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| Authorities Seek Court Approval to Return to Abingdon Residence Where Dead Animals Were Discovered; Second Arrest Made |
UPDATED 6:48 a-m 7/9/9 A house in Abingdon where police discovered several dead animals is now the subject of legal proceedings.
Abingdon Police Chief Fred Andrews says City Attorney Jack Ball has been working to secure a search warrant so authorities can go back inside the residence at 606 West Monmouth Street. Police arrested 28-year old Rebecca Geier last Friday on multiple animal cruelty charges and other counts after Andrews says officers discovered dead cats, dogs and other animals inside the home after responding to a domestic disturbance.
Andrews says animal remains, feces, fleas and even rats littered the house. Several more animals found alive in the home were taken away, but Andrews says they had to be euthanized because of illness. He says police want to search the residence for more animals they believe are inside - some dead - remove them and any other public health hazards and secure the property.
Andrews says the city contacted the Knox County Health Department for assistance. The department's Michelle Fishburn says officials assessed the house and gave an opinion in a letter to the city. Fishburn declined to elaborate on what the letter said.
Andrews says nobody from the health department went inside the house, and as far as he knows, the department isn't even involved in the process anymore. Fishburn says the health department was brought in as a consultant and has no jurisdiction at this point over the house, which Andrews says is toxic and will require haz-mat suits whenever authorities are allowed back in. He called the case "unchartered territory" for the police department and it's now in the hands of attorneys and the courts.
Andrews says police have arrested 31-year old Michael Geier, who is accused of striking his wife in the mouth and fleeing. Andrews says Geier turned himself in at the Abingdon police department around 9:30 Wednesday night and is preliminary charged with aggravated battery. He's being held in the Knox County Jail pending a court appearance. Andrews says additional charges are pending.
Two children living in the home were taken into protective custody and are staying with relatives.
(606 W. Monmouth St. in Abingdon. WGIL News Story and File Photo by Mike Perry.) |
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| 07 08 09 by Newsroom |
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