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Written by: E. George
Published December 6, 2024 @ 12:00 PM ET
Warning: The following report describes alleged violence against animals.
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities arrested a 35-year-old Savannah man on November 9, 2024, after reports of animal abuse led them to uncover a gruesome dogfighting operation at a Walton Street residence. Isaiah Nicholas Goodman faces a plethora of charges consisting of six felonies and two misdemeanors.
On July 4th, 2020, Garden City Police arrested Goodman and charged him with the murder of Michael Peguese. Goodman was out on bond and awaiting trial when he was arrested on animal cruelty charges in this case.
Goodman is charged with 12 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, nine felony counts of dog fighting, and six felony aggravated animal cruelty counts when Savannah Police officers and Chatham County animal control officers rescued 28 dogs from horrific, inhumane living conditions. Reports indicated that Goodman was a repeat offender and known to be “extremely uncooperative” and “hostile” toward law enforcement and animal control.
Upon arrival, the suspect refused the officers entry onto his property and told them to get a warrant. They later discovered that what Goodman believed to be his property was, in fact, not; it belonged to a man who allowed them access via the dead-end roadway.
As soon as they entered the brush, they observed overwhelming evidence of deplorable and torturous conditions. They began rescuing and removing the canines immediately, although many collars required bolt cutters.
Officers saw cages and kennels filled with mounds of fecal matter and piles of steel cable often used to create “run lines” to limit the dogs’ mobility. They also spotted what animal control officers described as “flirt toys,” which contain loops that wrap around the dogs’ necks, forcing them to repeatedly jump up and down to strengthen their legs for dog fighting.
Towards the rear of the property, they saw various makeshift structures and coups and a myriad of dogs tethered to numerous objects spaced evenly apart. Most appeared severely emaciated, had no access to food or water, and were in dire need of medical assistance.
One dog displayed a visible spinal injury consistent with dog fighting, while others bore terrible scars and wounds. Animal control informed the police officers that the numerous motor oil cans strewn about the yard were there because oil is often used to treat mange in dogfighting circles.
Many of the dogs were “infested with ringworm and fleas.” One officer noted, “The tiny area in which they were kept was littered with fecal matter, appearing as if no effort was ever made to give the dogs a sanitary condition in which to live.”
A few canines had makeshift protection from the elements, but the majority had none; the officer noted that the current temperature was over 90 degrees. Four puppies were crammed into a small chicken coup-like space with no more than a 3×3 square-foot area to move.
An adult dog was “jammed into a similar space” beside the puppies. “Fecal matter littered the floor,” and the area reeked heavily of urine and feces.
Next, they discovered the “fighting pit,” which measured approximately 10×10 square feet. They noted that these pits are usually quickly and easily broken down to be concealed from authorities.
Authorities heard sounds and realized a dog was trapped in a nearby sweltering shed without air conditioning, windows, or airflow. Once they received a search warrant, they freed the small puppy, which was stuck in a pile of lawn equipment and rubble.
A female with two young children arrived and identified herself as the suspect’s sister and another resident of the home. She provided the officers with her key “but was otherwise combative and uncooperative.”
While searching the home, they discovered a dog locked inside a bathroom, suffering from injuries from an apparent recent fight. The dog had visible wounds to its snout and stomach, including severe bruising/redness and swelling.
Animal control personnel explained that the injuries indicated that the dog had been forced to fight within the last 24 hours. They saw fecal matter covering the floor and piles of the dog’s fur near a set of electric shears.
The animal control officers said the shearing “was most likely in an attempt to be able to better mend the dog of its injuries, allowing Mr. Goodman to force it to fight once again.” Authorities photographed all the dogs, their injuries, living conditions, the pit, and all other evidence.
One officer wrote, “The conditions and treatment of the animals by Mr. Goodman was vile and inhumane in every aspect.” Animal control retrieved and took custody of all canines found on the premises.
While on the scene, an officer called Goodman, who “showed no concern about the animals or their well-being/seizure.” The officer noted that Goodman yelled at him for denying his sister entry into the home and executing a search warrant.
He told the officer he was planning on suing for them being on his property and refused to come home to meet with them, saying he was at work until 6:00.
Additonally, a previous case involved the seizure and rescue of 13 dogs from the suspect in 2017 for mistreatment and abuse.
The investigation is ongoing.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On September 4th, 2024, at 14:45 hours, I responded to [4100 BLOCK] Walton Street regarding an animal abuse call.
Upon arrival, I met with multiple Chatham County animal control officers. They advised they had repeated issues with the property and the resident at the location identified as Isaiah Goodman.
It should be noted I have previously responded to the residence and dealt with Mr. Goodman. In my prior contacts, animal control advised Mr. Goodman had a history of abuse keeping a large amount of dogs behind his home, unlawfully breeding them, and keeping them tethered on short chains in poor conditions. Additionally, animal control stated they believed his backyard to be a “puppy mill” where he was training the dogs for illicit purpose of dog fighting. While there during my first contact with Mr. Goodman at the residence I could hear what sounded to be 10-20 dogs consistently barking from the rear of the residence.
Mr. Goodman would not allow animal control officers to go to his backyard to check the welfare of the dogs and their living conditions telling us to “get a warrant.” He advised he had only 10 dogs and they were kept in good condition. He refused our entry stating animal control had taken the dogs in the past and “killed them.” As I had no legal cause to make entry onto his property without consent, I ended my contact with him. It should be noted Goodman has demonstrated a pattern of behavior abusing animals, as shown in a previous case in 2017 in which he had 13 dogs seized by animal control for mistreatment and abuse (CRN: 170518167).
Animal control informed me through SAGIS records the plot directly behind Mr. Goodman’s house was not actually his property and belonged to a Mr. [REDACTED]. Mr. Goodman’s property only extends 10-20 feet from the back of his home. Animal control contacted Mr. [REDACTED] who confirmed the property behind Mr. Goodman’s residence belonged to him. Mr. [REDACTED] gave consent for them to go onto his property and remove any dogs or enclosures found on it. Officers were able to access the property by walking the easement from the dead-end lane of Mitchell Street never once setting foot on any property belonging to Mr. Goodman.
In the woods, animal control were now able to view the property that Mr. Goodman BELIEVED belonged to him. On this property, they observed NUMEROUS dogs chained around the neck attached to poles, trees, and tethers living in AWFUL AND INHUMANE conditions. Given this was in violation of City Ordinance 22-106A, they determined the dogs needed to be removed for their welfare and requested police assistance as Mr. Goodman was known to be EXTREMELY uncooperative and HOSTILE towards animal control officers.
Cpl. Floyd, Lt. Henderson, and I arrived on scene and attempted to make contact with Mr. Goodman at the front door of his residence to inform him the dogs were being seized and an animal cruelty investigation was now underway. Multiple announcements were made by animal services however we received no answer.
At the front door of the residence, two cages/kennels were observed with mounds of fecal matter inside them. Trash and various items were thrown throughout the property. At the side of the house, I observed mounds of steel cable that in my experience is often used to tether dogs or create “run lines” to chain dogs to to limit their mobility. Animal control officers pointed out an approximate five-foot piece of PVC piping on top of one of the cages at the front of the home. Through this piping, a rope was run creating a loop on the opposite end. They informed me in their expert opinion this device was something they knew to be a “flirt toy.” They advised the device is often used by wrapping the loop around a dog’s neck and forcing them to repeatedly jump up and down to build strength in their legs for the purposes of dog fighting.
Walking to the back of the property I observed various makeshift structures built with scrap wood and numerous cages/coups. Dogs were chained to various objects appearing evenly spaced to not be able to come into contact with one another. In total 25 dogs were being kept chained to objects or kept inside disgusting and inhumane coups/cages.
Observing some of the individual dogs in particular the majority appeared emaciated and being cared for with MINIMAL effort. I observed 3-4 dogs that displayed visible and grotesque scarring on their bodies indicating the dogs had possibly been injured during fights. Officer Decker located a dog with visible injury to its rear being a disfigured form. Animal control Officers advised him the dog appeared to have a severe spinal injury that through their experience is consistent with an injury obtained during illicit dog fighting. Only some of the dogs had water bowls with other having none visible. Two of the dogs I observed with bowls did not contain any water. I noted there were numerous empty motor oil containers laying around the property. Animal control Officers infromed me that motor oil is often used in illicit dog breeding operations to rub onto dogs as its more cost effective and less attention drawing method to treat mange in dogs. Animal control also stated numerous dogs were clearly not getting proper vaccines as they apepared to be infested with ringworm and fleas.
The 3-5 foot areas in which the dogs were able to actually freely move was eroded in a circular form approximately a foot deep indicating the dogs had been chained there in those inhumane condition for a SIGNIFICANT amount of time. The tiny area in which they were kept was littered with fecal matter appearing as if no effort was ever made to give the dogs a sanitary condition in which to live. Some of the dogs were provided with a form of shelter protecting them from the elements. This shelter consisted of mostly half-cut rain barrels toppled on their side. It should be noted it was over 90 degrees out and the large majority of the dogs did not have adequate shelter to shield them from the elements.
Observing a specific structure at the south end of the property I observed four puppies jammed into a small chicken coup-like space giving them no more than 3×3 to run. Next to this was another adult dog jammed into a similar space. Fecal matter littered the floor of these structures and they stunk HEAVILY of urine. The animals were unwashed and unkempt smelling heavily of their own feces.
Animal control officers on scene advised everything they observed was indicative of illegal dog breeding for the purposes of dog fighting. They began to search for Mr. Goodman’s “fighting pit.” They advised a fighting pit in their experience is usually a circular or square structure that can often be collapsed down for the purposes of concealing it from law enforcement and animal control. The structure is erected and dogs are put within it to fight to the death in a contained environment often for betting purposes.
Animal control officers located the “fighting pit” at the far east end of the property utilizing a trail concealed it in the woodline. Observing this “fighting pit” it was consistent in nature with everything animal control officers had described. It consisted of seven plywood sheets arranged in a square shape laying on the ground leaving an approximate 10×10 space in the middle. The sheets were laid down concealed by the vegetation consistent with what Animal control officers advised occurs when attempting to hide the pit. (Photo of the “pit” has been uploaded to Evidence.com).
Assisting Officers and I began to assist animal control with the rescue and removal of the dogs from the property. It should be noted, while attempting to remove the dogs the majority of the collars and chains they were bound with could not be removed by hand forcing us to use bolt cutters.
While removing the animals movement was heard from the shed in the rear of Mr. Goodman’s yard. Animal control officers determined there was another dog locked within it. Again, it should be noted it was over 90 degrees outside and Mr. Goodman had locked the dog in a structure with no air conditioning, windows, or airflow.
Officer Decker and I made the determination Mr. Goodman’s residence needed to be secured pending a search warrant to look for additional evidence of Mr. Goodman’s Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (OCGA 16-12-4). The search warrant was additionally secured to rescue the dog(s) trapped in the shed at the rear of Mr. Goodman’s residence.
The residence was secured while Officer Decker secured the search warrant. The warrant was signed by the honorable Judge Huffman at 17:10 hours to conduct a search of the residence and structures on the curtilage.
While awaiting the printing of the search warrant a female arrived on scene with two small children. The female would later be identified as Ms. [WITNESS #1], sister of Mr. Goodman and also a resident of the home. Ms. [WITNESS #1] provided us with her key to make entry but was otherwise combative and unccoperative. Once unlocked a security sweep of the building was conducted to determine it was unoccupied.
While conducting a sweep of the master bedroom on the Alpha/Bravo corner of the residence I located another dog locked within the bathroom. It was secured inside until the rest of the building could be checked. The structure was found to be unoccupied. Officer Decker began the search for items of evidentiary value. I assisted animal control with the removal of the dog.
Once removed it was observed the dog had visible injuries to its snout and stomach including severe bruising/redness and swelling. Animal control Officers stated the dog’s injuries were indicative that Mr. Goodman had forced it to fight within the last 24 hours. Observing the bathroom it was kept in I saw fecal matter covering the floor and piles of the dog’s hair next to a set of electric shears/razors. The animal control officers stated the shearing of the dog’s hair was most likely in an attempt to be able to better mend the dog of its injuries allowing Mr. Goodman to force it to fight once again. Photos of the dogs injuries were uploaded to Evidence.com.
Officer Decker searched the residence and located multiple items of evidentiary value. I went to the rear of the property with animal control officers to search the shed and recover the trapped dog.
Inside this sweltering dark shed was not just another dog but a puppy no older than 6 months trapped in a pile of rubble/law equipment The dogs were recovered and animal control assumed custody.
Photos of Mr. Goodmans property, residence, and the conditions he was forcing the animals to live in have all been uploaded to Evidence.com
In total Mr. Goodman had 28 dogs being kept in cruel and unusual conditions with clear indicators of abuse, neglect, and illicit dog fighting. The conditions and treatment of the animals by Mr. Goodman was vile and inhumane in every aspect. Animal control took custody of all 28 dogs.
While on scene Ms. [WITNESS #1] contacted Mr. Goodman by phone and requested I speak with him. Mr. Goodman showed no concern about the animals or their well-being/seizure. He simply yelled at me for denying his sister entry into the home due to the execution of the search warrant and continued to yell that he was going to sue me for being on his property. At no point during his yelling fit did he raise concern about the seizure of the dogs or their condition. He refused to come to the residence stating he was at work and did not get off until six.
[End of Narrative]