JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — What began as a drug investigation in Jacksonville earlier this yr ended with a person dealing with greater than a dozen animal abuse prices.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace stated deputies serving a search warrant on the suspect’s residence discovered a number of uncared for canines that have been getting used for canine preventing and a 9-foot alligator that they consider was being fed different animals on the property.
The investigation started in March after detectives acquired a tip {that a} home on the northwest facet of Jacksonville was getting used to distribute unlawful medicine. Authorities stated they discovered cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana on the residence, in addition to a number of firearms.
The resident and suspect within the investigation, 49-year-old Marquis Willaims, was arrested on a number of felony drug and weapons prices, based on the sheriff’s workplace.
Nonetheless, whereas on the residence, deputies additionally seen what they described as “canine preventing gear.” Their findings included canine preventing trophies and books on the topic.
Animal management officers continued completely looking out the property, discovering a number of canines in skyboxes and a few that have been chained up. Officers stated not one of the canines had entry to water and practically all of them have been lined in feces and fleas.
A number of the canines additionally appeared to have open wounds or accidents that have been within the technique of therapeutic, based on investigators. Different animals, together with younger raccoons and turtles, have been present in related situations.
What was much more “stunning” was a 9-foot alligator that was being saved in a small, fenced space, deputies stated. In keeping with detectives, bones scattered on the bottom contained in the enclosure indicated the alligator’s solely meals supply was different animals on the property. There was additionally no water within the cage.
The sheriff’s workplace stated a nuisance alligator wrangler with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee got here and safely eliminated the alligator from the property.
Along with the drug prices, Williams now faces greater than a dozen animal abuse prices, together with illegally possessing an alligator and selling canine preventing. He was booked into the Duval County jail for “placing lives, human and animal, in danger,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
