Dog-fighting suspected, 11 dogs seized
Waycross, GA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011
County: Ware
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Joseph Harold Cox
» Joseph Earl Cox
Ware County sheriff's deputies have arrested four members of a family and seized 51 marijuana plants along with 11 pit bulls that investigators suspect were used in dogfights.
Joseph Harold Cox, 49, his son, Joseph Earl Cox, 22, his daughter, Jennifer Cox Drake, 24, and her husband, Jordan Drake, also 24, remained jailed on multiple charges Wednesday.
They were arrested Tuesday after deputies, acting on a tip, found marijuana growing at the elder Cox's home on Beaver Trail and the Drake home on Watell Davis Road, said Lt. Jody Ponsell of the Ware County Sheriff's Office.
The father and son lived together in the home on the 3900 block of Beaver Trail. Deputies went there to investigate a report of dogfighting.
"The two deputies got out of their cars and immediately saw a number of pit bulls chained out in the yard and several marijuana plants growing near two dog pens at the home," Ponsell said.
The dogs appeared to have bite wounds and other injuries consistent with fighting, Ponsell said.
The deputies summoned detectives who brought a search warrant. Twenty-three marijuana plants, some 5 feet tall, were seized.
The dogs were turned over to county animal control officers. The animals will be housed at the Okefenokee Humane Society animal shelter until authorities determine what to do with them.
The father and son were charged with felony possession, manufacturing and selling marijuana, and misdemeanor cruelty to animals, Ponsell said.
Subsequent investigation then led deputies to the Drake home in the 6200 block of Watell Davis Road, where they seized 28 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. About 13 of the plants were being grown in an old air conditioning unit at the home, he said.
The Drakes were charged with possession and manufacturing marijuana, and tampering with evidence.
The tampering count accuses the couple of trying to remove and hide the pot plants after her father, Joseph Harold Cox, called and told them about the search of his home, Ponsell said.
Read more at Jacksonville.com: href=" - Jun 2, 2011 « Back to Search Results
« GA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Ware County, GA
|
