GREENVILLE, N.C.—A North Carolina man is charged with felony animal cruelty after police were alerted to a video showing him killing a turtle by kicking and jumping on it.
Greenville police said they were notified via their Facebook page about an online video that allegedly showed a man killing a turtle, adding that they received notice of the video from as far away as South Africa.
Police say that although the video was deleted, someone recorded it and sent it to investigators.
A video seen by people around the world helped Greenville Police identify and arrest a man on felony animal cruelty charges this weekend. https://t.co/bHUicMb4ay
— WNCT (@wnct9) June 4, 2019
Authorities say 20-year-old Devin Antonie Simpson was arrested within hours of the video being posted.
Simpson’s status couldn’t be determined Tuesday and a police spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
Dog Trainer Facing Animal Cruelty Charges Kills Himself
In a similar incident earlier this year, a dog trainer who was recently charged with animal cruelty was found dead by suicide in Tennessee.
Stephen Kinder died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Cleveland Police Department confirmed.
Kinder was recently arrested after an investigation concluded he abused dozens of animals, leaving them malnourished and “living in horrible conditions” at his business, Kinder Dog Training, in Cleveland, and at his home in Whitfield County, Georgia.
The initial arrest came after a woman told police her dog was seen vomiting and lost a significant amount of weight after spending time at the Tennessee business.
Abigail Eastburn said she took her English Great Dane to the center and he was 30 pounds lighter when she picked him up several weeks later. He also had a slew of health problems.
“I was heartbroken,” Eastburn told WSB-TV. “He had diarrhea, vomiting, was lethargic. He couldn’t walk. He was falling asleep standing up, and was kind of tumbling over.”
The bulk of the animals were found at his house, including 16 dogs.
“They were all 10 to 15 pounds underweight. They all had muscle mass loss and dried feces upon them,” said Diane Franklin, the director of the Whitfield County Animal Shelter.
Also found were two baby goats, two turtles, a snake, and nine ducks, along with several dead animals, the Dalton Police Department said.
After the discovery of the animals, volunteers and veterinarians worked into the night to care for them.
NEW: Abigail Eastburn says when she dropped off Duncan, her 6 month old Great Dane to Kinder Dog Training he was 95lbs (first picture). When she picked him up 7 weeks later this past Sunday, he was only 65lbs (second picture). pic.twitter.com/7f36g0Sqvx
— Kiley Thomas (@KileyThomasNews) February 5, 2019
This is a picture from when rescue groups took in the dogs from Kinder’s home in Dalton last night. Vets say they were malnourished. pic.twitter.com/D93EqdQw54
— Latricia Thomas (@LatriciaTnc9) February 8, 2019
Belgian Malinois, German shepherd, and Dogo Argentino were among the breeds of the dogs, reported Fox 5. Dalton Police Department officers said they weren’t sure what Kinder was doing with those breeds as they are often used by law enforcement.
Nonprofit Canine Pet Rescue and Happy Tails Veterinary Care in Bethlehem were among the groups and businesses working together to give the dogs health examinations and vaccinations.
NEW: The owner of Kinder Dog Training in Cleveland is charged with 4 counts of animal cruelty. I just spoke to Stephen Kinder who says he’s innocent. pic.twitter.com/SK5ZiiVcLl
— Kiley Thomas (@KileyThomasNews) February 5, 2019
The Associated Press and NTD Reporter Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
