Man dumped bags with dead dogs in ditch

GENEVA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A Geneva Township man has been charged after police say he dumped bags containing dead dogs along the side of a road. Police also found a dead dog at his residence and two live ones that were malnourished and emaciated.

Jerome Eugene Nelson, 64, was arrested Wednesday at his residence in the 16000 block of 62nd Street after a warrant was issued. He was then arraigned on felony animal abandoning/cruely charges. He posted bond.

Someone witnessed a driver on March 18 throwing the garbage bags from a vehicle into the ditch along the 14000 block of 60th Street and drive away. The witness went over to the ditch, opened a bag and saw a dead Beagle inside. The witness got driver's license plate and called police.

Sheriff's deputies arrived and looked in the other bags and noticed two other dead Beagles inside.

Police were able to use a surveillance tape of the road belonging to a private homeowner to help them with the investigation. Police were able to identify the suspect as Nelson and went to his residence. That is where they found a fourth deceased dog chained in its doghouse.

Police found and seized the two live dogs on the property.

All six dogs were malnourished and emaciated, police say.

The live dogs were examined at the Bangor Veterinary Clinic and later taken to the Van Buren County animal control facility.