Dog-fighting - 4 dogs seized
Columbus, OH (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 7, 2008
County: Franklin
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Michael Coles
» Charles A. Usher
An anonymous dog-fighting tip led Franklin County sheriff's deputies to an east side auto body shop on Thursday afternoon.
Franklin County Sheriff's deputies reportedly found four pit bulls at the shop, located at 1351 East Main St.
Investigators also allegedly found paraphernalia that can be used to train the dogs.
"Detectives observed training of one of the pit bulls with a stick that they used to beat it," said Franklin County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Steve Martin.
The sheriff's office said there may have been a dog fight as recently as Wednesday night.
Four people were detained for questioning after the raid.
"A lot of it depends on what we find as far as evidentiary value, whether we find video, pictures," Martin said. "There's a lot of things we locate in these types of investigations."
Mondaray Witaker, 20, and James Campbell, 55, were arrested on outstanding warrants. Michael Coles, 28, and Charles Usher, 38, will face animal cruelty charges, the sheriff's office said.
The owner of the dogs voluntarily surrendered them to the Humane Society. A veterinarian will evaluate the animals.
"The dogs appear to be underweight, looked like they have some infection, and they also were covered with an oily substance," according to an investigator.
The animals' health and behavior will be evaluated before the Humane Society decides whether put the dogs up for adoption or euthanize them. References« OH State Animal Cruelty Map
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