Dog-fighting - 10 dogs seized
Ocala, FL (US)Incident Date: Friday, Aug 22, 2008
County: Marion
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Jerrod Dustin Martin
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Agents with the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team are looking into the possibility of filing dogfighting charges against a man arrested last week during a drug raid at an Ocala home.
At the home at 1325 N.W. Ninth Ave., agents found a cell phone that reportedly belongs to Jerrod Martin, 19, one of the men arrested in the drug bust.
A video on the cell phone shows two pit bull terriers fighting while a man appears to shout instructions to one of the dogs.
Agents also found 10 pit bulls – one of which was in a shallow grave on the property. The remaining dogs – nine of them – were chained. Among those, three had fresh wounds or old scarring that officials believed could be attributed to dogfighting.
Agents also found a cage, but they don't know if it was used for fighting or not. The ongoing investigation could determine whether the location was used for dogfighting.
The dogs were transported to the Marion County Animal Center, where staff had to put down three of the dogs because of poor heath.
The 20-second video shows one dog on top of another biting first a haunch and then a cheek of the other animal, which offers no resistance. The cell phone camera appears to get close to the dogs and to circle around them as they fight.
The man speaking in the video - who cannot be seen - says: "Sic him, mama," and, "You ain't done nothing yet."
He tells the dog to "shake him."
The animal on the ground yelps as it is mauled.
Martin was arrested at the home and charged with possession of crack cocaine and marijuana, officials said.
Although he has since been released from the Marion County Jail on a $5,500 bond, MADET agents say charges are pending against him for animal cruelty.
Agents said they went to the home last Friday after multiple narcotics purchases there.
Inside, they reportedly found 32 grams of crack cocaine that were packaged, 26 grams of loose marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an unloaded 9 mm rifle.
In addition to Martin, Michael Boyd, 44, was arrested. Boyd was charged with resisting without violence and possession of crack cocaine.
He was still at the jail, where bail is set at $21,000.
In an interview with the Star-Banner, Boyd said it's Martin's home and he has visited the residence "numerous times."
Boyd said the drugs were not his. But when the dogs were mentioned, Boyd became visibly angry, saying he knows "nothing about the dogs." He refused to answer any more questions.
Martin could not be reached for comment.
At the Animal Center, Christy L. Jergens, animal program coordinator, said that when law enforcement officials brought the nine dogs to the facility, three had to euthanized.
The veterinarian recommended they be put down for humane reasons because of multiple health problems, including bloody diarrhea, malnourishment and stunted growth, Jergens said.
The three dogs weighed 22 pounds, 15 pounds and 13 pounds.
Some of the remaining dogs had old scars all over their bodies, which Jergens says tend to be "hallmarks of dogfighting." They are recuperating at the center, receiving vaccinations, medicines, food and water.
The six dogs include three puppies about three months old and three adult dogs
Inside their cages, most seemed friendly. One brown dog, named "Red Bull," who was very shy whenever someone approached his cage or wanted to take his picture.
Jergens said it's too soon to talk about adoption because the case has to be resolved first.
Case UpdatesMarion County sheriff's deputies on Wednesday picked up a 19-year-old Ocala man who had arrest warrants for one count of fighting animals and six counts of animal cruelty.
K-9 Deputy Daniel Bowen stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation at Northwest 14th Street and Northwest 14th Avenue. The deputy asked the occupants for identification, and one of them turned out to be Jerrod Dustin Martin.
Late last month, agents with the county's Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team had issued arrest warrants for Martin's apprehension after a drug raid at his home, 1315 N.W. Ninth Ave.
Inside, officials had found a cell phone they say belong to Martin that showed two dogs fighting.
In the yard, agents located 10 dogs, nine of which were chained. One was in a shallow grave. Among those, three had wounds or scarring that officials believe could be attributed to dogfighting.
The dogs were confiscated and taken to the Animal Center, where three had to be euthanized.
In the drug case, officials charged Martin with possession of crack cocaine and marijuana, officials said. Also arrested was Michael Boyd, 44, who was charged with resisting without violence and possession of crack cocaine.
Since his latest arrest, Martin has been released again on $11,000 bond. His first bond was $5,500. | Source: Ocala.Com - Sept 6, 2008
Update posted on Sep 6, 2008 - 9:55AM |
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