Dog-fighting - 12 dogs seized
Ruther Glen, VA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
County: Caroline
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged:
» Darnell Lewis Garrison
» Donald Morris
A Caroline County man is facing allegations that he housed and trained dogs for a fighting ring.
Darnell Lewis Garrison of Ruther Glen is charged with one count of conspiracy to promote animal fighting, a class 6 felony, Caroline County Animal Control Officer S.M. Jessee said yesterday.
Jessee said Garrison's 12 dogs were either seized or forfeited following a hearing Friday in Caroline General District Court.
She said the investigation is ongoing and it is so far unclear where the actual dogfighting was taking place, although it is believed to be in another county.
"A lot of these fighters house and train the dogs in one place and fight them in another," Jessee said.
The officer added that the evidence found on Garrison's Caroline property was known to be used for training fighting dogs.
"We have certain things we look for when we respond to a call," she said.
Jessee said officers have been investigating Garrison's property since last year.
Of the dogs seized from Garrison, eight were pit bulls. There was also a German shepherd mix and her three newborn puppies, Jessee said.
Jessee said the dogs were being cared for by a variety of agencies in the area.
A Hanover County man was also recently arrested on charges that he was tied to the same dogfighting ring.
According to online court records, Donald Morris is charged in Hanover with the same count of promoting dogfighting and will be back in court July 2.
Garrison is next set to appear in Caroline court July 24. References« VA State Animal Cruelty Map
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