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MIESHA SHAWNTERIA BAXTON arrested – She left two dogs outside exposed to extreme heat, one died

- Indiana, USA -

 

The Evansville Police Department arrested 36-year-old MIESHA SHAWNTERIA BAXTON (pictured).

 

According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, police received a call on August 2, 2024, from a man who was working next door to BAXTON and saw two dogs in her backyard. The caller advised that the “dogs did not appear to have any water or shade.”

 

Officers responded to BAXTON’s home in the 1000 block of Covert Avenue and when they walked out to the backyard, they sadly found one deceased dog and another dog who was alive but in distress from the heat.

 

Animal Control was called in and the responding officers began an investigation.

 

The deceased dog was attached to a thick chain that was around his/her stomach area and then again connected to a collar around his/her neck. As stated in the release, “The dog was in direct sunlight and had no shelter to escape the heat.” Officers reported that the chain was not long and the dog could not each the “empty overturned water bowls in the yard.”

 

Animal Control Officers advised that the dog’s gums were “beet red” which would indicate he/she was suffering from symptoms of heat stroke.  Animal Control removed the deceased dog and took the live one to be examined.

 

When police questioned BAXTON about the dogs, she said she put the dogs outside the day before at approximately 7:30 p.m. and left them in the backyard because her house was infested with fleas. BAXTON claimed that she checked on the dogs throughout the night until she went to sleep and added that she gave them water the following morning at 8:30.

 

Police also talked to the caller and he said that he took a hose and sprayed the live dog with water and then filled a bucket for the dog to drink.

 

BAXTON was placed under arrest and booked into the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office on animal cruelty charges. She was released after posting a meager $500 bond.

 

The affidavit does not contain additional information about the Voiceless Victims and at the time of writing, I have not heard back from the Evansville Police Department.

 

I took the liberty of naming the deceased dog Venice for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.

 

 

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the probable cause affidavit provided to Voice For Us.

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.

  

 

BAXTON’s mugshot shared from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office





 
 
 

SCOTT ALLEN THOMPSON facing charges after ten animals found dead at a farm in Montmorency County

- Michigan, USA -

 

An investigation conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, led to the arrest of 56-year-old SCOTT ALLEN THOMPSON.

 

Back in June 2024, conservation officers showed up at THOMPSON’s family property on Thorton Road in Atlanta, with a search warrant regarding a dead horse.

 

According to the DNR’s press release, at the farm measuring more than 50-acres, officers discovered a total of ten (10) deceased animals, including: two chickens, four geese, a horse, a pig, a quail, and a rabbit.

 

The owners were ordered to properly bury the horse while the remaining nine animals were sent to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in East Lansing for necropsies. Results showed that “starvation and dehydration were the causes of death”, stated the release.

 

On July 18, 2024, THOMPSON was placed under arrest.

 

Five days later, conservation officers returned to the property with a second search warrant and as stated in the release, they were “shocked to find numerous animals starving, with no water and poor living conditions.”

 

A total of seventy-five (75) animals were removed from the farm and officers were able to take them to other facilities where the innocent souls received proper care.

Among the rescued animals were cats, eight (8) chickens, mini cows, four (4) dogs, fourteen (14) geese, two (2) goats, horses, seven (7) pigs, piglets, one (1) rabbit, fourteen (14) sheep, one (1) turkey, three (3) turtles,

 

On August 2, 2024, THOMPSON was arraigned at Montmorency County 88th District Court and pleaded not guilty to four charges, including:

 

·  One felony of failing to provide animals with adequate care.

 

·  One misdemeanor of animal cruelty.

 

·  Two misdemeanors for improper burial of dead animals.

 

THOMPSON is scheduled to return to court on August 16, 2024.

 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources advised that they are seeking a second suspect in this case.

 

Chief Jason Haines, with the DNR Law Enforcement Division, said in statement: “This is a rare situation for the DNR to get involved in, as domestic animal complaints and investigations are not our primary responsibility or focus. However, there were no other resources available. This is a very large-scale animal abuse case, and something had to be done.”

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 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.

 



 
 
 

Prince George’s County Police Department Corporal DAVID ACOSTA charged for mistreating two dogs

- Maryland, USA -

 

The Prince George’s County Police Department has charged Corporal DAVID ACOSTA (pictured), a Canine Section officer, with a total of four counts of animal cruelty stemming from the mistreatment of two dogs assigned to him.

 

An initial press release by the police, announced that ACOSTA had been charged with three counts of animal cruelty, one of which is a felony, in connection with the mistreatment of a two-year-old bloodhound named Daisy. In an update, police advised that ACOSTA is additionally facing a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty in reference to a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois named Spartacus.  

 

According to police, on July 14, 2024, the department suspended ACOSTA “for an unrelated incident.” As part of that suspension process, Daisy and Spartacus were removed by two Canine Section handlers. After the furvictims were picked up, “the handlers observed injuries related to an e-collar on Daisy’s neck. She was brought to a veterinarian for treatment. Daisy also had other medical conditions that required medical care”, stated the release.

 

The Internal Affairs Division then launched an investigation that ultimately resulted in the charges being filed against ACOSTA.

  

Police said that ACOSTA joined the Prince George’s County Police Department in 2006. He’s  currently assigned to the Special Operations Division. He will be suspended without pay.

 

Meanwhile, Daisy and Spartacus have been permanently removed from ACOSTA’s care and have been reassigned to two veteran handlers within the section. Thankfully, Daisy is fine and the police said she is back at work.

 

Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said in a statement: “This situation involving Daisy is appalling. She is a part of the PGPD family. I expect that all of our handlers treat their canine partners with the utmost care and concern. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first incident of animal mistreatment in the 60-year history of the Canine Section. We have now put new policies into place with the intention of this being both the first and last. This investigation is in the early stages and will be thorough. I too want to know how this occurred. In the meantime, I’m glad to report that Daisy is doing well and back to work. Bloodhounds play a crucial role in our agency’s service to the community, primarily with assisting in searches for missing people.”

 

This remains an active internal investigation. Anyone who has information relevant to this investigation is urged to contact the Internal Affairs Division at (301) - 516 - 5721. Thank you!

  

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Prince George’s County Police Department. 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.

  



 

 
 
 

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