Vick's name on evidence collected in Va. probe
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/21/07
Three envelopes addressed to "M. Vick" were seized under the authority of a search warrant executed on the Virginia property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, according to documents obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Also seized was a black 3-ring binder containing "contracts" or copies of contracts.
According to a warrant, police were searching for and could seize "information related to dogfighting, registration papers, other written materials showing ownership of pitbull terrier dogs or other fighting dogs including bills of sale, pedigrees, breeding records and veterinary records; any dog fighting records including name and telephone numbers lists of person suspected of being dog fighters."
A copy of the search warrant, affidavit and the inventory list of evidence collected by the Surry County (Va.) Sheriff's department were obtained by the AJC in a records request filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
The information was received by the AJC on the same day the prosecutor, law enforcement officials and investigators met for two hours to review the evidence in the month-old case. All declined comment but commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter and Sheriff Harold Brown issued a joint statement saying: "At this time, the investigation continues. We have no further comment."
Poindexter said last week that if charges were filed it could take several weeks.
The contents, if any, of the envelopes and the nature of the contracts were not indicated in the documents.
The total list of items seized from Vick's property also included: Cat mill, Jenny mills, carpet mill/stand, treadmills/electric/modified for dogs (all used for condititon dogs to fight), a rape stand (used for breeding), assorted dietary suppliments, weight pull harness, three wooden slat mills, all animals/breeder certification and kennel documents, four stainless kennels, dog food/Black Gold, chains and collars, assorted medicines and a weight scale.
Among the nearly 70 dogs discovered at the property, which police were called to initially in a drug investigation involving Vick's cousin Davon Boddie, were five dogs with scars and other injuries.
According to the affidavit, which Surry County animal control officer James Smith was affiant, three heavily scarred pit bull type dogs were seized: "The scars were distributed over the faces, head, ears, chest and front legs of the dogs."
One dog with old scarring and recent lacerations on the chest and front legs was discovered and in need of immediate veterinary care. According to the documents: "The dog also had what appears to be an injury to the front leg causing swelling and the leg to bend at an unnatural angle."
One dog with old scarring and recent lacerations on the chest and front legs that "required medical aid to prevent suffering."
Documents indicate that Smith recently completed a basic animal control academy which including a class on dogfighting investigation. He called in Kathy Strouse, of the Virginian Animal Control Association, to help with the investigation.
Strouse told the AJC last week: "Let me be very, very clear: There's no doubt in my mind that this was a dogfighting operation.":SIB
According to the documents, when Smith was called to Vick's property by state police, he found "multiple pitbull type dogs, some in kennels and approximately 30 tethered on heavy logging type chains.:com:
"The dogs are tethered so as to allow them to come in close proximity to each other but not have contact with each other. The chains are attached to car axels that are buried in the ground. In this officer's training and experience, this method of restraint is consistent with the restraint of fighting dogs.” :scared
The care of the dogs was also questioned in the affidavit.
"The majority of the dogs either had no water or very dirty water in bowls that were coated with a green slimy substance consistent in appearance with algae," Smith wrote.
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Its not looking good for #7 at this point.
