26 dead reptiles seized from storage unit
Great Falls, MT (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
County: Cascade

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Gordon Edward Lockwood

Twenty-six dead reptiles were found in a storage unit this week.

The owner of the reptiles, 39-year-old Gordon Edward Lockwood of Great Falls, was cited by Great Falls Animal Control with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 17 counts of cruelty to animals. All counts are misdemeanors.

Great Falls Police Sgt. Jeff Newton said the Great West Storage unit was auctioned off after Lockwood missed a payment. It was then on Wednesday that the dead reptiles were found.

Found dead in the storage unit were four tiger salamanders, six leopard geckos and 16 non-venomous snakes, Newton said. Newton did not know how long the reptiles had been dead in the storage unit.

Newton added that Great West Storage officials were not culpable for the dead reptiles.

Great West is at 1000 American Ave.

Lockwood apparently was going through some personal difficulties that made it difficult for him to care for the reptiles, Newton said.

After Animal Control officers tracked Lockwood down, Lockwood was cooperative in the investigation. He was cited and released, Newton said.

References

• Great Falls Tribune - May 30. 2009

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