Dog-fighting - 2 injured dogs, one puppy seized
Westwego, LA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Mar 15, 2010
County: Jefferson
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Carl Johnson, Jr.
» Larcain Arlene
» Michael Rixner
» Brandon Roy
St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputies have arrested three Reserve men and are searching for a fourth in connection with dogfighting after Animal Control officers witnessed the men fighting two pit bulls Monday in the 300 block of Homewood Place, authorities said.
Carl Johnson Jr., 25, of 267 Melius Drive, owned one of the dogs and was booked with dogfighting. Larcain Arlene, 28, of 357 Homewood Drive and Michael Rixner, 31, of 260 W. 19th St., were arrested as spectators and booked with dogfighting, said Capt. Dane Clement, a spokesman for the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office.
The fourth suspect has been identified as Brandon Roy, 26, of E. 14th St., Clement said. Roy is the owner of the other dog.
After noticing the Animal Control officers, Roy entered a nearby residence. He then exited the residence and got into a car with the dog, Clement said. As Roy backed the car in his attempt to flee the car grazed an Animal Control officer in the knee.
"Deputies pursued the assailant, but he eluded deputies when he ditched the car and fled on foot, leaving the dog in the car," Clement said.
Deputies have obtained a warrant for his arrest. When found, Roy will be booked with dogfighting, aggravated battery, flight from an officer in an automobile and resisting an officer by flight, Clement said.
The two female pit bulls were estimated to be 2 to 3 years old and had to be euthanized, said Linda Allen of the St. John Animal Shelter.
"They were torn up and had been fighting for a while," Allen said. "They had scars from previous fights."
About 10 a.m. Monday, St. John Parish Animal Control Officers Jerry Trigo and Mert Miller were walking in the woods while investigating a separate call when they came upon the dogfight, Allen said.
"They were far enough back and the men didn't see them," Allen said. "The men had two female pit bulls on leashes and would turn them loose to let them fight and jerk them back. And then let them fight a little more and jerk them back."
The dogfighting stopped when the suspects spotted the animal control officers and attempted to flee, Clement said.
Johnson, Arlene and Rixner were quickly apprehended, but Roy got away. Officers also confiscated a pit bull puppy belonging to one of the suspects, Clement said. Which suspect owned the puppy was unclear Tuesday.
The puppy, who exhibited no signs of wounds, was in a wire cage without food, water or proper shelter near the site of the fight, Trigo said.
Johnson was released Tuesday after posting ten percent of his $7,500 bond. Arlene was released after posting ten percent of his $2,750 bond. Rixner was arrested by summons. References |
