It's the same house at which deputies and Humane Society officials saw two dogs fighting last Monday. There were 12 to 15 dogs there, and a small-scale dog fighting operation.
"There was an electrical wire embedded in a tree in the shape of a noose. They had bite marks all over it," said Kelly Graham.
Investigators also found dogs standing in feces, tractor trailer towing chains around their necks, and syringes that may contain steroids.
When investigators returned to the house last Wednesday, they had a search warrant to get the dogs. But by then several had been moved.
Investigators also went to a house on Chadwell Road in Columbia, about 10 miles away. They found four pit bulls and a dog fighting video.
Neighbors tell WIS they often see pit bull puppies at the home, but they think their neighbor breeds the animals to sell, not fight.
"They were producing videos on how to fight your dogs. How to train a pit bull to be a fighter. They were breeding, obviously to sell to people in dog fighting rings," says Graham.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says their investigation goes beyond dog fighting charges.
Drugs were found at both homes, and deputies also found a stolen gun at the house on Chadwell.
"Someone who's going to treat a dog like this or any animal, to me, is about as low as you can get," said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
The sheriff's office believes these men had help, so count on WIS to bring you any updates as the investigation continues.
Meantime, the scars on the confiscated dogs' faces are beginning to heal and they look to be gaining some weight. This weekend the dogs will be tested to see if they can be put up for adoption. The puppy of the group is the first expected to be cleared.
Case UpdatesA man recently charged in a Richland County dog fighting case was found hanging from a deer stand in a wooded area Friday morning, according to Chief Deputy Keith Lewis with the Fairfield County Sheriff's Department.
Chief Deputy Lewis says Kenneth Gadson is believed to have taken his own life.
Deputies found Gadson's body in a wooded area near the intersection of Fish Hook Road and Monticello Road just south of the town of Jenkinsville.
Apparently, a woman found Gadson's car in the woods. Officials believe it was out there for more than a day. They ran the plates but the name did not register.
It was not until Fairfield County officials saw the news Thursday that they discovered who he was. That's when they went out and searched the grounds and found him.
Gadson hunted in those woods before.
Gadson's wife says he had been missing for a couple days.
An autopsy will be performed in Newberry County . | Source: WIStv - Feb 15, 2008
Update posted on Feb 23, 2008 - 3:55AM |
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