Dog-fighting - 12 dogs seized, 3 found dead
Wrightsville, GA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Feb 20, 2010
County: Washington
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Jimmy Johnson
» Roger Williams
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
For the second time in a week, a dog fighting ring was broken up by police in rural Georgia, between Macon and Augusta.
Saturday morning, an elderly woman told police dog fighting was taking place on her property, according to Washington County Sheriff Thomas Smith.
"They were actually fighting the dogs when the deputy went to the residence this morning," Smith told the AJC Saturday evening.
Twelve pit bulls were taken into custody, and police found the remains of three dogs that appeared to have been buried in recent days, Smith said.
Jimmy Johnson, 29, of Wrightsville, was arrested, Smith said. Two more people, including the son of the woman who reported the dog fighting to police, are expected to turn themselves in on Sunday, he said.
On Tuesday, Washington County officials found 24 dogs and the remains of 27 others on a sprawling rental property. Billy Taylor Jr., 52, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Taylor was previously convicted of forgery in DeKalb County.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has assisted police with both incidents, Smith said.
In his 14 years as sheriff, Smith said these are the first two dog fighting cases he's seen.
"I just don't understand somebody's mind, how they would just like to see one dog mutilate another dog," Smith said.
Smith said he hopes the dogs will be able to be adopted after they receive medical attention.
Case UpdatesThe sheriff in Washington County has nabbed another suspect in a second dog fighting ring broken up within a week.
Roger Williams, 27, of Sandersville, turned himself in late Sunday, Sheriff Thomas Smith told the AJC. On Saturday, the sheriff arrested Jimmie Johnson, 29, also of Sandersville, during a raid on a live dog fight.
"He was there while the actual dog fighting was going on," Smith said. "Everybody was running; he's the only one we could catch."
The raid in rural Georgia between Macon and Augusta was triggered by an elderly woman concerned about dog fighting on her property. The Washington County sheriff said the woman's son, whom the sheriff is not yet identifying, may yet turn himself in.
Twelve pit bulls were taken into custody, and police found the remains of three dogs that appeared to have been buried in recent days, Smith said.
The first ring was smashed on Tuesday, when the sheriff found 25 dogs and the remains of 27 others on a sprawling rental property. Billy Taylor Jr., 52, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Taylor was previously convicted of forgery in DeKalb County.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals helped the sheriff with both cases, Smith said.
In his 14 years as sheriff, Smith said these are the first two dog fighting cases he's seen.
"I just don't understand somebody's mind, how they would just like to see one dog mutilate another dog," he said.
Smith said he hopes the dogs will get adopted after they receive medical attention.
He said he also hopes the son of the woman who called with Saturday's tip will cooperate with the investigation. The woman likes animals and was concerned about forfeiting her property, the sheriff said.
The woman warned her son Friday to stop the dogfighting, and on Saturday when she saw a crowd gathered around fighting dogs outside her house, she decided she'd had enough, Smith said. "She was tired of this." | Source: Atlanta Journal Consitution - Feb 22, 2010
Update posted on Feb 22, 2010 - 11:27PM |
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