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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
Four men were arrested and charged with a total of 240 counts of animal cruelty, stemming from one of the largest dog-fighting busts in state history.
Arsenio Williams, 29, James Callis,31, Gary Phelps, 50 and 54-year-old Avery Bell, 54 were indicted by a Cheatham County grand jury and arrested Monday, six weeks after 60 dogs, many of which, showed signs of dog fighting, were removed from Bell's Ashland City home.
All four face 60 counts of animal cruelty, one count of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of dog fighting.
Bell, who the TBI says is the owner of the home where the dogs were found November 22nd, faces those same charges and has also been charged with setting fire to personal property and burning without a permit.
The TBI says Bell is suspected of starting a fire near his home that got out of control. The firefighters that responded found the dogs chained in the woods behind the home.
Kristin Helm, spokesperson for the TBI said the indictments are the result of a number of different agencies working together.
"It really is an amazing set of circumstances that when you find this many animals in the deplorable conditions that they were living in," Helm said. "Officials from all different areas of expertise, law enforcement, fire, animal control can come together to make sure the dogs are taken care of and the people responsible are held accountable."
Dog fighting is also a federal offense. Helms said it's unclear whether federal prosecutors will get involved.
Tuesday night, Callis and Williams were released after posting bond. Phelps and Bell were still behind bars at the Cheatham County Jail.
All four are scheduled to face a judge in Ashland City on February 11.
Arsenio Williams, 29, James Callis,31, Gary Phelps, 50 and 54-year-old Avery Bell, 54 were indicted by a Cheatham County grand jury and arrested Monday, six weeks after 60 dogs, many of which, showed signs of dog fighting, were removed from Bell's Ashland City home.
All four face 60 counts of animal cruelty, one count of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of dog fighting.
Bell, who the TBI says is the owner of the home where the dogs were found November 22nd, faces those same charges and has also been charged with setting fire to personal property and burning without a permit.
The TBI says Bell is suspected of starting a fire near his home that got out of control. The firefighters that responded found the dogs chained in the woods behind the home.
Kristin Helm, spokesperson for the TBI said the indictments are the result of a number of different agencies working together.
"It really is an amazing set of circumstances that when you find this many animals in the deplorable conditions that they were living in," Helm said. "Officials from all different areas of expertise, law enforcement, fire, animal control can come together to make sure the dogs are taken care of and the people responsible are held accountable."
Dog fighting is also a federal offense. Helms said it's unclear whether federal prosecutors will get involved.
Tuesday night, Callis and Williams were released after posting bond. Phelps and Bell were still behind bars at the Cheatham County Jail.
All four are scheduled to face a judge in Ashland City on February 11.
Wednesday, January 9 2013, 07:06 AM CST
Tennessee News
Courthouse in line for repairs, updates
May 25, 2013 15:50 GMT
MANCHESTER, Tenn. (AP) -- Officials in Coffee County are looking to update their historic courthouse instead of replacing the 141-year-old structure.
After all, they said the building is in pretty good shape. As far as repairs, it just needs some new paint and molding, as well as work to repair some water damage. But county maintenance director Robert Gilliam says the entire structure needs updating in order to make it last until the next century.
Gilliam and County Mayor David Pennington told the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/19ivpQ6 ) that officials have taken care to maintain the building and it hasn't had any major renovations in decades.
Historical society spokeswoman Joanna Lewis said the group is trying to come up with fundraising ideas for the project.
Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com
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