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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Apr 152 min read

JULIE ANN HICKS arrested for abandoning two dogs at a condemned residence

- Indiana, USA -

 

The Columbia City Police Department arrested 42-years-old JULIE ANN HICKS (pictured).

 

According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on the afternoon of March 8, 2024, Officer Hershberger responded to a home on 1331 E. Louise Drive to investigate a possible animal neglect case.

 

Officer Hershberger reported that “the shades on the windows were all pulled shut” and that he could hear dogs barking. He knocked on the door several times but no one answered.

 

The officer then asked dispatch for a contact number associated with the residence but attempts to contact the property owner were unsuccessful.

 

While Officer Hershberger was still at the home, a neighbor told him that she believed that HICKS had moved out and was living in Fort Wayne.

The neighbor also told Officer Hershberger that someone came to the home once every one to two weeks and believed she last saw someone at the home on March 3, 2024.

 

After speaking with a few more neighbors, Officer Hershberger was able to obtain a phone number for HICKS.

The officer then consulted with Prosecutor John Kitch regarding a request for a search warrant which was granted by Judge Matthew Rentschler.

When Officer Hershberger entered the home, he found large amounts of dog feces throughout the residence. Two dogs were found inside the home a female and a male.

Two large bowls believed to be for dog food were “completely dry.”

 

The dogs are now in the care of the Whitley County Humane Society. I have emailed the organization and requested additional information about the Voiceless Victims. If I get a response, I will post an update.

 

Due to the condition the home was in, Whitley County’s Health Department deemed the property condemned.

 

HICKS was arrested on April 4, 2024, and booked into the Whitley County Jail on two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Court records show that HICKS will be back at Whitley Superior Court on the morning of Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 10:20 before Judge Douglas M. Fahl.

 

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the Probable Cause Affidavit provided to Voice For Us.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 




 

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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Oct 19, 20233 min read

DALE P. HITEMAN, horse trainer, charged with cruelty to an animal - Video showed him whipping a mare

- Indiana, USA -


The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office announced that on October 17, 2023, 67-years-old DALE P. HITEMAN was formally charged with one count of cruelty to an animal.


The charge stems from an incident that took place on June 1, 2023, at the horse track Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson.

HITEMAN was captured whipping his 2-year-old mare named Princess Laa in her stall multiple times.


In the press release obtained by Voice For Us, the prosecutor’s office said: “A person who knowingly or intentionally abuses a vertebrate animal commits cruelty to an animal, a class A misdemeanor.”

The press release goes on to say that “abuse” is defined as “knowingly or intentionally beat, torment, injure, or otherwise harm an animal.”


According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on September 28, 2023, Prosecutor Investigator Callahan received information that someone had posted a video on YouTube showing a horse who was being struck with a whip multiple times in her stall. Callahan then talked to Hoosier Park Investigator McCallister who advised that he had already investigated the incident and identified HITEMAN as Princess Laa's guardian and trainer.


McCallister told Callahan that he reviewed the video and recounted what the footage showed. HITEMAN “can be seen placing a bridal and other equipment onto the head of the horse Princess Laa. The horse appears not to like what is being done so she flails herself up and falls to the ground in the back corner of the stall. She fell with her head into the back corner and her body diagonal outward; however, somewhat in a slight curly position.”


The affidavit also said that HITEMAN then can be seen immediately grabbing a lead and striking Princess Laa. “He struck her several times in the body and the last few strikes were to the head”, stated the affidavit. Once HITEMAN stopped whipping the defenseless mare, she was able to get up and at that point he put the damn equipment on her and took her out of the stall.


A woman who had been working with HITEMAN for two weeks, witnessed the despicable abuse and gave McCallister a verbal statement of what she saw. The woman then quit as a result of the incident.


Amanda Wilson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, examined Princess Laa and reported that “she did not observe any scrapes, cuts, welts, or other signs of physical abuse over the head, neck, body, hind end, or legs. It was her opinion there was no evidence of external or mental trauma to the horse.”


A different DVM, Lexi Webster, wrote in an email to investigators: “I do not see that this animal is either about to cause harm to itself or the handler prior to the handler striking it, and in my opinion, striking it in the face/head/neck is not appropriate and the handler is knowingly beating the animal without good cause.”


Callahan interviewed HITEMAN on October 11, 2023, and showed him the video in question.

HITEMAN has not been arrested yet. At this time of writing, court records do not list a court date for HITEMAN.


I have emailed the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office to inquire about Princess Laa’s wellbeing and see whether she has been removed. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Hanna responded: “The rules we operate under prohibit us from sharing anything further.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



Additional Sources:





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Writer's picturevoiceforus
Sep 28, 20232 min read

JOHN THOMAS KAISER arrested for hurting two dogs, injuring his wife, and police officers

- Indiana, USA -


On the night of Sunday, September 24, 2023, officers with the Evansville Police Department responded to a domestic violence call at a property on Taylor Avenue.


According to the police report obtained by Voice For Us, a woman had called stating “he has been hitting her” then disconnected. Central dispatch reported that number had called in twice and disconnected. The woman was able at one point to report that the male “had been drinking and hurting the dogs as well.”


Upon arrival, officers made contact with the woman outside the residence. She told officers that her husband, 48-years-old JOHN THOMAS KAISER (pictured), had come back home intoxicated from a friend's house and while they were in the living room watching TV, he became angry over a show and began a verbal argument. As Mrs. Kaiser started packing some stuff so she could leave, he started hitting and kicking one of the two dogs, a male Chow Chow named Harry. Despite the horrifying situation Mrs. Kaiser was facing, her priority was the well-being of those Voiceless Victims. As she attempted to get the dogs out of the home, KAISER "shoved her in the kitchen and began hitting her with a closed fist on her face", stated the report.


While Mrs. Kaiser was being beaten, she was able to get the dogs out of the home and put them in her van. Unfortunately, during the altercation, she dropped the keys and KAISER refused to give them to her.


According to the report, Mrs. Kaiser sustained several injuries. "Officers did not observe visible injuries to the dogs; however, they are very long haired canines and it would have been difficult to observe injury", stated the report. Furthermore, both furbabies were "visibly upset" and could not be evaluated by officers on the scene.


The report does not mention whether the dogs were later examined by a veterinarian and the Evansville Police Department does not have this information.


Before officers struggled to handcuff KAISER, he threw a metal dog food/water bowl at the officers. He was extremely uncooperative. Officers also sustained injuries as a result of KAISER's aggressive behavior.


KAISER is charged with animal cruelty, domestic battery and two counts of resisting law enforcement.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from an official police report.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such source report an update.



KAISER’s mugshot provided to Voice or Us by the Evansville Police Department.





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