Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fighting, neglect - 14 dogs seized, 6 dead

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Case ID: 8798

Classification: Fighting, Neglect / Abandonment

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Dog-fighting, neglect - 14 dogs seized, 6 dead
Gary, IN (US)

Incident Date: Monday, May 29, 2006
County: Lake

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Carlton Davis, Jr.

Case Updates: 21 update(s) available

Fifteen adult pit bull-type dogs that appeared to have been trained as fighting animals have been seized by Lake County, Ind., Sheriff's Police and likely will be destroyed as authorities seek the dogs' owner. Neighbors called police after seeing the dogs Monday in a swampy area behind a residence in the 3700 block of West 48th Place in unincorporated Calumet Township near Gary, said Matt Lubarski, director of the Sheriff's Animal Center in Crown Point.

Officers discovered several dead dogs as well as dog-fighting equipment including a treadmill, weighted harnesses and a harness rig that allows two dogs to face each other and lunge aggressively, but not make contact, Lubarski said. Also, a blood-soaked carpet was found in a barn. Lubarski, who helped rescue the dogs, said the animals were tied on chains heavy enough to pull a semi-truck. "The majority of them are very slight, some to the point where it's actually disgusting," he said. "Dog fighters like to keep them hungry. It keeps them more aggressive."

The dogs were taken to the Animal Center. Lubarski said the 15 adult dogs may have to be destroyed once a court gives the county custody of the animals. One puppy rescued with the group is doing well and will likely not be euthanized, he said. This morning, Lubarski said, two of the dogs were in adjacent dog runs separated by a chain link fence, and they attacked each other. "They latched onto one another and wouldn't let go. We had to sedate one of them to separate them," he said. "They are trained to fight. Once a pit bull latches on, it's as bad as a crocodile or an alligator. "

Lubarski said the property's owner has lived in the home for about six months and could be charged with felonies. He is believed to be vacationing in a southern state, the sheriff's officer said.

Case Updates

A firefighter convicted in April of operating a dogfighting ring in Calumet Township officially left the Gary Fire Department effective August 12, 2008.

Gary's Board of Public Works and Safety accepted the resignation of Carlton Davis.

A jury convicted Davis at a trial in April. The charges included the promotion or staging of an animal-fighting contest, promoting an animal fighting contest and misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez ordered Davis in July to serve a two-year prison sentence.

It has been more than two years since Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez raided Davis' home in Calumet Township, where officers found a dead pit bull, a treadmill and a six-week workout schedule leading up to "game day."

Source: Post-Trib.com - Aug 21, 2008
Update posted on Sep 5, 2008 - 11:58AM

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Carlton Davis Jr. was sentenced Friday to a two-year prison term for charges relating to hosting dogfights in his Calumet Township home.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez also sentenced Davis two years in a community work release program for felons and two years for probation.

The 35-year-old Gary firefighter was convicted by a jury in April of eight felony charges of promoting an animal in a fighting contest, 12 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor count of purchasing or possessing an animal for an animal-fighting contest and a misdemeanor count of possession of animal-fighting paraphernalia.

He was acquitted of three counts of animal cruelty and a felony charge of using an animal in a fighting contest.

Fifteen dogs were confiscated from Davis' Calumet Township home in May 2006 after neighbors complained about the condition of the animals. Lake County police found equipment on Davis' property they believed had been used in dog fighting.

The judge denied a request by the defense to reduce the convictions to misdemeanor charges but said that move could be considered in the future if Davis serves his sentence in a satisfactory manner.

Vasquez also denied a motion by Davis' attorney, Mark Bates, to declare a mistrial. Bates argued that a photograph that was not formally admitted as evidence in the trial was viewed by jurors during deliberations.

A group of Gary firefighters attended the sentencing in support of Davis, and several testified to his honor and work ethic. Davis can no longer work with the Gary Fire Department with his felony convictions but plans to appeal the conviction, his attorneys said.

Source: The Times - July 11, 2008
Update posted on Jul 11, 2008 - 7:40PM

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A Gary firefighter convicted of hosting dogfights in his Calumet Township home will be sentenced July 11, Lake Criminal Court records show.

Carlton Davis Jr., 35, was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday, but the hearing was continued.

A Lake Criminal Court jury found Davis guilty in April of eight felony charges of promotion of an animal in a fighting contest, 12 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor count of purchasing or possessing an animal for an animal-fighting contest and a misdemeanor count of possession of animal-fighting paraphernalia.

He was acquitted of three counts of animal cruelty and a felony charge of using an animal in a fighting contest.

The state presented about 200 pieces of evidence in the trial.

Fifteen dogs were confiscated from Davis' Calumet Township home May 29, 2006, after neighbors complained about the condition of the animals. Lake County police found equipment on Davis' property they believed had been used in dogfighting.

Source: NWI.Com - Jun 3, 20008
Update posted on Jun 3, 2008 - 12:42PM

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Jurors on Monday found Gary firefighter Carlton Davis Jr. guilty on nearly all of the 26 animal cruelty and dogfighting charges against him.

As Judge Salvador Vasquez read the list of verdicts on all 26 counts against Davis, the burly firefighter stared blankly ahead. As jurors were led from the courtroom, he leaned forward over the defense table, rubbed his head, his eyes, and face in a pantomime of disbelief.

"I know I didn't do nothing," he muttered to his attorney, Garry Weiss. Davis didn't testify during his trial.

In all, Davis was found not guilty of one felony count of using an animal in a fighting contest and two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. He was found guilty of 16 of 18 misdemeanor counts of cruelty, possession of animals and fighting paraphernalia and seven of eight Class D felony counts.

The felonies each carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison, and could cost him his job as a firefighter.

"We're exceptionally disappointed with the decision," Weiss said outside the courtroom.

Weiss said Davis would appeal, likely contesting the search of Davis' Calumet Township home that yielded most of the evidence used against him.

The six-day trial was notable for the sheer volume of evidence presented by prosecutors, nearly 200 items of evidence including DNA samples taken from 10 of the 15 dogs found at Davis' property -- more than most murder cases.

"The amount of money spent (by prosecutors) was not in proportion with the nature of the offenses," Weiss said.

Prosecutors alleged Davis hosted a fighting contest at his house May 6, 2004, and Sheriff's police searched the home May 29, after neighbors complained about excessive barking and the stench of a rotting dog carcass coming from Davis' home.

Investigators found treadmills, promotional fliers, a walled fighting ring and 15 emaciated, fight-scarred pit bulls chained behind a pole barn on the property, evidence prosecutors allege showed Davis trained dogs and hosted fights.

Davis' friends testified they owned five of the seven dogs prosecutors allege were used in fights, and explained their scars and injuries came from a fight with a neighbor's golden retriever or infected insect bites -- statements that contradicted earlier sworn depositions.

The dogs were eventually made property of the Sheriff's Department after Davis was unable to come up with nearly $50,000 assessed for their care and feeding at the county shelter.

"Nasty Boy," a hyper-aggressive male, was so fierce he had to be euthanized. Others were given to new owners and a handful remain at the shelter.

The case took nearly two years to reach trial, a time period during which NFL quarterback Michael Vick's prosecution for running a dogfighting kennel raised the national outcry against dog fighting. While both Weiss and prosecutors filed numerous motions for delay, animal rights activists flooded Vasquez with demands to start the trial.

The case also raised outcry among pit bull enthusiasts, said Texas breeder Gary Hammonds, the sole witness called by the defense. Though he now finds dog fighting immoral, Hammonds said he worried that legitimate breeders would be forced out of business by aggressive prosecutors.

"Spend all this money on a task force and you'd have a bigger, better case than this in two or three weeks," he said outside the courtroom. "I would applaud them for it."

Through a spokesperson, Prosecutor Bernard Carter said he was pleased with the verdict and declined comment until after Davis is sentenced June 3.

Source: Post-Tribune - April 29, 2008
Update posted on Apr 29, 2008 - 9:03AM

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The trial of accused dog-fighting kennel operator Carlton Davis Jr. continues today in Lake County Superior Court, with the Gary firefighter facing 26 felony and misdemeanor counts of animal neglect, animal cruelty and promoting animal fighting.

The charges date to an alleged dog fight in May 2006, and a raid of Davis' Calumet Township home a few weeks later after neighbors complained about the stench from a rotting dog carcass on the property.

Prosecutors' case hinges on circumstantial evidence, primarily apparent fighting injuries on some of the 15 pit bulls taken from Davis' home and equipment found there they allege is common to dog-fighting operations.

To date, no witness has come forward to testify they saw an organized dog fight at Davis' home, but prosecutors have entered nearly 200 items of physical evidence they allege is dog-fighting paraphernalia.

Davis' attorney, Gary Weiss, countered that all the equipment has legitimate uses for breeders, and two of Davis' friends have taken the stand and offered explanations for the dogs' wounds.

The story as prosecutors tell it:

On May 6, 2006, neighbors noticed a number of cars pulling up to Davis' house in a secluded, wooded neighborhood in the 3700 block of E. 48th Place. Prosecutors have portrayed the gathering as a dogfighting contest, two days after which bank records show Davis made a $2,000 deposit, possibly proceeds from hosting the fight.

Memorial Day weekend, Davis left his 15 dogs chained behind a pole barn on the property while he attended a family reunion in South Carolina. Neighbors, who admit they were not home the entire weekend, said they saw no one come to the house to feed or water the dogs that sweltering weekend.

By Friday, the stench from a rotting dog carcass wafted through the neighborhood and the dogs seemed to be barking desperately. Neighbors Glenda Majeski and her husband walked onto the property to investigate and bring food to the dogs, then called police when they saw the emaciated animals bound behind the house with heavy chains.

Lake County Sheriff's Detective Michelle Weaver walked the grounds that afternoon and found a liquefying dog carcass in the bed of a pickup truck, and what appeared to be another carcass beneath it in a plastic bag.

The live dogs chained separately on the property appeared to have bite marks, scars and injuries similar to fighting wounds.

After interviewing the neighbors, who said they had witnessed dog fights, Weaver petitioned for a warrant to search inside the buildings on the property. Once inside, she found a treadmill, alligator clips connected to an electrical cord, and training schedules leading up to "game day," as well as dog-fighting articles printed out from the Internet and copies of pit bull enthusiast magazines that reference dog fighting, as wells as 15 dogs.

Davis' friend, Wilbert Davis, arrived at the house that evening with his son, claiming he was there to care for the dogs, all of which, he said, belonged to Carlton Davis.

The story, according to the defense:

Davis is a longtime pit bull enthusiast and breeder involved in groups that train the dogs for competitions that involve towing weights, running for distance on treadmills and hanging by their teeth from ropes.

The Davises turned to Wilbert's friend Carlton Davis to take the dogs in, leaving a total of five dogs at his house, all of which show aggressive tendencies and seem to bear fighting injuries. Those five dogs and their wounds are used as evidence in the dog-fighting counts against Carlton Davis.

On the stand, the Davises also provide reasons for the other dogs' injuries, and say Davis used the alleged fighting ring as "whelping ring," which was spattered with blood when female dogs gave birth. Choking up on the witness stand, Lori Davis said she made repeated attempts to get the dogs back from the county shelter.

Prosecutor Mark Watson has pointed out the Davises did not admit to owning the dogs when first questioned by Weaver, and that their trial testimony differs from statements made in depositions before trial.

Source: Post-Tribune - April 28, 2008
Update posted on Apr 28, 2008 - 5:37PM

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Lake County animal rescue coordinator Judy Bonaventura compelled jurors Tuesday to think of the 15 pit bulls confiscated from a Calumet Township home as more than an anonymous number.

Mikey just loves to sit in someone's lap all the time, she said. And Mercedes bristled and puffed out its chest like a little tank when other dogs were nearby.

The 15 dogs were confiscated from Carlton Davis Jr.'s Calumet Township home in 2006 after its owner was accused of hosting dogfights. One dog was later euthanized because it was too aggressive, but the rest could be rehabilitated, animal control officials said.

Davis, 34, faces 15 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, eight felony counts of promotion of an animal in a fighting contest, one felony count of using an animal in a fighting contest and two other related misdemeanors for the alleged incidents.

The Gary firefighter fidgeted throughout his second day of trial Tuesday, sometimes frowning or shaking his head during testimony.

One of Davis' neighbors, a friend, a county police officer and two animal control employees testified Tuesday to what they saw outside Davis' home and inside the pole barn and shed on the property.

Davis' attorney Gary Weiss argued to suppress all evidence related to items returned on the search warrant issued for the property, including a treadmill, leash, bloody rugs, muzzle, harness, five bags of dog pieces and one bag with a deceased canine.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez denied the motion.

The dogs were taken from Davis' home May 29, 2006, after neighbors complained about the condition of the animals. Lake County police found equipment on the Gary firefighter's property that they believed to be used in dogfighting.

Weiss has said the allegations against Davis are "completely unfounded" and that he is strictly a dog breeder.

The dogs' conditions were discovered after several neighbors noticed an overpowering odor coming from the property.

"It was the strong smell of something -- something dead," neighbor Carolyn Scurlock testified.

A number of the dogs were battle-scarred and aggressive when they were rescued, Bonaventura said.

Davis' friend, Wilbert Davis, said five of the dogs belonged to him and his wife, not Carlton Davis Jr. He said his dogs were scarred and wounded because they either got loose and fought with neighborhood dogs or fought during breeding, not in dogfighting contests.

Source: The Times Online - April 23, 2008
Update posted on Apr 23, 2008 - 11:52AM

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Two years after he was first charged, Gary firefighter Carlton Davis Jr. will stand trial this week on more than two dozen counts of animal cruelty and animal fighting for allegedly running a dogfighting operation out of his Calumet Township home.

When police raided Davis' home in June 2006, they found six dog carcasses and 15 apparently fight-scarred dogs, treadmills fitted with leashes, training schedules that lead up to "game day," and what appeared to be a bloodied fighting ring. Davis, 34, petitioned to have the search declared illegal, and has maintained he was nothing more than a dog-lover who ran a small, breeding operation.

The run-up to the trial, which starts Monday, has been lengthy and at times, biz-arre.

Days after 15 dogs were confiscated from Davis' home, would-be thieves made a brazen att-empt to steal the dogs from the Lake County Sheriff's kennel, which sits a few yards from the sheriff's headquarters. Investigators later discovered a Web site marketing pit bulls with fierce "predator instinct" operated by another firefighter.

Media attention surrounding the case became somewhat intense and Judge Salvador Vasquez issued a gag order on attorneys in the case. Anti-cruelty activists have flooded Vasquez's office to protest delays in the trial.

"This is an important case," said Betty Clayton, executive director of the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana in Gary. "They think that by getting delay after delay after delay they can force it out of the public eye, and they won't prosecute it like they should."

Investigators so far have not said whether they had been contacted by anyone who witnessed an actual dogfight on the property or who had discussed dogfighting with Davis.

Fighting enthusiasts have developed pat defenses to explain legal uses for equipment prosecutors claim is fighting paraphernalia. For instance, they say apparent fighting rings aren't stained with blood from canine combatants, they are "whelping pits" where females have given birth. And, they say, the dogs aren't scarred from organized fights, just normal rough play.

Those defenses aren't always effective, said Randall Lockwood, an animal behaviorist and head of anti-cruelty initiatives for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Lockwood has helped investigators and testified in dogfighting cases for more than 20 years.

"You don't need an eyewitness to a dogfight to get a conviction. A jury has to weigh the preponderance of all the circumstantial evidence," Lockwood said. "It's almost like a predator-prey relationship, but I think we're a step ahead of the dogfighters."

If convicted, Davis could be fired from the Gary Fire Department. Since the charges were filed, he has remained on duty. Davis forfeited the dogs after he was unable to pay a $48,000 bond for their care.

Five of Davis' dogs still remain in the custody of the Lake County Sheriff, where they have been reconditioned by animal trainers to become less aggressive, said community liaison April Borda. Ten others were adopted. One, the dog prosecutors said was Davis' most vicious fighter, Nasty Boy, remained too fierce to be released and was euthanized.

Source: Post-Tribune - April 20, 2008
Update posted on Apr 20, 2008 - 2:50PM

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The trial against Gary fire-fighter and alleged dog-fighter Carlton Davis has been postponed again.

In May of 2006, officers reportedly discovered 15 pit bull dogs that appeared to have been trained for fighting at Davis' property, along with dog-fighting equipment including a treadmill, weighted harnesses and a blood-soaked carpet.

The bodies of six dead dogs were also found in plastic bags in the back of a truck.

Davis, who is reportedly still working for the Gary Fire Department, faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including dog-fighting, animal cruelty, illegal gambling, and ownership of dog-fighting paraphernalia.

It was later discovered that one of the dogs seized from the fire-fighter's property had been stolen from a Merrillville woman three years before.

The investigation also revealed a website offering pit bulls for sale, reportedly operated by another Gary firefighter.

Carlton Davis is now scheduled to go on trial April 21, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. at the Lake County Courthouse.

Source: Docket# 45G01-0606-FD-00067
Update posted on Nov 29, 2007 - 4:55PM

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Docket# 45G01-0606-FD-00067
Court Date: Friday, Sep 14, 2007: trial

Prosecutor:
Mr. Mark Watson
2293 North Main
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: 219-755-3720
Fax: 219-755-3642

Judge:
The Honorable Salvador Vasquez
Lake Superior Court
Criminal Division 1
2293 North Main
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: 219-755-3500
Fax: 219-755-3509

As of August 29, 2007: CARLTON DAVIS REMAINS EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF GARY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Chief Jeffrey Ward
Gary Fire Department
200 East 5th Avenue
Gary, IN 46402-1309
Phone: 219-881-1293
Fax: 219-882-7453
E-mail: [email protected]

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Source: Docket# 45G01-0606-FD-00067
Update posted on Sep 5, 2007 - 11:52PM

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The trial for accused dog-fighter and public employee Carlton Davis has been postponed.

Davis, who is reportedly still working for the Gary Fire Department, faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including dog-fighting, animal cruelty, illegal gambling, and ownership of dog fighting paraphernalia.

Police began their investigation into a possible dog-fighting ring after a Calumet Township resident called about what he said were starving animals and the stench of carcasses.

Officers reportedly discovered several injured, neglected, and malnourished dogs tethered on heavy chains. Dog-fighting equipment including a treadmill, weighted harnesses and an electrical prod were also reportedly seized, along with a blood-soaked carpet that was found in a barn.

The carcasses of six dead dogs were found in plastic bags in the back of a truck.

A Merrillville woman discovered one of the dogs seized from the firefighter's property had been stolen from her house three years before.

The investigation revealed a website offering pit bulls for sale, reportedly operated by another Gary firefighter.

According to reports, the site contained a statement that read "...being a Gary firefighter, I often take a dog or two to work with me for my 24-hour shift."

It is unknown if anyone else has been charged in the case.

Prosecutors allege that Davis, who has been charged with 27 felony and misdemeanor counts, had the dogs on a rigorous training schedule that led up to brutal contests at his home and throughout the area.

Davis is scheduled to go on trial September 14 at 8:30 a.m. at the Lake County Courthouse.

Source: Docket# 45G01-0606-FD-00067
Update posted on Jun 19, 2007 - 5:35PM

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Lake County Sheriff's Department officials hope for a happy ending for most of the pit bulls seized this summer in a raid of Gary firefighter Carlton Davis' alleged dog fighting operation.

The 14 pit bulls, found chained in the back yard of Davis' Calumet Township home in May, officially became property of the Sheriff's Department last month, when Davis was unable to pay a $48,000 bond for the dogs.

After six months at the county Animal Control kennel, workers hope as many as a dozen have been socialized well enough to become house pets.

All but two are likely to enter a sort of canine witness protection program. The dogs have had their names changed and will soon be sent to pit bull rescue groups in Chicago for training and eventual adoption.

Although the dogs will not immediately be available for adoption, people interested in doing so can contact Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue at (708) 258-3433.

"We will be checking with police before we let anyone adopt them," said Judy Bonaventura, rescue coordinator for Animal Control.

"We do not want these dogs to go back to the situation they came out of."

Prosecutors, who have charged Davis with 27 felony and misdemeanor counts related to dog fighting and animal cruelty, say that Davis had the dogs on a rigorous training schedule that led up to brutal contests at his home and throughout the area. The raid found at least one dead dog at the home, a blood-stained mat and treadmills.

Davis' attorney, Garry Weiss, declined to comment on the case, which is set for trial in June. Weiss has denied the allegations against Davis, noting the alleged fighting paraphernalia at the home was common to pit bull breeders.

Davis is not permitted to own any dogs under terms of his bond, and the court refused to place the dogs in the care of Davis' associates. Davis could not afford to pay the fees for care and feeding of the dogs assessed by the county, Weiss said.

"At this point, we just hope they are not euthanized and they're placed in good homes," Weiss said. "The fact that he has lost these dogs outweighs the financial loss. If he's found not guilty of these charges, he couldn't get them back at this point."

Many of the dogs had scars and open wounds from fighting, and one badly battered female had its teeth filed down, apparently to make it a less-dangerous sparring partner for more promising fighters. Since their arrival, the dogs have gained an average of 20 pounds.

The two dogs prosecutors allege were Davis' prize fighters, Chyna and Nasty Boy, are now called Lexi and Roscoe. Roscoe, a bulky 3-year-old brindle, wriggles with joy at the sight of male visitors but snarls at women, Bonaventura said. Field Officer Jim Tobin has let his 7-year-old daughter play with Lexi.

"With kids, (Lexi) is just a trip," Tobin said. "But if she sees another dog, it's like 'Game on.' I'd worry if she got in a situation where she was excited."

Most of the other dogs appear to have been used for breeding or as bait, and are far less aggressive. Charity, a female who was hiding inside a barrel in Davis' yard, is still healing from infected cuts and remains shy around humans and other animals, said Borga, her eyes tearing.

"When I think of what was done to these dogs," she said. "I just feel so terrible."

Source: Post-Tribune - Jan 12, 2007
Update posted on Jan 12, 2007 - 11:37AM

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It might be another six months until Northwest Indiana learns anything more about dog-fighting accusations against Gary firefighter Carlton Davis Jr.

A court-ordered gag on anyone involved in the case prevents prosecutors, police and even Davis' attorney from speaking publicly about it.

"I can't breathe a word," Lake County Detective Michelle Weaver said.

A jury trial for Davis has been scheduled for June 18.

He will face nine counts of promoting an animal fighting contest, two misdemeanor counts of purchasing or possessing an animal for animal fighting and 15 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Gary Fire Chief Jeff Ward said Davis is still working full-time as a Gary firefighter.

"He hasn't been convicted," Ward said.

Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez, Weaver and other officers raided Davis' home May 29 after a neighbor reported Davis' pit bulls were being neglected.

The dogs were found chained in Davis' back yard, left with only bowls of water and empty barrels for shelter.

Officers also found a treadmill, restraint devices, electric prods and a bloody carpet and border, presumably for dog fighting.

At a press conference in June, Davis said he was breeding the dogs. The blood, Davis said, was left there when his dogs gave birth.

When they searched the inside of Davis' home, police also found a hand-written training schedule leading up to "game day."

That piece of evidence has not been explained by Davis or his attorney, Garry Weiss of Merrillville.

When contacted for this story, Weiss said he could not comment because of the gag order.

Dominguez and Diane Poulton, spokeswoman for Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter, gave the same answers.

Carter, however, responded to questions about an announcement he made in June where he promised to begin a grand jury investigation into dog fighting in Lake County.

"We certainly would do so," Carter said, "upon presentation of evidence by the Sheriff's Department."

As soon as Dominguez completes his investigation, Carter said, he will bring the case before a grand jury.

"Roy Dominguez has talked to me on a number of occasions about that," Carter said.

A neighbor living near the home, who did not want to be named, said Davis moved away soon after the raid.

As for the dogs, an employee answering the phones at the Lake County animal shelter earlier this month said the dogs were still being kept there.

However, prosecutors filed a motion that same week seeking to euthanize some of the animals.

Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez took the request under advisement.

Source: Post-Tribune - Dec 26, 2006
Update posted on Dec 27, 2006 - 6:02PM

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A trial date has been set for June 18, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. in the Lake County Courthouse, located at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307.

Source: Lake County Court
Update posted on Dec 13, 2006 - 2:59PM

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An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Wednesday for the Gary firefighter accused of staging animal fights out of his home on 48th Place in Calumet Township. At the hearing, a trial date should be set for Carlton Davis Jr., charged with 15 counts of animal cruelty and seven counts of staging an animal fight.

Source: NWI Times - Dec 12, 2006
Update posted on Dec 12, 2006 - 1:59PM

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County: Lake
Docket# 45G01-0606-FD-00067
Court: December 13, 2006

Contact - Bernard A. Carter, Lake County Prosecutor�s Office
2293 N. Main St.
Crown Point, IN 46307
219) 755-3720 phone
(219) 755-3642 Fax

Update posted on Oct 15, 2006 - 9:09PM

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A city firefighter who police say ran dog fights visited several pit bulls at a local shelter so an expert could observe his behavior with the animals, the man's attorney said.

Carlton Davis Jr., 33, went to the Lake County Animal Control Shelter on Monday to play with his pit bulls. Davis was supervised by investigators and an animal handler.

Police in May seized 16 dogs from Davis' property and found six other dogs dead. Prosecutors charged Davis with felony counts of promoting or staging an animal fighting contest and buying or possessing an animal for a fighting contest.

Attorney Garry Weiss said Davis never abused the dogs. He said that if the case goes to trial, the animal expert may testify that Davis loves his pets.

Davis played with each of his dogs individually, and stayed at the shelter for about two hours, Weiss said. He declined to describe Davis' behavior with the pets.

Police on May 29 reported finding the dead pit bulls, bloody collars, a small treadmill and a six-week workout schedule on property belonging to Davis just outside Gary, police said. The live pit bulls were reported in bad condition, with injuries consistent with dog fighting, and some were dehydrated or starving, authorities said.

Source: FortWayne.Com - June 27, 2006
Update posted on Jun 28, 2006 - 9:48PM

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Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue officials tested 16 pit bulls recently rescued from a Gary firefighter's Calumet Township home to determine their temperament.

The dogs were rescued from the home of Carlton Davis Jr. on Memorial Day after neighbors called police due to concern about the dogs. Lake County police suspect some of the dogs may have been used in connection with a possible dog fighting ring. No charges have been filed.

Tracy Gibson, a board member for the breed rescue, said 14 of the 16 dogs passed the test Monday.

"I was happy," Gibson said Tuesday. "You never know what people do to these dogs."

Gibson said the Child and Pet Relief Fund contacted the rescue organization about temperament testing for the dogs.

"We wanted an outside agency to do this testing," said Judy Bonaventura, animal control rescue coordinator. "Their tests are certified."

Gibson recommended humane euthanasia for the dogs that didn't pass. She also said the recommendation was made based on the dogs' aggression toward other animals, not toward humans.

"None of the dogs were people aggressive," Bonaventura said. "They just wagged their tails."

Each dog was walked before being tested for their reactions to human contact. Gibson and the rest of the team took each dog to an enclosed area and tried to spark reactions by pulling and pinching each dog in a playful manner. Testers then fed each dog and tried to distract them in various ways to check the dogs for food aggression.

"Some of these dogs that are starved on purpose will show food aggression," Gibson said. "But none of these dogs did."

Bonaventura said the dogs' health continues to improve and that many of them should be safe to adopt when the investigation ends.

Gibson agreed and said the dogs' response to testing was phenomenal based on what they had suffered at human hands.

"They were some of the sweetest dogs you're ever going to meet," Gibson said. "With basic training, I don't see why they couldn't be put up for adoption at a later date."

Source: The Times - June 7, 2006
Update posted on Jun 16, 2006 - 9:22PM

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Lake County police are posting pictures of confiscated pit bulls on their Web site, after a Merrillville woman discovered one of the dogs seized from a Gary firefighter's property was stolen from her house three years before.

Lake County police found 16 pit bulls chained in the backyard of the home last week after a neighbor heard the starving dogs barking and realized he hadn't seen anyone on the property for more than a week.

Authorities also found six dead pit bulls, bloody collars, a small treadmill and a six-week workout schedule for the suspected dogfighting operation at the home of firefighter Carlton Davis Jr.

Source: South Bend Tribune - June 4, 2006
Update posted on Jun 16, 2006 - 9:16PM

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Charges were announced today against a Gary firefighter accused of running a dog-fighting ring from his property late last month where police found electric prods, a treadmill, medications and 16 battered pit bulls.

Lake County, Ind. officials announced a 26-count indictment against Carlton Davis Jr., 33, of the 3700 block of West 48th Place in Calumet Township during a morning news conference, Lake County sheriff's police spokesman Mike Higgins said.

Included were felony charges of promoting or staging an animal fighting contest, using an animal in a fighting contest, promoting an animal fighting contest and purchasing or possessing an animal for an animal fighting contest, he said. Davis was also charged with multiple misdemeanors and had bond set at $14,500 on the charges.

Sheriff's police began their investigation into a possible dog-fighting ring after a Calumet Township resident called about what he said were starving animals and the stench of carcasses.

Neighbor C. J. Majeski said he found dogs staked with heavy tow chains outside shelters made from 55-gallon drums. The animals looked battered and didn't have food or water, he said.

"I walked back and forth for two hours with 5 gallon buckets. My wife took over dog food and biscuits," Majeski said. "It was cruel. There was a truckful of dead dogs."

Fifteen adult pit bulls and a puppy were brought from the property, said Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez. Investigators said they also found at least six dead dogs in plastic bags.

"It's just tragic. The animals themselves, when we went there, were not aggressive to people, but when you put them near another animal, they just want to kill it," Dominguez had said. "The things they did to these animals is inhumane. This is not something our society tolerates. I know I certainly do not."

According to a release, Davis is expected to surrender to authorities this afternoon.

Source: Chicago Tribune - June 13, 2006
Update posted on Jun 13, 2006 - 12:12PM

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One of the worst cases of animal abuse recently uncovered in Indiana has led police to a disturbing Web site. The site advertises specially bred pit bulls, and some critics say it all but promotes dogfights.

The pit bull terriers were recovering at the Lake County, Indiana Animal Control Center on Friday. They were rescued Monday from a property on West 48th Place near Gary.

The resident of the home is a Gary firefighter, Carlton Davis Jr.

NBC5's Sharon Wright said the dogs were all emaciated when they were found, but very friendly, each wagging its tail at the attention. "It was like they knew that we were there to save them," said April Godra of Lake County Animal Control.

"(There were) 12 pit bulls, all adult dogs. They were found staked out on chains," said Sheriff Matt Lubarski.

Another disturbing development in the story came Thursday with the discovery of the Web site, MidwestMonster.com, reportedly operated by yet another Gary firefighter.

The site was discovered during the investigation into alleged animal abuse on Davis' property.

The Web site offered pit bull terriers for sale, and contains a statement that reads "...being a Gary firefighter, I often take a dog or two to work with me for my 24-hour shift."

Both firefighters in question are assigned to the fire station in Black Oak, a section of Gary. Wright said the Gary Fire Department is working closely with the sheriff in the investigation.

"We know that there are other individuals involved and that may include other firefighters," said Sheriff Roy Dominquez.

Charges were expected next week in what could be the first case of illegal dogfighting in Lake County, Ind., in many years.

An attorney for Davis told local media that his client denies any connections with illegal dogfighting or animal abuse.

Source: MSNBC - June 2, 2006
Update posted on Jun 8, 2006 - 6:45PM

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Authorities in Calumet Township, Ind., Wednesday prepared animal cruelty charges against a Gary firefighter suspected of fighting pit bull dogs in a barn.

Lake County Animal Control officers found 16 hungry and thirsty pit bulls in the firefighter's backyard on Monday and confiscated the animals. The dogs had been neglected and taught to fight. Officials said that all of them except for a puppy and a couple of young dogs likely would be euthanized. Some had bite marks covered with flies.

"They might not be aggressive toward humans, but because of their history, the opportunity to put them back in the community might be too risky," County Sheriff Rogelio Dominguez told the Hammond Times.

The carcasses of six dead dogs were in plastic bags in the back of a truck.

"They have been conditioned to be very aggressive toward other animals," an animal control officer told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I don't think we will be able to place most of them."

The property owner, a seven-year veteran of the Gary Fire Department, was expected to face felony charges -- including illegal gambling and ownership of dog fighting paraphernalia like electric prods -- when he returned from vacation, officials said.

Source: United Press International - May 31, 2006
Update posted on Jun 4, 2006 - 10:49PM

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References

- May 31, 2006
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Dog-fighting, neglect - 14 dogs seized, 6 deadGary, IN (US)

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Dog-fighting, neglect - 14 dogs seized, 6 dead
Gary, IN (US)