Dog-fighting - 26 dogs seized
Tallahassee, FL (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010
County: Leon
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Leslie A. Meyers
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
On Wednesday, July 14, 2010, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrested Leslie A. Meyers, 34, and charged him with several crimes relating to animal cruelty and dog fighting.
The arrest follows a month long investigation into the discovery and seizure of 26 pit bull dogs from the residence at 4198 HJK Howard Road.
Detectives got involved after a Leon County Animal Control Officer observed three pit bulls running loose in the area. The officer followed the dogs back to the residence and discovered several dead, emaciated and badly scarred dogs. Large pools of dried blood and animal hair were found throughout the residence indicating that the home appeared to have been used for the sole purposes of training, housing and fighting the animals. Detectives advised exercise equipment was used to train the animals for endurance and strength, while pieces of lumber were used as training aids to teach the animals to bite.
Sheriff Larry Campbell said, “This investigation is the culmination of a heads up animal control officer and a good working relationship between two agencies that want to see justice served and the public safe. Those three dogs could have easily attacked someone and caused serious injuries.”
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office recommends you contact law enforcement or the appropriate animal control agency if you believe someone is maintaining a facility for the purposes of fighting animals.
ARRESTED
Leslie A. Meyers
DOB: 07/16/1976
CHARGES: Owning an Animal for the Purposes of Fighting (26 counts), Owning a Property for the Purpose of Animal Fighting (1 count), Possessing Equipment for the Use in Animal Fighting (3 counts) and Animal Cruelty (26 counts)
Case UpdatesLeon County man twice busted on animal cruelty charges has been sentenced to prison time.
But, it's not enough in the eyes of some animal advocates.
Monday a judge sentenced 35-year-old Leslie Meyers to a year and a day in prison.
Animal advocates say he deserves more because he was charged twice with animal cruelty within a six-month span.
Leon County Executive Director Sonya White says, "It was a horrific situation. We would've liked to have seen more time."
On July 14, 2010, Meyers was arrested after Leon County Deputies took 26 pit bulls from his home at 4198 HJK Howard Road.
White says, "There were animals that were mauled. There were animals that were ripped apart. There were animals that were starving and emaciated, and these people have no concern for life, period, they don't. They're only doing the animal fighting and the dog-fighting situations for pure profit."
Meyers denied everything when I stopped him as he was driving the house shortly after that arrest last year.
This is what he told me then: "Naw, there ain't no dog-fighting going on at that residence."
Meyers was arrested again on January 13, 2011.
This time at 2496-B Southwood Plantation Road; and again, authorities took 26 pit bulls.
Brandon Tucker lives nearby. He says, "I'd actually turned in to come home, I saw two animal control officers at the end of the road. They said, we've got another case up here with HJK Howard. I was extremely shocked to hear that this has happened once again and also so close to home."
Detectives say the dogs didn't have food or water, and that they found dogfighting equipment.
Tucker says, "I think the sentence was a long-time coming. But, at the same time, it's not enough for the conditions that the dogs were housed in and the way that they were treated."
Leslie Meyers is also sentenced to two years probation. He is not allowed to own any dogs during that time.
White says, "I think these cases can really be prosecuted stronger with more cooperation between animal control officers, state attorney's office, and law enforcement." | Source: wctv.tv - Sep 19, 2011
Update posted on Sep 19, 2011 - 10:38PM |
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