Pit bull neglect - drugs and weapons found - Alexandria, LA

Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

County: Rapides

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Bryant Keith Ford
» Matthew Burns
» Name Undisclosed

Police, responding to a drug activity complaint, discovered pit bulls on chains and stashed in a car trunk and in a bathtub, guns, ammunition and drugs at the home of a man previously charged with dogfighting.

Alexandria police arrested Bryant Keith Ford, 20, of 63 Westwood St., Alexandria, on 13 counts of cruelty to animals, 13 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and three counts of illegal use of a weapon.

Ford was arrested in Alexandria last year with three other men on dogfighting charges.

Arrested along with Ford Wednesday were Matthew Burns, 21, of 94 Prospect St., Alexandria, and a 16-year-old juvenile.

Officers were called to Rapides Avenue Wednesday after a resident reported possible drug activity.

The complainant told police a vehicle with three people appeared to be selling and using drugs, police reports state. Officers attempted to locate the vehicle in the area with no success.

About 30 minutes later, an officer saw the vehicle driving on Hynson and Westwood streets. The vehicle had stopped in front of Ford's residence.

Reports state Ford was searched and found with a bag of suspected marijuana.

The officer observed Burns "digging between the passenger seat and the console," reports state.

Burns and the juvenile were asked to get out of the vehicle. As the officer was handcuffing the juvenile, police said he pushed the officer's hand away.

Officers searched the vehicle where they found a bag of marijuana, two Xanax pills and 50 shot gun shells, police said.

While officers were taking the suspects into custody, they noticed three large pit bulls on chains in the front and side of the yard.

In addition, they saw four puppies in the trunk of an abandoned vehicle in the yard. The trunk was open a few inches and there was no water inside.

Officers went to the house to speak with Ford's girlfriend, who owned the vehicle.

She gave officers consent to search and they found a rifle, a handgun and a bag of marijuana in the living room, according to the report.

Officers also found six puppies in a bathtub and a loaded 9mm handgun with the serial number scratched off.

All the dogs were taken to the Alexandria animal shelter for housing.

Alexandria Animal Shelter Superintendent Henry Wimbley said he issued a citation to Ford's girlfriend and the dogs' owner has a certain amount of time to come forward to claim the dogs or they become the property of the city.

He said he was working with the police department as the investigation continues.

Ford was arrested in September 2002 after officers received a complaint of dogfighting inside a house. Police said they found three pit bulls at his home with fresh wounds.

Officers also said they found dried blood on the walls of one room inside the house.

In Wednesday's case, the juvenile was cited for battery on a police officer and released to his parents. Burns faces a charge of possession of marijuana.

Wimbley said Thursday that no evidence of dogfighting or sparring was present. The dogs were in "fair condition," Wimbley said.

References

• The Town Talk

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