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Written by L. Chase
Published October 31, 2022 @ 10:50AM ET
Houston County (October 4, 2022) – Police were dispatched to 106 Sunnymeade Drive about an animal cruelty complaint. The complainant advised during the call that a dog had been abandoned for what she believed was several days in a house with no power or running water.
Per phone communications with the complainant who managed the property, they learned that a man identified as Adonis Thomas had been living at the residence for several months without paying rent.
The complainant said Thomas had been served eviction papers on September 30th, and there had not been power or water at the residence since the 29th. The manager said she had her son go by the house to check on the home’s condition, and he observed a large black and white pitbull in the window. The complainant then provided the police with a phone number to contact Thomas.
Police called Thomas, and when asked, Thomas said the dog was only there for today and had only left the dog there to “watch” his belongings. Thomas also admitted to not having any power or water at the residence since the 29th. Officers informed Thomas that leaving an animal in those conditions was considered animal cruelty. Thomas replied that he did not know he had broken any laws but was on his way to pick up the dog.
Officers met with the complainant at the residence, where they observed the large dog hanging its paws out of a partially open window at the front of the home. The dog seemed very friendly and excited to have human interaction.
Upon the police checking the home’s perimeter, the dog jumped out of the open window. The manager got a leash on the dog and gave it food and water. The dog ate several bowls of food and a massive bowl of water, plus two 16.9-ounce bottles of water the officer gave the dog. The dog seemed to haven’t had food or water in days.
The complainant told officers that there were not even supposed to be animals in the residence but proposed keeping the dog instead of going after Thomas for damages caused by the dog.
Police called Thomas back to check his status and notify him of this proposal, but he refused and asked if officers could contact his neighbor to watch the dog until he could get there.
Upon asking the neighbor if they knew the situation at 106 Sunnymeade, the neighbor informed an officer that they knew Thomas had been stealing power from another neighbor but did not know which neighbor.
The officer returned to the complainant to discuss the theft of power, and she showed the officer a coiled-up green extension cord lying in a flowerbed between two neighboring homes. She explained that the cord had initially been on the porch but that she had kicked it off when checking on the dog.
Officers contacted the neighbor, who told officers that her daughter-in-law had found the extension cord and removed it. Another officer had previously responded to the complaint of theft of services, for which the neighbor did want to press charges.
A short time later, Thomas arrived on the scene, and the dog became very excited as if it hadn’t seen Thomas in days. Officers arrested Thomas for cruelty to animals and theft of services. Upon searching Thomas, officers found a small plastic bag containing a green, leafy substance consistent with marijuana.
Thomas was turned over to a Houston County deputy and was transported to the jail for cruelty to animals, theft of services, and possession of marijuana less than one ounce.
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 Tuesday, October 4, 2022, I, Cpl. Howeth, responded to [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade Drive, in reference to an animal cruelty complaint.
While enroute, I made contact by phone with the complainant, [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] said she managed the residence at [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade Drive for her Aunt who is elderly. [WITNESS #1] said Adonis Thomas has been living in the residence for several months without paying rent. [WITNESS #1] said Thomas was served with eviction papers on September 30th. [WITNESS #1] further stated there has not been power or water at the residence since September 29th. [WITNESS #1] said when her son went by the residence to check on the condition, there was a large pit bull in the window at the front of the residence. [WITNESS #1] then provided me with a phone number to attempt contact with Thomas.
I made contact with Thomas on the phone. When asked, Thomas claimed the dog was only there for today and he left him there to “watch” his belongings. Thomas also admitted to there not being any power or water at the residence since September 29th. I informed Thomas that living in a residence with no running water or electricity is a violation of City Ordinances in the City of Centerville, and also leaving an animal in those conditions is considered Cruelty to Animals. Thomas advised he was not aware that he had violated any laws, but he was on his way to pick up the dog. When asked, Thomas advised he intended to have all his belongings out of the residence by Monday.
I then met with [WITNESS #1] at the residence. When I arrived on scene, the window on the front, right corner of the house, in the porch, was approximately half way in the up position. There was a large black and white pit bull standing with its front paws outside the window. Then dog was very well mannered and friendly, and I was able to tell he was excited to have human interaction. While checking the perimeter of the residence, the dog jumped out the window. [WITNESS #1] was able to get a leash on the dog and give him some food and water. I observed the dog eat several bowls of food that a neighbor had brought over very quickly, as if he had not had food in days.
I also observed the dog drink an entire large dog bowl of water, as well as 2 16.9-ounce bottles of water that I had given [WITNESS #1] from my patrol unit. While speaking with [WITNESS #1], she advised me there were not supposed to be animals in the residence. [WITNESS #1] also explained that Thomas’ mother was the tenant and moved out in May. [WITNESS #1] said Thomas stayed, however refused to sign any type of lease, and has not paid any rent since May, which is why an eviction was filed. [WITNESS #1] then asked me if she could keep the dog in return for not going after Thomas for damages the dog had caused to the residence. I explained to [WITNESS #1] that I could pass the information on to Thomas, however, that was a civil matter that I could not get involved in.
I then called Thomas back to get an ETA. I also advised Thomas of [WITNESS #1]’s proposal. [WITNESS #1] refused and advised he was waiting for a ride and asked if I could get in contact with his neighbor at [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade to watch the dog until he arrived.
When I met with the resident at [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade, she advised she could not keep the dog because her child was allergic, however, she would call another neighbor. I then asked if she was familiar with the situation at [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade and she informed me of Thomas stealing power from another neighbor. When asked, the resident at [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade was not able to tell me which neighbor.
I then returned to [WITNESS #1] and asked if she knew about the theft of power from the neighbor. [WITNESS #1] then showed me a green extension cord, which was coming out of the window on the porch and coiled up on the flower bed between [100 BLOCK] and [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade. When asked, [WITNESS #1] said the cord was on the porch when she arrived, but she kicked it off to the side when she was checking on the dog.
I then obtained contact information for [VICTIM #1], who is the resident at [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade. I was able to make contact with [VICTIM #1] by phone and then in person at her residence. When asked about the power, she said her daughter-in-law had found the extension cord and removed it. [VICTIM #1] was able to provide me with a video of the cord being removed from her front porch outlet and followed back to the window of [100 BLOCK] Sunnymeade. [VICTIM #1] also advised me that another officer had come out and made a report about the power being stolen (case # 2022-10379). When asked, [VICTIM #1] advised she did in fact want to prosecute for the theft of services.
A short time later, Thomas arrived on scene. When Thomas walked up, the dog became excited like he hadn’t seen Thomas in days. I then told Thomas to step to the side, where he was taken into custody for Cruelty to Animals and Theft of Services. Thomas was placed in double locking handcuffs, behind his back, and checked for proper fit. Thomas was then escorted to the front of my patrol unit, where he was searched incident to arrest. While searching Thomas, I found a small clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance, consistent with Marijuana in his front right pants pocket.
Thomas was then turned over to Houston County Deputy Mahome for transport to the south end jail for the charges of Cruelty to Animals, Theft of Services, and Possession of Marijuana Less than 1 oz.