(May 2016) Louisiana: New Orleans neighborhood fights to keep roaming peacock

LOUISIANA -- For 10 years in New Orleans, a peacock named Mr. P has been roaming the Pigeon Town neighborhood.

Most neighbors enjoy his company. Others say he is a nuisance -- especially during mating season, which goes on for three months in the spring.

Neighbors told WDSU that Mr. P cries out at all hours of the day. There may be no noise ordinance violation from that, but what really has the neighbors' feathers ruffled is the damage wrought by the bird.

When Mr. P sees his reflection on vehicles parked in the area, he pecks the vehicle, thinking he is battling a romantic rival. Neighbors also told WDSU that Mr. P is causing some damage to gardens.

Animal control was called to capture the peacock, but failed. Mr. P eluded the six agents by flying onto a nearby roof.

But the majority of the neighbors love Mr. P.

Lisa Palumbo is a neighbor looking to keep Mr. P safe. Palumbo said she, along with several neighbors, contacted New Orleans City Council member Susan Guidry when animal control agents were spotted attempting to nab the bird.

After getting the call from Palumbo, Guidry got to work to keep the animal safe by pushing an ordinance that would list the neighborhood as a sanctuary for the bird. Guidry also moved to have animal control step aside.

“For the last 10 years, West Carrolton has had a few very unique residents - peacocks—in addition to an established group of parrots. While they are beloved by most of the community, residents and community groups recently approached my office with concerns that the peacocks might be removed," Guidry said in a statement.

"As New Orleans is a signatory to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Bird Treaty program, we already have 14 established bird sanctuaries in New Orleans—in neighborhoods such as Lakeview, Lakeshore, Lake Vista, Bayou St. John, the Bywater, Algiers, and in many parts of New Orleans East, including Joe Brown Park.

"In these bird sanctuaries, it is unlawful to molest, kill, trap, or hunt birds or fowl. This ordinance creates a 15th bird sanctuary in West Carrollton to provide those protections to the Carrollton peacocks and parrots, thereby preserving the unique charm and character of one of our city’s many vibrant neighborhoods.”

With Guidry's help, neighbors are working to create a fund to repair damages caused by the this hopelessly romantic bird.

A Facebook group has been created to save Mr. P.

(WDSU - May 6, 2016)

(May 2016) New Zealand: Napier woman Courtenay Fraser found guilty of assaulting animal control officer

NEW ZEALAND -- Napier woman Courtenay Fraser has been found guilty of assaulting an animal control officer during a prolonged exchange that involved a flying knife, smashing bottles and a dog being tasered multiple times.

It took a jury less than an hour to return guilty verdicts on two charges of assault against Fraser on Wednesday, at the end of a two-day trial in Napier District Court.

Earlier in the day, the jury heard Fraser, 21, say she was about "10 out of 10 on the drunk scale". She admitted she might have been verbally abusive towards Wayne Butcher, but was adamant she had not assaulted him as he claimed.

Butcher, a Napier City Council animal control officer, arrived at Fraser's Wellesley Rd home on the evening of November 24 last year after reports that occupants were sitting outside and threatening to set their pit bull mixes on dogs being walked by passersby.

He found Fraser and two men sitting on a couch outside under a tree. They said there were no dogs and became aggressive towards him.

Butcher said Fraser threw a jug of water at him then assaulted him with an empty glass bottle. She then smashed the bottle and lunged at him multiple times as he backed down the street.

He had to take evasive action and called police for help as empty bottles rained down on the road around him, Butcher said. At one stage he approached his van, but retreated after a knife was thrown at him.

By the time police arrived, Fraser had taken her dog, Caesar, and holed up in her bedroom. She did not respond to police calls over a megaphone, and officers had to enter the back door and break down her bedroom door.

The pit bull was tasered several times – Fraser said seven times – by police, who were concerned he would attack them.

Fraser, a sales assistant and event promoter, told the court she had consumed more than 20 bottles of beer over the day and was "highly intoxicated". Asked to rate her drunkenness on a scale of one to 10, she put it at 10.

She admitted throwing the jug of water over Butcher and verbally abusing him, but denied assaulting him.

She said she "freaked out" when Butcher called police, because "I thought I was going to be arrested and that they'd take Caesar".

Seeing the pit bull getting tasered was "the worst thing I've ever seen in my life". "They should never have done that to a small puppy."

Caesar survived and was later returned to Fraser.

She claimed Butcher and the police were needlessly aggressive. She and her flatmates were evicted a week after the event, because of damage at the property.

Crown lawyer Fiona Cleary told the jury it was a simple case. Fraser had been highly intoxicated and "flew into an irrational rage" that involved assaulting Butcher.

Fraser's lawyer, Scott Jefferson, said Butcher had made up his story and the Crown had produced no physical evidence of his being assaulted.

Fraser pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a bottle as a weapon, assault using a broken bottle as a weapon, and assault using a knife as a weapon. The charge involving the knife was withdrawn on Wednesday morning.

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts at 3.23pm. Fraser will be sentenced in July.

 

(Stuff NZ - May 24, 2016)

Earlier:

• New Zealand: Animal control officer tells court that pit bull owner Courtenay Fraser lunged at him with broken bottle

Georgia: Barbara Gleitsmann, 65, who was fined $18k and whose "animal rescue" was shut down by the government has now been arrested for exploiting and abusing an elderly woman

GEORGIA -- A woman who owned an animal rescue that was shut down in March 2013 has now been arrested on an elderly exploitation charge.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office said Barbara Joyce Gleitsmann, 65, was arrested on Friday accused of exploitation and intimidation of elderly persons.

An incident report states Gleitsmann was taking care of a woman named Dorothy Pringle. Pringle recently passed away and after her death her nephew said another woman noticed some of Pringle's money was missing.

According to an incident report, $50,000 was taken from Pringle without her authorization.

Pringle's nephew, James Bartley, told deputies he has copies of checks from Pringle's bank that are written to Gleitsmann and he's certain his aunt didn't authorize them. Bartley said in the report that a different woman noticed the fraud after another she took over Pringle's finances.

According to the report that was filed on February 1, 2016, Gleitsmann took the money over the course of two years.

Back in March 2013, Gleitsmann's animal shelter, CSRA Happy Tails Animal Rescue, was shut down after the Department of Agriculture found 18 violations. Those violations were found in July 2012. 

The Department of Agriculture suspended Gleitsmann's license for a year and fined her $18,000. She had the option to reapply for her license after a year, but an official with the Georgia Department of Agriculture said Monday that she never reapplied.

(WRDW - May 23, 2016)

Ohio: Matthew Woodruff, 31, pleads guilty to kicking a cat to death; gets 20 days in county jail

OHIO -- The following pled guilty or were found guilty of crimes between June 13 and June 17:

Matthew Woodruff, 31, of Wilmington, aggravated menacing and animal cruelty, sentenced 20 days jail, assessed $230 court costs.

ORIGINAL STORY (May 26, 2016):

Ohio: After kicking a cat to death, Matthew Woodruff told police the bell on the cat's collar was annoying him

A man was arrested and charged with animal cruelty Thursday morning after police say he killed a pet cat, possibly because the bell around the cat’s neck annoyed him.

Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt said that on Monday evening, May 23, police were called to a home in the 100 block of North Wright Street where Robert Dillinger, 48, of that address reported someone killed his pet cat while he was away from the house.

The responding officer found the cat to be dead, and evidence indicated it had been kicked repeatedly and violently inside the house, Reinbolt said.

Dillinger stated he had a house guest who was alone with the cat at the time of its demise, Reinbolt said, and that person was identified as Matthew Woodruff, 31, who is homeless. Witnesses were interviewed who implicated Woodruff as being responsible for the crime, Reinbolt said.

On Thursday an officer located Woodruff in Blanchester, and arrested and charged him with animal cruelty, a misdemeanor offense, Reinbolt said.

The investigating officer was not able to establish why Woodruff killed the car, although “Woodruff commented that the bell around the cat’s neck annoyed him and made a comment to officers indicating he is a user of illegal narcotics,” Reinbolt said.

“Woodruff has an extensive criminal record dating back to 2006, including arrests for contempt of court and violating probation as well as convictions for unlawful restraint, domestic violence and non-support of dependents,” Reinbolt said.

Woodruff was taken to the Clinton County Jail, where he will be held pending an appearance in Clinton County Municipal Court.

(Wilmington News Journal - June 24, 2016)

Georgia: 'It had melted her little paws': Jeffco deputy rescues stowaway kitten in car engine

GEORGIA -- When a Jefferson County sheriff's deputy stopped to help a stranded motorist on the interstate, he had no idea he was about to rescue a stowaway.

That stowaway, authorities said, was a kitten found in the engine compartment and she apparently had safely made the hours-long trek from Atlanta to Birmingham. The kitten was hot and had some small burns, but is expected to be OK.

"I don't see how anything that small can ride that long and survive,'' said Jefferson County sheriff's Deputy Tim Sanford. "It had melted her little paws."

It was about 7 p.m. Wednesday when Sanford stopped to assist a stranded motorist along I-20 just west of Leeds. The family was traveling from Atlanta back to Pickens County when they hit a pot hole and had a flat tire. Sanford offered to change the tire for them to help speed them on their way, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian.

As he worked the jack near the front tire, he spotted something darting in and out of the engine compartment, and then heard a faint cry. He had the driver open the hood and discovered the small gray and white kitten inside.

"By that time, she was screaming,'' Deputy Sanford said. "I wound up getting under the car and retrieving the kitten. As soon as I snuggled her like a baby, she calmed right down."

Sanford said the motorists didn't own a cat, and said they hadn't made any stops since they left downtown Atlanta. The deputy named the kitten Atlanta and, after getting her some food and water, dropped her off at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society where she will be cared for and put up for adoption, likely sometime next week.

The deputy said law enforcement officers never know what they'll encounter daily. "Sometimes it's just wide open,'' said Sanford, who is a K-9 handler and animal lover. "Things like this, it'll touch your heart."

"That's a remarkable kitten and I hope it finds a loving home,'' Christian said. "That deputy isn't too bad either. Awfully proud of him."

(AL.com - May 19, 2016)

Virginia: Tied to a tree and hungry, dog saved by Emporia officer

VIRGINIA -- A Boston terrier’s life has improved after a police officer rescued him from a tree, where he had been left to starve.

A lot changed for the little guy in just the past five days.

He now has a foster home and warm bed, but last Wednesday, the dog now called Marvel wasn't doing so well.

The pup was tiny and living in terrible conditions, said Emporia Police Officer Willie Richards.

"He was real thin, there was no water, the shelter was nothing but a crate on the ground, with nothing on the top or on the sides,” he said.

Officer Richards called Animal Control when he spotted the dog, who suggested asking the owner if they would sign over the dog.

"The ultimate goal is to help the dog and in our case she was willing to sign over the rights to the animal, which was better for us in the sense, because we could immediately get the dog, we could immediately get it to the vet, immediately find it a foster home."

The owner told officer Richards that she'd only had the dog about two weeks.

"Don't blame her entirely, a lot of people get dogs that they can't financially take care of anymore, so there's always issues that arise, luckily we were able to step in and intervene,” Richards said.

The leader of a local rescue group agreed.

"You do want to see charges taken out in some case but ultimately I think everyone wants what's best for the dog,” said Amanda Sverchek, of Happy Endings Animal Rescue Team, Inc. “And in this case, I think that's what he got."

(WTVR - May 30, 2016)

North Dakota: Weekend family horse-drawn wagon hayride turns tragic

NORTH DAKOTA -- A Wolford family known for its horse-drawn wagon rides is grieving after a weekend ride turned tragic.

When Landon Halvorson first saw the pickup that was approaching the wagon he and his family was riding Saturday afternoon, it was about a mile behind the hayride.

The family had just pulled out of their farmstead with a wagon pulled by two Clydesdales.

“We had Clydesdales as a hobby,” he said. “We used to tour with them. We were going to take them out for a ride.”

The family was known for its Clydesdale team and wagon

The part of North Dakota Highway 17 they were driving east on, about 1½ miles west of Wolford, is flat, but there is a gradual hill west of the family’s turnoff.

His father, 61-year-old Lyman Halvorson, pulled the wagon to the shoulder of the highway to let the pickup pass, but as the pickup drove east down a gradual hill, it didn’t appear to slow down, Landon Halvorson, 29, said.

“I kept an eye on it,” he told the Herald. “It wasn’t slowing down. It wasn’t turning on its blinker and it got closer and closer.”

When he realized the pickup was going to hit the wagon, he jumped. His 25-year-old wife, Sierra, jumped after him.

Seconds later, the three-quarter ton pickup truck driven by 75-year-old Lyle Lima of Wolford slammed into the back of the wagon, sending the other passengers flying off the hayride.

“It’s beyond something I would have ever imagined,” Landon Halvorson said. “It feels like it’s not real.”

The wagon was destroyed, said Lt. Troy Hischer, northeast regional commander for the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The Clydesdales were both killed in the crash.

Landon and Sierra Halvorson escaped injury, but the other wagon passengers, included their 4-year-old daughter, Amiyah, needed immediate medical assistance.

Amiyah was airlifted to Minot’s Trinity Hospital. She now is in Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis with severe injuries, including two broken legs and bruised lungs. Her vitals are stable, but she will need surgery to reset her legs, Landon Halvorson said. She also is being monitored for brain swelling and bleeding.

Sierra Halvorson’s parents, Bradley and Margaret Cichos, both of Rugby, N.D., also were thrown from the wagon. Margaret Cichos, 51, was first taken to Towner County Hospital in Cando, N.D., before being flown to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. She now is being treated for multiple injuries in a Minneapolis hospital, though she appears to be recovering.

Bradley Cichos, 53, died at the scene.

Lyman Halvorson, who was taken to Rolla (N.D.) Hospital before being airlifted to Trinity Hospital, is responsive but his vitals are unstable, according to a GoFundMe post set up to cover expenses for the family.

Still, he has made small improvements.

“He’s talking,” Landon Halvorson said. “He took his own breathing tube out himself (Monday) morning.”

Lyman Halvorson’s 18-year-old daughter, Kenzie, was taken to the Rugby Hospital, but she was released Saturday with a fractured foot, several cuts and a broken nose.

Lima, who the Herald could not reach for comment, was uninjured.

Highway 17 has a speed limit of 65 mph, but Lima told state troopers he wasn’t speeding, Hischer said. The gradual slope of the hill was not a factor in the crash, and there is nothing to indicate there were any visual obstructions, he added.

Horse-drawn wagons and distracted, speeding drivers can
lead to tragedy as this photo shows a wagon which
was struck by an SUV in 2012 in Casper, WY.

Lima was not on his phone and alcohol was not involved in the crash, but it’s likely he may have been looking out into a nearby field, which would have distracted him from seeing the wagon, Hischer said.

“We will be doing some more work on the truck just to confirm what he told us,” he said. “We don’t believe he was doing anything out of the ordinary other than he didn’t see the hayride.”

The crash still is under investigation, but based on the witness statements, it is likely no charges will be filed in the case, Hischer said.

“It’s just a tragic accident,” he said.

Wagons are allowed on the roadway in North Dakota, and the state does not have a minimal speed, but drivers should beware of their surroundings, including vehicles that are traveling slowly.

“We are a farming community and (drivers) need to be watching for slower-moving vehicles at all times,” Hischer said. “It’s not necessarily just about hayrides. It’s everything that can be on the road legally.”

“Slow vehicles are all over this time of year,” he added. “You close on a slow-moving vehicle so fast.”

The Halvorsons are holding up “as good as they can” for the situation they are in, Landon Halvorson said. Though there seems to be some uncertainty with how the injuries will affect Amiyah, it seems like everyone who survived the accident will recover from their injuries, he said. However, the road to recovery will be long, he added.

Several GoFundMe sites were set up Monday for the victims of the crash. By Tuesday afternoon, the Amiyah Jo page, which can be found at www.gofundme.com/272xrb8, raised $2,550. The Cichos Family Medical Fund, which will cover medical expenses for Margaret Cichos and funeral expenses for Brad Cichos, had raised $4,460 and can be found at www.gofundme.com/272mpjmg. The Halvorson Family Medical Fund at www.gofundme.com/27fug77f had raised $9,135.

(Grand Forks herald - May 31, 2016)

Illinois: Juan Zamora, 50, charged with animal neglect

ILLINOIS -- After being charged with multiple counts relating to dog fighting, Juan Zamora finds himself in trouble with the law again -- neglecting animals. Question? Why is he even allowed to have animals???

Name: Juan Zamora
DOB: 11/07/1965
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5'06"
Weight: 210 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Age at arrest: 50
Date of arrest: 05/31/2016
Arresting agency: Cook County IL
Total Bond: $15,000
Charge:

• ANIMAL OWNER DUTIES/1ST VIO (STATUTE: 510 ILCS 70/3)

70/3. Owner's duties
§ 3. Each owner shall provide for each of his animals:
(a) sufficient quantity of good quality, wholesome food and water;
(b) adequate shelter and protection from the weather;
(c) veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering; and
(d) humane care and treatment.

Earlier:

• Illinois: Juan Zamora charged with dog fighting after police find 10 pit bulls in his home

Iowa: Jerrick Rinnels, 28, accused of killing kitten by throwing it against a wall

IOWA -- Mason City police have arrested a 28-year-old man accused of throwing a kitten against a wall, killing the animal.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Jerrick Rinnels was arrested during a traffic stop Sunday afternoon, May 29, 2016, on a warrant for misdemeanor animal abuse.  Police had previously asked for help from the public to locate Rinnels, the report said.

Police say Rinnels and another resident in a Mason City house were arguing early Friday morning, May 27, when Rinnels grabbed the kitten from the resident and threw it against the wall.

The kitten died before it could be taken to a veterinarian.

Court records showed Rinnels was charged with one count of animal abuse; his bond was set at $2,000.

Jail records showed Rinnels was released from the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

(WQAD - May 31, 2016)

Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels

Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 180 lb
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Age at arrest: 28
Date of arrest: 05/29/2016
Arresting agency: Cerro Gordo County, IA
Total Bond: $2,000
Charge:

• #1 ANIMAL ABUSE (STATUTE: 717B.2) - BOND: $2,000

Date of arrest: 03/29/2016
Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels
Arresting agency: Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Total Bond: $2,300
Charges:

• #1 DRIVING WHILE BARRED (STATUTE 321.561) - BOND $2,000
• #2 THEFT/5TH DEGREE/VALUE NOT OVER $200.00 (STATUTE 714.2(5)) - BOND $300

On May 4th, Rinnels pleaded guilty to Theft in the 5th Degree. Rinnels was fined $200 plus 35% surcharge, $125 Law Enforcement Initiative, $79.99 in restitution, and $251 in costs.

Date of crime: 12/19/2014
Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels
A Mason City man charged with felony theft was fined $65 after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Jerrick S. Rinnels, 28, was charged with third-degree burglary, a Class D felony, after breaking the rear door of a residence in the 200 block of 22nd Street Southeast and stealing a subwoofer on Dec. 19, 2014, according to the criminal complaint from the Mason City Police Department.

He pleaded guilty Monday to fifth-degree theft, a simple misdemeanor.

Date of arrest: 02/14/2014
Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels
Arresting agency: Cerro Gordo County, IA
Total Bond: $300
Docket: SMSM033734
Charge: ??

United Kingdom: Firefighters rescue horse stuck on wooden gate

UNITED KINGDOM -- From the West Midlands Fire Service Facebook page:

There's always one that likes to horse around!

We're not entirely sure how our friend here got their front two legs stuck over this wooden gate in Solihull. Either way, firefighters managed to release the bolts to drop the gate and let it free in no time!

Crews from Canley Fire Station were supported by our Technical Rescue Unit to ensure a safe, swift release of the animal.

 

 

The owner of the horse was present throughout the ordeal.

If you're concerned about an animal in distress, call the RSPCA (England & Wales) first on 0300 1234 999.

(West Midlands Fire Service - May 31, 2016)

Canada: Newfoundland wildlife officers take baby moose for a ride

CANADA -- Wildlife officers had an unusual ride-along in one of their trucks after finding a baby moose under a stairwell in St. John’s, N.L.

The animal became trapped in an outdoor porch stairwell of a home in the city’s east end after getting separated from its mother.

Wildlife officers removed the moose, but police say he was too small to ride in the bed of their truck. So, he hopped into the back seat.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary joked on Twitter that officers caught the “little fella trying to break into an east end home” and then placed him in the car where “this babe is riding shotgun (well not quite).”

Police posted pictures of the moose in the stairwell and curled up at the officer’s feet in the wildlife truck, adding that the animal’s mother was not be found.

(Global news CA - May 31, 2016)

Indiana: Little fox rescued by Animal Control after falling into an open well

INDIANA -- This little fox is much better now, thanks! He and a sibling fell into an open well on an abandoned farm property, and thanks to an observant neighbor, and a fabulous Bartholomew County Animal Control Officer, he was saved.

He was lying next to his dead brother, and would have suffered the same painful fate.

Thanks. too, to Travis Anderson from City Animal Control, who dropped by to see if there was anything he could do. Utopia relies on our local animal control agencies to help us do our job.

Our fox pal was emaciated, but is very pleased to find out that the accommodations here include mice.

UPDATE (06/01/2016) - Our fox friend after rescue. Life is not that bad here, but a little guy's got a lot of adjustments! He's eating well and is more active.

In the next few days we hope to find him a friend or friends, either one will be admitted here, or through networking with other rehabilitators who may have some.

(UTOPIA Wildlife Rehabilitators - May 30, 2016)

Louisiana: Matthew LeBlanc, 23, accused of shooting, killing livestock with semi-automatic rifle in Bell City

LOUISIANA -- The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office arrested a Bell City man Sunday, suspected of shooting and killing four cows an one bull with a semi-automatic rifle.

Matthew Gilles LeBlanc (aka Matt LeBlanc), 23 (DOB 05/14/1993), was arrested on five counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, possession of drugs, possession pf drug paraphernalia and illegal carrying of weapons in the presence of drugs.

According to Kim Myers, spokesman, the sheriff's office got a call on May 23 about dead livestock in Bell City. Three livestock owners were affected.

During the investigation, detectives learned that LeBlanc had been seen in the area on an ATV on May 22.

"When the deputy questioned, LeBlanc he stated that he was shooting an AR-15 in that area," Myers said.

After further investigation, a warrant was issued for his arrest on May 29 and while serving it, deputies found LeBlanc was in possession of liquid Xanax, drug paraphernalia and a firearm.

He was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on a total bond of $92,500.

The investigation is ongoing with more charges and arrests are possible, Myers said.

(KPLC - May 31, 2016)

PREVIOUS KNOWN ARRESTS FOR MATTHEW LEBLANC:

Date of Arrest: August 6, 2013
Arresting agency: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office
Location: Calcasieu Parish, LA
Name: Matthew Gilles Leblanc
Age at arrest: 20
Gender: Male
Race: White
Address: Pecan Acres Drive, Apt. 12E
Charge: Theft over $1,500, simple burglary, possession of stolen property $500 to $1,500.

Date of Arrest: May 9, 2014
Location: Calcasieu Parish, LA
Name: Matthew G Leblanc
Gender: Male
Age at arrest: 21
Date of Birth: 05/14/1993
Race: White
Charge: ?????

Related:

• Louisiana: Conner Mier, 21, arrested in connection with livestock shot in Bell City

Texas: People, horses, cows seeking dry land in Fort Bend County

TEXAS -- A mandatory evacuation in Fort Bend County forced locals to leave their homes near the Brazos River.

Flooding caused police in Rosenberg, which is southwest of Houston, to close roads.

 

 

According to Ft. Bend County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 26 high water rescues in the area since Sunday.

These photos are from the overflowing Brazos River near Simonton toward Rosharon.

 

 

(KXAN - May 31, 2016)

Florida: Police arrest little boy's mother's boyfriend Benjamin Brown after he lied about pit bull attack

FLORIDA -- Sheriff's deputies arrested 28-year-old Benjamin Brown (aka Max Brown, Benjamin Matthew Brown) today, charging him with perjury and child neglect in connection with a dog attack on a child last week.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office now says he made-up the whole thing.

Last Thursday afternoon, they responded to a local hospital, where doctors were treating 4-year-old Avery Farmer for wounds received from a dog attack.

Originally, his mother's boyfriend, Max Brown, told authorities he picked-up Avery from his father's house, then took him to a yard sale on Allison Avenue in Panama City Beach where he claimed a pit bull attacked the child while walking back to his car.

Brown then took Avery back home to his mother, who then drove the child to the hospital.

 

 

 

  

Authorities launched a search over the weekend to find the dog for a number of reasons, including determining if the animal has rabies. However on Monday, after Avery was released from the hospital, a different story began to surface.

The boy told his father that he was "playing with puppies" when attacked.

Investigators now believe Brown picked up Avery and took him along as he visited a friend on Allison Avenue. The friend owns several large dogs, one of which recently had a litter of puppies.

They believe the boy was playing with the puppies when the mother dog attacked him. Deputies charged brown with perjury for allegedly lying to them, and child neglect for not seeking medical attention.

Bay County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Ruth Corley said there were several factors leading to the arrest.

“One, he did not call 911, and two, he did not take him to a hospital; he took him all the way to Southport. It was the mother that saw he needed help,” said Corley.

REPEAT OFFENDER
The owner gave the pit bull to Bay County Animal Control to be euthanized later this week.

They say this is not the first incident with the pit bull.

They have had two complaints about the dog this year with one of those complaints involving a bite to the leg.

FACEBOOK POSTS BY LITTLE BOY'S DAD
This is my 4 year old son, who was attacked today by a black pitbull close to the zoo on panama city beach. He is such a sweet boy. i know i have friends on here that still live on the beach. if you see any stray black dogs in this area. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!

Cody Farmer: just wanted everyone to know. we found the house where the dog was located. my son was attacked inside of a house not at a yardsale like the man who was with him said. he lied to everyone, making us search for hours on end for a dog when he knew where it was.making my son go through rabies shots. He also told.me his conscious was clear. people in this world are just sad. cops are still outside the house waiting for the owner to come home.

Angela Envy LaMorgese: Kick that guys ass. Poor kid didn't deserve this.

Cody Farmer: cops will deal with it. im calling lawyer in morning

Angela Envy LaMorgese: Good luck man, karma is going to get him one way or another.

 

 

(MyPanhandle - May 31, 2016)

Earlier:

• Florida: Four-year-old recovering from pit bull attack, authorities are looking for dog