Dog-fighting - 8 dogs seized
Wilson, NC (US)Incident Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009
County: Wilson
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Erika Eatmon
» Jonathan Roberson
» Travis Woodard
» Marquise Tingle
Wilson County Animal Enforcement deputies arrested four people and seized eight dogs Sunday in connection with backyard dog fighting.
Major John Farmer with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office said someone made an anonymous call to 911 about dog fighting at 1308 Meadow St.
Deputies T. Keller, J. Averette, Corp. AJ O'Briant and B. Massey all responded to the scene.
Around 12:07 p.m., deputies arrived at the residence and saw Erika Eatmon, 22, who lives at the Meadow Street home, sitting on the back porch watching a black bulldog and a white bulldog fighting in the backyard.
Farmer said she made no attempts to stop the dogs from attacking each other so deputies approached the scene. When they got into the backyard, they also observed a group of people in the backyard watching the dogs.
In addition to Eatmon, deputies arrested, Jonathan Roberson, 20, of 211 Fairview Ave., Travis Woodard, 24, of 913 College Circle and Marquise Tingle, 19, of 307 Forrest Road.
Deputies attempted to get the two fighting dogs apart and had to use pepper spray to subdue one of them as it tried to attack deputies.
Farmer said there were six other bulldogs chained up in various places around the backyard.
All eight dogs were seized because they were suffering from open wounds, were severely underweight and malnourished and were in need of medical treatment.
Eatmon was charged with one count of felony dog fighting and placed in the Wilson County Jail under a $5,000 bond. She was able to post bond and was released later that same day.
Roberson was also charged with one count of felony dog fighting and received a $5,000 bond. As of Monday afternoon, he was still being held in the Wilson County Jail.
Woodard, who claimed ownership of one dog, was charged with one count of felony dog fighting, one count of failure to vaccinate an animal, one count of providing improper shelter and one count of improper tethering. He was placed in the Wilson County Jail under a $6,000 bond and was still in custody as of Monday afternoon.
Tingle, who admitted to owning most of the dogs, was charged with seven counts of misdemeanor failure to have an animal vaccinated, seven counts of misdemeanor improper tethering and seven counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. He was placed in the Wilson County Jail under a $5,000 bond. As of Monday afternoon Tingle was still in jail.
Tingle wasn't charged with dog fighting because he arrived at the Meadow Street residence after law enforcement arrived. There was no evidence he was present when the fighting was taking place. He did, however, admit to owning seven of the animals.
All four suspects made their first court appearances Monday in connection with the felony charges. References« NC State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Wilson County, NC
|
