Friday, April 9, 2010

Michigan: Jerome Nelson, 64, charged with felony animal cruelty in dead and starving dog case

MICHIGAN -- A Van Buren County man faces charges of animal abandonment and cruelty after police found four dead dogs and two others that were malnourished and emaciated on his property, authorities said.

Jerome Eugene Nelson, 64, was arrested Wedneday at his residence in the 16000 block of 62nd Street  and later arraigned in Van Buren County Disrict Court in South Haven, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 18, three dead beagle hounds were found along the 14000 block of 60th Street, north of Bangor, after someone reported seeing a person throw garbage bags from a vehicle into a ditch. Police opened the bags and found three dead beagle hounds.


Investigators were able to identify Nelson as the vehicle’s owner by reviewing video from a surveillance camera at a private residence.

They searched Nelson’s residence and found a fourth dead dog chained inside its dog house and two live but malnourished and emaciated dogs on the property, police said.


Nelson posted bond Wednesday and has a court date pending, according to the sheriff’s office.

Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office press release
Incident No:  1779-10 updated April 7, 2010
Suspect: Jerome Eugene Nelson, date of birth October 10, 1945
Felony Charges Authorized:  Animals Abandoning-Cruelty to 4-10 Animals. MCL 750.50(4)(c)
Investigating Deputies: Deputy Kyle Romeo, Deputy Benjamin Downey.

Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that the Van Buren County prosecutors Office has authorized Felony charges of Animal Abandoning-Cruelty against the dogs owner, Jerome Eugene Nelson.

This afternoon Van Buren County Sheriffs Deputies arrested Nelson on the signed Felony Warrant at his residence on 62nd St without incident.

Jerome Nelson has been arraigned at the 7th District Court West in South Haven on the above listed charges. Nelson was able to post bond at the court house and has a pending court date.


(MLive - April 8, 2010)

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