- Tennessee, USA -
As Macon County Sheriff Mark Gammons went to a property in Lafayette to make an arrest, he was greeted by a shocking and unexpected situation.
Sheriff Gammons told WKRN that on Wednesday, October 13, he went to pick up 30-years-old JOSHUA REECE (pictured below) on a violation of probation but he was not home. Deputies then took a look around REECE’s lot of land and they saw several deceased and malnourished animals.
Sheriff Gammons told reporter Valencia Wicker: “We noticed an odor of something dead. We started finding a lot of dead chickens and roosters on the property. Some were alive. And also, we found several puppies that were manged over and in pretty bad shape.”
The deceased chickens were found in barrels while two deceased puppies were located in a shallow grave.
Later in the afternoon, deputies spotted REECE driving on a nearby highway in a black SUV, and as soon as he noticed the deputies, he tried to get away but his attempt failed, and was taken into custody.
Sheriff Gammons explained: “Had to chase him in a pursuit, 10-12 miles before he clipped the front end of two of my vehicles. We had to ease him off the side of the road on Rocky Mountain Road.”
The following day, Thursday, October 14, animal control sifted through about a half-acre of land behind REECE’s home.
Officers discovered live chickens, malnourished dogs, and animal remains.
Once inside the property, investigators found weapons and a shake and bake meth lab.
Sheriff Gammons said: “We’re still taking inventory of about 25 guns. There will be some weapons charges around the drugs and animal cruelty to the chickens, as well as to the puppies.”
REECE was arrested on seventeen charges ranging from animal cruelty, reckless driving, and evading arrest.
Investigators later revealed that REECE was selling the innocent chickens out of state for fighting.
REECE is already facing three counts of animal cruelty but the DA could file additional charges against him.
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Joshua Reece deserves nothing less that a lengthy stay in prison. No excuses, just jail him. Between the animal abuse, neglect & possibly torture Reece needs to experience similar conditions that these poor souls had to endure.