Most of the time it's better to have info prior and to be on the look-out rather than to hear about it after the fact. For all those dog owners, please take notice and be on the look out. Let's keep our family pet's safe from these types of situations.
FAIR BLUFF, NC (WECT) – Officers with the Fair Bluff Police Department have arrested one man in connection to an animal cruelty case, and are searching for another.
MOREAdditional Links
According to Chief J.H. Hewett, someone called to report dog fighting in the area of Hamer Street but didn't give any information about who was involved.
While officers were responding to a stolen property call on the same street, Hewett said several dogs were seen nearby that appeared to be mistreated.
After further inspection, the dogs appeared to have life-threatening injuries and were chained to stakes driven in the ground.
According to Hewett, Columbus County Animal Control took six bull dogs into custody. Officers also found at least three other dogs were found deceased and decomposed across the street.
Monday, Fair Bluff police received several calls from people who recently had dogs stolen. Officers tell us, they're investigating to see if any of those dogs were some of the ones they seized. While we were at the animal control shelter, we learned people had already adopted some of the dogs.
James Earl Hemingway was arrested and charged with:
• six counts of cruelty to animals
• assault and battery
• two counts of communicating threats
• assault on a handicapped person
• attempted larceny of a motor vehicle
• two counts of possession of stolen goods
Officers are looking for Xavier Hemingway who will be charged with:
• six counts of cruelty to animals
• assault and battery
• communicating threats
• assault on a handicapped person
• attempted larceny of a motor vehicle
• two counts of possession of stolen goods
Anyone with information regarding Xavier Hemingway's whereabouts
Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 13:42 PM.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Friday, officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department's Hickory Grove Division and Animal Care and Control Unit made arrests in a dog fighting ring in east Charlotte.
Officers said the house on Carelock Circle has several pit bulls in the backyard. When officers arrived, they reported several pit bulls were tied up with large chains that were attached to spikes driven into the ground.
Upon arrival, Animal Control officers said they located evidence consistent with training dogs for the purpose of fighting.
Officers located a total of 27 animals on the property and several of the animals had injuries consistent with dog fighting.
Both paraphernalia for dog fighting and a dog fighting arena were also discovered on the property.
Melvin Smith, 46, and Lefonze Williams, 42, were arrested and are both being charged with felony training animals with the purpose of dog fighting and baiting.
Based on the number of dogs and evidence seized at the scene, this location is one of the largest dog fighting operations the CMPD and Animal Care and Control have investigated to date.
