- Connecticut, USA -
Following a traffic stop conducted by officers with the Torrington Police Department, 40-year-old TYLER FLINT GRIMES (pictured) was placed under arrest on an active warrant stemming from an animal cruelty investigation.
According to the arrest warrant, on August 19, 2024, Goshen Animal Control Officer Graham received a phone call regarding GRIMES. ACO Graham had had dealings with him in the past when his dog named Gonzo had run away from him.
ACO Graham reached out to the Connecticut State Police and Troopers Begley and Coretto were dispatched to meet with her.
ACO Graham reported that when she arrived at GRIMES' home, the home lacked basic maintenance and that there was a strong odor of decay coming from two open doorways in the home. According to the report, it was clear that GRIMES' living situation was unsuitable for humans, and especially unsuitable for animals.
ACO Graham said that the initial room had an array of objects that were piled in heaps about waist height, and at some points higher than that.
When ACO Graham and Trooper Coretto went to the ground floor, at the bottom of the stairs they found a deceased Pitbull named Harlem estimated to be around 3 years old. Harlem was surrounded in fecal matter and he was lying in his own intestines. Draped across Harlem's neck was a cord from the curtain above him. Given the condition Harlem was found in, officers determined he had been dead for approximately a month. Harlem was malnourished with bones clearly visible under the skin. As stated in the report, Harlem likely did not die of natural causes, but rather neglect.
As officers were examining Harlem, they heard a meowing coming from a cat inside the home. ACO Graham said that when she petted the feline, named Little Cat, she “could only feel her skeletal structure”, indicating she was extremely malnourished.
In the kitchen, officers found empty cat food cans and dog food bags, and other clutter lying on the floor that was covered with feces. There was also a couch in the center of this disarray and on the couch was a Pitbull named Gonzo sitting quietly. ACO Graham said Gonzo was extremely friendly and “navigated through the room over to us.” Gonzo was malnourished, had what looked to be a tumor growing from his leg, masses across the body, and his nails were overgrown.
When ACO Graham took a statement from the caller, she learned that GRIMES had had the animals for years and had “resources available to him from the town and friends that he declined to utilize.” The caller advised ACO Graham that she told GRIMES she would take Little Cat but he refused to give her the cat or surrender the animals.
ACO Graham explained in her report that Little Cat and Gonzo were taken into “what is known as emergency custody, pending a verified petition to the court to receive permanent custody.”
Little Cat and Gonzo were examined by a veterinarian and it was determined that Gonzo had a bilateral ear infection, a skin infection, was malnourished, his nails were severely overgrown causing deformation to his feet. He also had masses across the entirety of his body and a significant wheeze. His ears were so chronically infected that one of his ear canals was closed shut.
According to the report, Gonzo's first bowel movement consisted of paper products and trash, and very little fecal matter, indicating that he had likely been primarily eating contents from the floor rather than dog food.
Little Cat was severely malnourished with prominent spine, hip, rib protrusion, and significant muscle wasting. At the kennel, Little Cat immediately drank over a cup and a half of water, to the point where staff had to slow down her drinking.
GRIMES was arrested on February 14, 2024, transferred to State Police custody and transported to Troop L in Litchfield for processing.
GRIMES was charged with three counts of cruelty to animals and bond was set at $75,000.
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from information released by the Connecticut State Police. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
GRIMES' mugshot shared from Connecticut State Police
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