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Name:
BELL, EDWARD JAMES TYLER
Date of Booking:
05/10/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
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 Monday May 5, 2025 at approximately 1415 hours I, Deputy A. Foust, was dispatched to [200 BLOCK] Tommys Trail in reference to an animal complaint.
Upon arrival, I saw a very skinny blue pit bull mix on the porch laying up against the front door. The door had bright red blood on it where the dog was laying against it. The dogs condition was extremely poor consisting of protruding bones all over the body and calluses on the skin, gaping wounds on the neck with dry, dark blood and fresh, bright red blood with pink and white flesh visible, dirty/swollen ears with greenish liquid visible, eyes leaking clear and whitish liquid, and lethargic behavior. These were clear indicators this dog is being neglected. I called for Monroe County Animal Services to be in route for the dog. The homeowner/complainant was not home and did not answer the telephone.
Animal Control Officer, Lisa Holthaus, reached out and advised she is in route and asked about the dog. Officer Holthaus advised she is familiar with the dog and provided the name Edward Tyler Bell as the owner and the address [200 BLOCK] Tommys Trail as the residence. I went to [200 BLOCK] Tommys Trail but no one answered the door and I called Mr. Bell’s telephone number with no answer.
Upon the arrival of Officer Holthaus, she inspected the dog and then loaded it in the kennel of the animal services vehicle. At this time, another dog, tan pit bull mix, came up the driveway and Officer Holthaus advised this was also a dog that lives at [200 BLOCK] Tommys Trail. She loaded the tan dog into the animal services vehicle as well and we proceeded to [200 BLOCK] Tommys Trail for animal control to leave paperwork for taking possession of the dogs.
When we arrived, Emerson Murdock (fiance of Tyler Bell) advised the tan dog is hers and the blue pit bull mix is her fiance’s. I cited Murdock for County Ordinance 4-27: Control of Dog and her tan dog was released back to her. I advised her that animal control is taking the blue pit bull mix to their office. Murdock stated they are having financial difficulty and “have been, to be honest, putting it off” taking care of the dogs condition. Murdock stated they also took in another dog approximately two weeks ago. Murdock advised they got the blue pit bull mix approximately one year ago and the dog has had trouble maintaining weight for two to three months and that she and Bell were going to try to have the dog euthanized on this Friday. I advised Murdock to have Bell contact me as soon as he arrives home from work.
At approximately 1654 hours, I was dispatched back to the residence to speak with Bell. Upon arrival, Bell stated the blue pit bull mix is his and his condition is due to old age, the dog not being able to maintain weight for the last month or so, and an ear infection. Bell stated he made the decision this week to make an appointment Friday for the dog and that the wounds on the dogs neck are from the ear infection and from scratching it. Bell advised he feeds the dog every morning and night and the dog eats his food. When asked further questions of the dogs condition, Bell and his fiance stated they had not seen the dog today. Bell also stated the dog has never had a veterinarian appointment for any reason but the dog was healthy when they took possession of the dog and stated he understands the condition of his dog is not normal. I advised Bell to contact animal control regarding his dog. Bell stated he has only been warned regarding the dogs roaming, but not the condition of the dog. Attached statements from animal control confirm a warning was given in March of 2025 regarding the dogs roaming as well as neglect.
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Officer Holthaus advised she met Bell at the veterinarian with the dog and the dog was euthanized.
[End of Narrative]