Maryland: Daughter and grandaughter of Malcolm X - Malikah Shabazz, 51, and 19-year-old Bettih Shabazz, 19 - arrested in stolen UHaul with injured pit bulls stuffed inside

MARYLAND -- The daughter and granddaughter of famed black power activist Malcolm X were arrested on charges of cruelty to animals as well as car theft, La Plata, Maryland police report.

Officials say that an off duty Prince George’s County officer became suspicious of a vehicle and called the plates in over his radio, only to discover the vehicle was reported stolen in Vermont earlier in the day.

The officer alerted authorities and a Charles County police officer spotted the U-Haul truck.

Police stopped the vehicle in a Walmart parking lot on January 25. Officers discovered 51-year-old Malikah Saban Shabazz and 19-year-old Bettih Bahiyah Shabazz inside the vehicle.

Both were arrested, Fox 5 D.C. reported.

What was inside the truck was unexpected. Investigators discovered seven pit bull terriers, some with injuries, stuffed into small cages inside the truck. 

As a result of the discovery, police charged the older of the two women with animal cruelty for the inhumane conditions inside the truck. Animal control officers removed the dogs and report they are in stable condition.

Malikah Shabazz was charged with seven counts of animal cruelty and car theft. Bettih Bahiyah Shabazz was charged only with theft.

The 51-year old Malikah Shabazz is the daughter of assassinated Muslim activist Malcolm X, whose real name was Malcolm Little but later changed to Malik el-Shabazz when he converted to Islam. She gave police an address in Stark, New Hampshire as to where she resides. Bettih Bahiyah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s granddaughter, seems to have no fixed address.

Malikah Shabazz has been in trouble with the law before. In 2011 she pleaded guilty to identity theft after amassing $55,000 in debts under the name of the widow of one of Malcolm X’s past bodyguards. She was sentenced to probation in that case, the Associated Press reported.

(Breitbart - Jan 28, 2017)

Tennessee: Misty Jones and Okey Jones plead guilty to leaving cats locked in hot Uhaul for 2 weeks during the summer

TENNESSEE -- Okey Floyd Jones, 39, has entered pleas in Harrison County Magistrate Court to five counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Magistrate Marple sentenced Jones to a total of 90 days in jail. Jones also now is precluded from any possession of animals for five years, until January of 2022.

The plea agreement was arranged by Assistant Prosecutor John Lanham and defense attorney Jonathan Fittro. In return for the guilty pleas from Jones, Lanham dismissed six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Jones and Misty Dawn Jones, 37, of Clarksburg, kept 11 cats inside a roasting-hot, feces- and urine-coated rental truck from Aug. 23 through Sept. 9, Clarksburg Patrol Officer Laura McGlone had alleged.

All cats showed signs of respiratory illness, McGlone had alleged.

Ms. Jones previously pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. A five-day jail term was imposed, but suspended for 6 months of probation.

Assistant Prosecutor Matt Hickman also was involved in presenting the investigation against the Joneses.

(The Exponent Telegram - Jan 13, 2017)

Earlier:

• Tennessee: Misty Jones and Okey Jones arrested for animal cruelty after locking cats in hot, feces and urine-filled rental truck for 2 weeks

Tennessee: Misty Jones and Okey Jones arrested for animal cruelty after locking cats in hot, feces and urine-filled rental truck for 2 weeks

TENNESSEE -- Okey Floyd Jones Jr., 39, and Misty Dawn Jones, 37, both of Clarksburg, each has been charged with 11 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Mr. Jones also has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The two kept 11 cats inside a roasting-hot, feces- and urine-coated rental truck from Aug. 23 through Sept. 9, Officer McGlone has alleged.

All cats showed signs of respiratory illness, McGlone has alleged.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jones, who has a prior conviction for daytime burglary, unlawfully kept a Remington .30-06 and a Marlin .22-caliber in a gun case inside the rental truck, McGlone has alleged.

Harrison Chief Magistrate Frank DeMarco set bond at $5,000 for Mr. Jones and $2,200 for Ms. Jones.

(The Exponent Telegram - September 15, 2016)

Deanalyn Reing, on probation for animal cruelty in Alabama, caught in Connecticut with 30 dogs locked in a hot trailer

CONNECTICUT -- The owner of an Alabama dog rescue, on probation for animal cruelty convictions in that state, was arrested here (in Connecticut) Sunday after police said she was hauling a trailer loaded with nearly 30 dogs that had no ventilation.

Deanalyn Reing, 49, who runs the Southern Dogs Rescue, was charged with cruelty to animals. She was released on a promise to appear in court pending arraignment in Superior Court on Wednesday.

Shortly after 8 p.m. state police pulled over a van with an attached box trailer on the Interstate 95 southbound overpass at South Avenue.

When police opened the trailer doors they said they found crates stacked on top of each other all containing about 30 dogs. Police said the temperature inside the van was 96 degrees.

Even though it was after 8pm at night in Connecticut, it was 96 degrees inside the trailer. Can you imagine how unbearably hot - and in complete darkness - it was inside? If she was driving from Alabama, I guarantee you she had dogs dying along the way that she just threw out.

This is the kind of van that they described. There is no way for the cab
of the vehicle to share the air conditioning with the trailer, there are
no vents or windows for air to blow through. 96 DEGREES AT 8PM! 

Police said the dogs were all panting and appeared to be in distress. They were transported to local animal hospitals.

Police said when they began to question Reing she began hyperventilating and was taken to Bridgeport Hospital. She said she had traveled from New York to Rhode Island and was heading to New Jersey when she was pulled over, police said. They said she agreed to surrender ownership of the dogs.

 

In February 2015, Reing was sentenced to two years of supervised probation, told she cannot house more than 25 dogs in her Coosa County shelter without checking with her probation officer.

In addition, Lee County Judge Chris Hughes ordered Reing to take an online class on the welfare and behavior of animals.

(CT Post - July 20, 2015)

Earlier:

• Dog rescue owner, Deanalyn Reing, convicted of animal cruelty

Dead dogs discovered inside moving truck in San Marcos; Karen and Bruce Knutson charged

TEXAS -- Two people were arrested on animal cruelty charges in San Marcos after officers discovered a moving truck with several dead dogs inside.

According to San Marcos police, officers were called to the parking lot of a grocery store at 641 E. Hopkins St. around 9 p.m. on Saturday for a complaint about multiple dogs in distress in the back of a U-Haul truck.

  

When officers arrived, they found eight dogs, two of which were already dead. Two of the dogs were in serious distress and died a short time later.

The other four dogs were also sick but they’re currently in stable condition at an area animal shelter.

Police say the dogs belonged to Karen, 51, and Bruce Knutson, 51 and the couple was driving from the Houston-area to San Marcos. Authorities say the lack of ventilation and exposure to heat caused four of the dogs to die.

Both Karen and Bruce Knutson are charged with eights counts of cruelty to animals. Court records indicate the Knutsons are from Fischer, Texas.

(KXAN - June 8, 2015)

Georgia Moody, charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty, to stand trial in Casper

WYOMING -- A 49-year-old Colorado woman will stand trial in Casper for allegedly keeping 12 malnourished dogs in a trailer.

Georgia Lynn Moody, of Livermore, Colorado, faces 13 counts of animal cruelty. Her trial date has not yet been set, but Natrona County Circuit Judge Michael Patchen said Moody will go on trial sometime in June. Moody is being represented by public defender Jared Holbrook.

Police discovered the animals Feb. 13 in a U-Haul trailer in a Fitness One parking lot in Casper. The dogs were kept inside stacked crates and were covered in urine and feces.

Officers began searching Moody's trailer after a worker at Fitness One called to say he believed there was a dog inside a trailer in the parking lot.

The trailer was attached to a Jeep Cherokee, which was packed from the floor to ceiling with items, the report states. Officers could smell urine coming from the Jeep and saw a cat inside. The cat was alive, but officers did not see any water or food for the animal.

Police detected “an overwhelming smell of rotting or decaying flesh” from the U-Haul, the report states.

Officers opened the back door of the trailer and heard dogs whining. There were 12 dogs inside four crates, stacked on top of one another. All were Siberian huskies that ranged in age from puppies to adults, according to the report.

All of the dogs appeared to be weak and malnourished.

Officers saw a puppy they believed had a broken neck. The dog was alive but unable to move. They removed the dog from the trailer and euthanized it.

The remaining 11 dogs and the cat were taken to Metro Animal Control.

Officers saw a paper inside Moody’s Jeep indicating that she had recently interviewed for a job at Olive Garden. Police went to the restaurant and arrested her. She remains in custody at the Natrona County Detention Center.

Moody is also charged with 13 counts of failing to license her animals and 13 counts of failing to immunize her animals.

(Casper Star-Tribune Online - May 13, 2015)

Earlier:

• Georgia L. Moody facing animal cruelty charges after dogs found in U-Haul

Georgia L. Moody facing animal cruelty charges after dogs found in U-Haul

WYOMING -- On Friday, February 13th at approximately 5:43 pm Casper Police Department responded to 5050 E. 2nd Street Fitness One for a report of an animal problem, according to a report in OIL CITY.

The reporting party an employee of Fitness One reported to officers that there was a red Jeep Cherokee with Colorado plates in the parking lot with a U-Haul trailer attached to it. The reporting party indicated that there might be a dog inside the trailer. Dispatch had advised the responding officers that the vehicle was on a BOLO (Be On the look Out) list from Colorado. The BOLO vehicle had been involved in a robbery of a pharmacy in Colorado and the suspect left the scene in a red Cherokee hauling a U-Haul trailer.

Upon arrival, officers observed the red Cherokee with Colorado plates packed from the floor to the ceiling with personal items. Reports indicate that it looked as though someone had been living inside the vehicle. The trailer had California plates on it and reports indicated that they were clear National Crime Information Center checks for stolen.

Casper Police officers observed a cat inside the Cherokee barely visible from the personal items. The cat did appear to be alive and moved around inside the vehicle. The vehicle had a strong odor of cat urine. The officer did not see any water or food available for the cat.

From reports, officers did not detect any sound or movement coming from the trailer, but reports state that there was an overwhelming smell of rotting or decaying flesh consistent with the smell that a deceased body, human, or animal that gives off. Officers requested other officers and Metro Animal Control to respond to the scene.

Officers decided that due to a lack of a registered owner present and the report that the trailer possibly contained a dog and a strong odor of decaying flesh, there was sufficient exigency to open the trailer and look inside.

From Casper Police Department reports, officers un-lacked the back door and raised the door several inches, just enough to get down on their hands and knees and peek inside.

Once the door was slightly opened, officers could hear what sounded like at least one dog and most likely numerous dogs, whining and crying. Officers also saw a wire type kennel crate that contained numerous dogs that appeared to be Siberian Huskies. Officers closed the door and waited for Casper Police Sergeant and Metro Animal Control to arrive.

Upon further investigation, Casper Police Sergeant Dundas was Metro Animal Control were briefed by officers about the situation and they opened the door to the trailer. Casper Police reports indicated that the scene inside the trailer could only be described as horrific. Reports indicate that there were two wire kennel crates closest to the rear of the trailer stacked on top of each other. Behind those crates were two more similarly stacked. All four crates contained Siberian huskies ranging from puppies to adult dogs.

CPD reports indicate that the top crates were so full of urine and feces that it was flowing down on top of the lower dogs.

All the dogs, totaling twelve were covered in urine and feces. There was no water of any kind present and all of the food in the crates had been ruined by the dogs' waste. CPD reports indicate that all of the dogs appeared to be weak and malnourished. All the dogs were whining and crying.

The dogs and crates were unloaded and sent with Metro Animal Control for much-needed care.

Reports indicate that officers noticed one small puppy inside the front bottom kennel lying in the bottom of the kennel. From the position of the dog's neck, officers believed that the dog had a broken neck. It was obvious to officers that the dog was gravely injured.

Reports indicate that officers moved the dog to a safe location and euthanized it.

Officers removed all four crates and secured the eleven of twelve dogs and secured them with Metro Animal Control. They then were able to unlock the vehicle and remove and secure the cat with Metro Animal Control. Reports indicate that they found no immunization records for the animals and found nothing that indicated the animals had been registered or licensed with Metro Animal Control as required by law.

Officers then checked the registration of the vehicle and learned that the vehicle was registered to 49-year-old Georgia L. Moody from Livermore, Colo. Reports indicate that a piece of paper was found in the car that indicated Moody had had a recent interview with Olive Garden Restaurant.

Officers made contact with Moody and she was arrested and taken into custody for 13 counts of animal cruelty, 13 counts of failure to license, thirteen counts of failure to immunize, and one count of running a kennel or cattery without a license.

Moody will meet for her initial appearance at the Townsend Justice Center on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Due to the fact that this case is still being investigated Metro Animal Control declined to comment on the status of the dogs and cat at this time.

(KTVQ Billings News - Feb 17, 2015)

West Tennessee Drug Task Force Arrests Two on Aggravated Animal Cruelty

TENNESSEE -- Tennessee State Trooper Brad Simpson, assigned to to the West Tennessee Drug Task Force arrested two California women during a traffic stop this morning on Interstate 40.

Trooper Simpson stopped the women in a U-Haul truck towing a minivan near mile marker forty-two at approximately 11:00 am this morning. There agents noticed 25 animals inside the minivan unattended and with no food or water. Upon further investigation, officers found over one hundred dogs and one cat locked inside the cargo compartment of the U-Haul truck.

There were a total of 128 animals located in the two vehicles. Some animals were in cages, but many were loose inside the cargo compartment. Officers noted urine and feces all over the cargo compartment and located no food or water provided to the animals.

Agents detained the driver, Bonnie Sheehan, age 55, and her passenger, Pamela A. King-McCracken, age 59, and notified Fayette County Animal Rescue.

Fayette County Animal Rescue and Collierville Animal Control, with the assistance of the Shelby County chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (ASPCA),took the animals into protective custody.

The women, who both produced California identification, told investigators that they were coming from Long Beach, CA enroute to Virgina. Both Sheehan and King-McCracken were arrested and charged with 128 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

The West Tennessee Drug Task Force is a joint agency comprised of law enforcement officers assigned from various law enforcement agencies in three of West Tennessee’s judicial districts. The judicial districts include the 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood Counties); the 29th Judicial District (Dyer and Lake Counties); and the 30th Judicial District (Shelby County).

Additionally, six agents work solely for the Task Force and not for separate law enforcement agencies.

The Task Force is administered by District Attorney GeneralGarry Brown of the 28th Judicial District; District Attorney General Phillip Bivens of the 29th Judicial District; and District Attorney General Amy Weirich of the 30th Judicial District.

(Shelby County District Attorney - January 17, 2012)

Tennessee woman, Evelyn Pool, 61, arrested in Missouri with truck full of dead and dying, sick animals

MISSOURI -- A Hendersonville, Tennessee, woman using a rented truck to haul more than 40 animals — some dead, some sick and dehydrated — was arrested yesterday near St. Louis.

Evelyn Pool, 61, was charged with four counts of animal neglect. Pool was being held in Missouri in lieu of $15,000 bond. The animals were taken to a local animal shelter there.

St. Genevieve County sheriff's officials stopped Pool about 11 a.m. after they received reports that her driving appeared to be impaired because of the load of animals.

A horrid smell wafted from the cab of the rental truck, where there were 12 dogs of different sizes and breeds, said Capt. Mark Maples of the St. Genevieve Sheriff's Department.

''When we stopped her, her clothes were soaked in urine and animal feces,'' Maples said. ''There were dead dogs under the seat that were decaying. The smell was something awful. It was not a pretty sight.''

Deputies found more than 40 dogs, along with cats, rabbits and a pet rat, in the back of the truck. The animals had no food or water, and there were up to four dogs in one small cage, they said. Several animals also were found dead in their cages, and one dog was found dead under the driver's seat of the vehicle.

A Humane Society spokeswoman in St. Louis said it was not clear what Pool was doing with the animals. She told authorities she had been evicted in Tennessee and was driving to Nevada to find work. The St. Genevieve County prosecutor's office said animal abuse and neglect charges would be filed today.

Pool left Tennessee a week ago after Hendersonville police arrested her daughter Christine Davis, 28, and charged her with two counts of child neglect. Police reportedly wanted Pool on similar charges.

Those charges are the result of the discovery that the women and two children, 3 and 8, lived with garbage everywhere and no running water at 144 Glenn Hill Drive, police said.

Police went to the women's home to serve an eviction notice, but the women were not there, said Hendersonville police Lt. Paul Harbsmeier. The officers found.

Davis, who was later apprehended, has since been released from the Sumner County Jail on $1,000 bond. Davis' two children were taken into the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.

Middle Tennessee has recently seen a handful of animal cruelty cases:

• Franklin breeder Jennifer Siliski was indicted last week on animal cruelty charges after 230 purebred dogs and cats were taken from her home Jan. 22.

• Nineteen cats were taken Janis Oberkirsch's home in La Vergne. She pleaded guilty in February to one count of animal cruelty.

• William "Terry" Davis (William Davis, Terry Davis) of Murfreesboro was forced to surrender more than 90 cats in December. He faces 48 charges of animal cruelty.

(The Tennesseean - March 17, 2004)