Data from an ankle monitor led to the arrest of the sixth man in a Seaford dog fighting case.
An ankle monitor led to the arrest of the sixth man who has been charged with animal cruelty and more in a Seaford dog fighting case.
The Office of Animal Welfare and state police raided a Seaford resident Jan. 8 and charged five men then.
The officers rescued 14 animals that day. One died and five required medical care. Four of the dogs have been released.
Ronnell Jacobs, 45, of Laurel was arrested Jan. 12, a OAW press release said Friday.
Jacobs was charged with two counts of owning, possessing, keeping or using an animal for the purpose of fighting and one count of being present at an animal fight, all felonies; and two counts of cruelty or neglect to animal, both misdemeanors.
Animal Welfare offers discovered information about Jacobs, who fled the scene at the time. He was under the supervision of the Department of Corrections’ Probation and Parole Office and wearing an ankle monitor the press release said.
Location data showed Jacobs was at the Lonesome Road property at the time of the dog fighting incident.
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When Jacobs was arrested, the release said, four dogs were seized. Two were found chained in the woods behind the home and had injuries consistent with dog fighting.
Two of Jacobs’ dogs required emergency veterinary care. One was determined to be unable to recover from its wounds and euthanized.
The dogs are being monitored and evaluated by Brandywine Valley SPCA medical staff.
A press release from the Office of Animal Welfare said that of the 18 rescued, three have died and two have been adopted. The other dogs continue to recover and some may be ready soon for behavioral evaluation before they are allowed to be adopted.
Jacobs is being held without bail at Sussex Correctional Institution for violation of probation, but had been released on his own recognizance on the animal charges.
Like the others arrested in the case, he was ordered to have no contact, possession or ownership of animals.
The other five men arrested are all out on $18,000 bail.
They were Samuel Foreman, 44, of Whaleyville, Maryland; Timothy Whaley, 44, of Salisbury, Maryland; Bryon Briddell, 35, of Berlin, Maryland; Kevin Land, 47 of Salisbury, Maryland or Seaford, Delaware; Glenn White, 36, of Salisbury, Maryland or Wilmington, Delaware.
Each faces the possibility of up to three years in prison for animal cruelty which is a Class F felony, and up to a 5-year sentence for animal fighting ,which is a Class E felony.
The investigation continues. Anyone with information regarding the case should contact OAW at 302-255-4646.
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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