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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.

  



 

 
 
 

MATTHEW SCOTT NEAL, dog trainer, arrested and eleven dogs removed from his business

- North Carolina, USA -

 

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 32-year-old MATTHEW SCOTT NEAL (pictured), dog trainer at East Carolina Retrievers.

 

In a video posted on the department’s Facebook page, Sheriff Jackie Rogers said that at 12:30 a.m. of Wednesday, July 31, 2024, deputies executed a search warrant at NEAL’s residence and business on 2967 Ash Davis Road in Pink Hill.

 

Sheriff Rogers said that with the assistance of the Lenoir County Animal Control unit, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Control unit, and Duplin County Animal Control eleven (11) dogs were removed from East Carolina Retrievers and “are now in protective custody.”

 

NEAL was charged with animal cruelty in two different counties. In Lenoir County, he was hit with nine felony counts of cruelty to animals and received a $45,000 secured bond.

In Duplin County, NEAL was charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and received a $2,000 secured bond.

 

WITN News reports that the felony charges stemmed from an investigation into a video showing a “man beating a dog near a mobile kennel.”

 

According to the arrest warrants obtained by WITN News the following are the explicit details of the animal abuse allegations:

 

· Used a shock collar on a female yellow Lab type dog named Maggie “until her eyes were bloodshot.”

· “‘Punch with his hands’ and held down the shock collar remote ‘for an unreasonable amount of time’” on a male Lab type dog named Tucker.

· “Hit a puppy with a PVC ‘heeling stick’ 52 times.”

· “Choked a yellow lab type dog.”

· “Shocked a black lab type dog ‘until she vomited’.”

·“Beat ‘Tucker’ a black lab type dog.”

· “Beat ‘BoBo’ a black lab type dog.”

· “Drag and beat a Shorthair Pointer named ‘Bullet’.”

· “Shocked a black lab type dog ‘for an unreasonable amount of time’.”

 

In thanking all the agencies involved that assisted with this case, Sheriff Rogers also expressed his gratitude toward the community and said: “We would also like to thank the citizens and the incredible residents who have come forward and made statements to make today’s arrest possible.”

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and WITN News. Links included. 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.

 


NEAL’s mugshot shared from the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office






 
 
 

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