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Case #7637 Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Cats tied to trees, used as coyote bait
Linden, MI (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Mar 5, 2006
County: Genesee
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Douglas Holtslander
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
Linden police are investigating a case where two cats were left tied to small trees in an area off W. Ralston Road, Police Chief Peter VanDriessche said.
The cats were found March 5 by a resident who called police. After consulting with state DNR officers, the chief said, police believe that the animals were being used as bait by someone who was hunting coyotes, the chief said.
"They were in pretty bad shape," VanDriessche said.
The cats, which were taken away by Genesee County Animal Control, were found near the carcasses of other animals, including a raccoon, a possum and deer, in various states of decay.
Whoever was responsible not only violated animal cruelty laws, but also was illegally hunting within city limits, VanDriessche said.
Case UpdatesDouglas E. Holtslander told a judge that someone stole several of his animal traps, which then ended up snaring two wild cats.
He insisted he does not use live cats as bait to trap other animals.
Still, Holtslander, 67, of Fenton Township pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, a misdemeanor, after originally being charged with a 4-year felony for using live animals as bait in the Linden area this spring.
The incident drew the attention of the Humane Society of the United States, which offered a reward for an arrest.
Central District Judge Christopher R. Odette told Holtslander that he did not believe his story but was restricted to sentencing him for what he admitted to. Odette sentenced him to 1 year probation, fines and costs totaling nearly $500, and $218 in restitution to the county's animal control for later euthanizing the wild cats found snared to trees.
Odette also banned Holtslander from owning animals for a year, ordered him to pay $100 for the cost of prosecuting him and to complete 100 hours of community service.
Odette also held 93 days of jail in abeyance pending the successful completion of Holtslander's probation.
Randall J. Petrides, chief assistant Genesee County prosecutor, defended the plea deal offered to Holtslander.
"This incident deeply offended all of us in the prosecutor's office," he said. "If we could prove he used live cats for bait, we would not have made this agreement."
The incident came to light when a man contacted Linden police after finding two cats tied to separate trees in a swampy, wooded area near Ralston Road in March.
The aggressive wild cats bit several firefighters as they were being untied.
Animal carcasses nearby were used as the cats' food supply, police said.
Holtslander, who admits he has been trapping animals for 60 years, told Odette that someone stole his traps in January, which ended up snaring those two wild cats. He said he never reported the thefts to police.
Holtslander also told police that he has used dead cats he's found on the road to trap animals, but never live animals.
Police said trapping is legal as long as live bait is not used.
He admitted that his traps were the ones that snared the cats and pleaded guilty for being negligent in controlling his traps. | Source: The Flint Journal - June 14, 2006
Update posted on Jun 14, 2006 - 4:25PM |
The man suspected of tying two cats to trees in Linden as live bait for traps was arraigned Tuesday in Genesee County's Central District Court.
Douglas Holtslander, 66, of Fenton Township was charged under an animal cruelty law of baiting with live animals, a 4-year felony.
Holtslander is free on $7,500 personal recognizance bond. His pretrial is set for April 28.
A woman who identified herself on the phone at Holtslander's residence as a friend said Holtslander had no comment on the case. Linden Police Chief Pete VanDriessche said a man looking for deer found the two cats tied to separate trees in a swampy woods west of Ralston Road on March 5. He said the wire they were tied with was about one-foot long.
"They were both in real bad shape," VanDriessche said.
Animal carcasses nearby were apparently the cat's food supply.
The cats were aggressive and bit two Linden firemen when they were untying them. The cats were observed by Genesee County Animal Control for 10 days, then euthanized, he said.
An anonymous tip led police to Holtslander. VanDriessche said Holtslander told him he has been trapping animals for 60 years.
"He traps almost anything from fox, coyotes and raccoons, beaver, muskrat. He even teaches how to trap," he said.
He doesn't know if Holtslander sells the pelts. VanDriessche said three wire snares were found at the scene. Trapping is legal, but not with live bait.
"He told us he used dead cats before that he would find on the road," VanDriessche said. He said the anonymous tipster likely will receive the $2,500 reward offered by The Humane Society of the United States.
"He knows this guy and he knows how he traps," he said. | Source: The Flint Journal - April 26, 2006
Update posted on Apr 26, 2006 - 11:29PM |
Police need your help to solve a shocking case of animal abuse. Earlier this month, officers found two cats wired to a tree and left for dead. They also found the remains of a deer, a raccoon and a possum at a swamp on West Ralston Road in Linden.
Police say the animals were used for bait as hunters tried to track coyotes. Now police are trying to track down the hunters. It all started with an anonymous tip that led police to a swamp. But what police found wired to the base of a tree was not only shocking; it's also criminal. "There's no way the cat could have got loose. No way," said Linden Police Chief Pete VanDriessche. And that was the point. Police say someone wired two cats to the tree. "It was quite elaborate, as a matter of fact," the chief said. "This is not right. This is definitely not right." VanDriessche says he's sure someone wanted to attract coyotes, killing them for their coat. The crime is a felony.
"This is the first one I've seen in my 25 years," VanDriessche said. "I've never seen one like this. I've seen animal abuse. But this as far as I'm concerned is really bad." The Humane Society of the United States put up a $2,500 reward to find the person who did this.
"You know, if you're going to hunt coyotes, there's a way to do it without using live bait," VanDriessche said. Already the chief has a half dozen tips and a few leads. But if you know something, the chief wants to hear from you. You can reach him at (810) 735-5454.
Genesee County Animal Control quarantined the animals for 10 days after one of the cats bit a firefighter during the rescue. The cats were aggressive and weren't able to be adopted, so workers made the tough choice to put the animals down. | Source: ABC Local News - March 23, 2006
Update posted on Mar 24, 2006 - 11:19PM |
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for tying several animals to trees and leaving them to die in a wooded area in Linden, Michigan.
According to a Linden police blotter, a resident found two cats tied to trees with wire in an area off West Ralston Road. The cats were still alive, but in very poor condition, and were released to Genesee County Animal Control. There were carcasses of other animals, including a raccoon, a possum and deer, in various states of decay. Reportedly, some of the animals were tied in a standing position, with thick wire looped around their necks and feet, secured to trees. At least one animal appeared to have been mutilated. Linden Police Chief Peter VanDriessche believes that there were signs of possible illegal hunting and poaching, and that the small animals may have been used as bait to attract coyotes. | Source: HSUS - March 22, 2006
Update posted on Mar 23, 2006 - 6:23PM |
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