Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:20 AM EST Updated: Feb 11, 2013 5:59 PM EST
By: WECT Staff – email
Land where three dogs were found dead.
One of the dogs found chained up. (Source: Fair Bluff Police Department)
Xavier Hemingway (Source: Fair Bluff Police Department)
FAIR BLUFF, NC (WECT) – Officers with the Fair Bluff Police Department have arrested one man in connection to an animal cruelty case, and are searching for another.
According to Chief J.H. Hewett, someone called to report dog fighting in the area of Hamer Street but didn’t give any information about who was involved.
While officers were responding to a stolen property call on the same street, Hewett said several dogs were seen nearby that appeared to be mistreated.
After further inspection, the dogs appeared to have life-threatening injuries and were chained to stakes driven in the ground.
According to Hewett, Columbus County Animal Control took six bull dogs into custody. Officers also found at least three other dogs were found deceased and decomposed across the street.
Monday, Fair Bluff police received several calls from people who recently had dogs stolen. Officers tell us, they’re investigating to see if any of those dogs were some of the ones they seized. While we were at the animal control shelter, we learned people had already adopted some of the dogs.
James Earl Hemingway was arrested and charged with:
• six counts of cruelty to animals
• assault and battery
• two counts of communicating threats
• assault on a handicapped person
• attempted larceny of a motor vehicle
• two counts of possession of stolen goods
Officers are looking for Xavier Hemingway who will be charged with:
• six counts of cruelty to animals
• assault and battery
• communicating threats
• assault on a handicapped person
• attempted larceny of a motor vehicle
• two counts of possession of stolen goods
Anyone with information regarding Xavier Hemingway’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Fair Bluff Police Department at (910) 649-7323.
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