Indiana: Steven Toth Jr, 21, and Joel Baldwin, 43, charged with animal cruelty after police find them with emaciated miniature horses

INDIANA -- This afternoon at 1:35, Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Byron Goodman of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division was patrolling US 41 in Sullivan County, when he stopped a white 1995 Ford pickup pulling a homemade enclosed trailer on US 41 near State Road 54. The stop was for a routine Department of Transportation (DOT) inspection of the driver, truck, trailer and cargo.

During the inspection, the trailer was found to contain (2) two miniature horses, one male and one female. The animals appeared emaciated and in general poor health, in addition to no water, food or sufficient air flow through the trailer. 

Sullivan County Humane Society was called to the scene to assist the ISP. Humane Society workers Rachel Clark and Tina Baker took custody of the animals and transported them to the Sullivan County Animal Hospital for treatment. The mini-horses remain in the custody of the Sullivan County Humane Society until further notice.

Arrested Driver:  Steven Toth Jr. age 21, of Davie, Florida
Charges:  (2) counts Neglect of a Vertebrae Animal, A misdemeanor
Sullivan County Jail

Arrested Passenger: Joel Baldwin, age 43, Homeless (no physical address)
Charges:  Same
Sullivan County Jail

In addition to the criminal charges, Senior Trooper Goodman issued numerous traffic citations for Federal Motor Carrier Safety violations, such as no log book, overloaded trailer tires, and no break-away trailer brake to name a few. The driver, vehicle, and trailer were all placed out of service with the pickup truck and trailer impounded.

The carnival workers were employed by Modern Midways Carnival of Miami, Florida. The employees and horses were en-route from Chadsworth, Georgia to Chicago, Illinois.

(Columbuzz.net - May 19, 2014)