INVESTIGATION INVOLVING ANIMAL CRUELTY

On Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 12:42 PM, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office received a call involving a domestic dispute at a residence in Hagali Township. Deputies responded to the residence and were notified by family members of a situation involving animal neglect. Subsequent investigation revealed a number of dogs living in a household occupied by two males. The home was found to be a health hazard and was consequently condemned as uninhabitable.

One of the males, James Joseph Sweeney, age 42, was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. Later that same day, another male (the owner of the residence), Michael John Bohan, age 69, was located, arrested and taken into custody. Sweeney has been charged with cruelty to animals, made a court appearance and was released from incarceration on Friday, June 19, 2009. Bohan was also charged with cruelty to animals, as well, and released from custody after appearing in court on Friday, June 19, 2009. Neither is allowed to return to the residence with the exception of caring for the dogs daily until other arrangements are made.

Additional actions were taken including notifying the MN Federated Humane Society Investigations Unit of the findings. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office is working with this organization to remove the dogs from the premises. The MN Federated Humane Society will then find homes where suitable.

Responding to the scene were the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Deputies, Chief Deputy, Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management, Beltrami County Environmental Health and the Beltrami County Nursing Service. The Blackduck Fire Department also provided breathing apparatus.

The case continues and work with the MN Federated Humane Society is taking place this week.

The photos below are of James Joseph Sweeney (R) and Michael John Bohan (L).