Two arrested for animal cruelty

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

— A bull belonging to Darrell David of Pea Ridge stands in a field with part of his nose shot off and a bullet hole between the eyes.

The bull, along with a dead steer, are two more animals identified as victims in last week’s series of criminal acts involving the deaths of livestock and a family pet.

Pea Ridge Police assisted Benton County Sheriff’s deputies Tuesday night, July 20, in the arrest of Gary Jeffrey Miller, Jr., 19, and Jeremy Lynn Roberts, 18, both of Garfield, in connection with the vandalism and animal cruelty acts.

The two admitted to shooting and killing livestock, vandalizing mailboxes and a truck and shooting a dog belonging to Michael and Susan Coble before running it over with Miller’s truck.

Deputies also investigated the report by David of a steer and bull shot in the early hours Monday morning. The steer was shot in the neck and lived until veterinarians attempted to remove the bullet, when he bled to death.

The surviving bull is worth at least $3,000, David said.

David said he found the bull laying by the gate just 10 feet from the road Monday morning. He had heard the shots the night before,and found a bullet hole in the gate.

Thompson said Miller confessed to shooting three cows, killing one, and Roberts confessed to shooting and killing another, both with a .223-caliber rifle.

Those numbers do not add up to the numbers of injured animals reported.

Miller shot the Coble’s dog then Roberts ran over it, she said.

“They offered no reason, no excuses and showed no remorse for their actions,” Thompson said.

Miller was released from the Benton County Jail Wednesday afternoon on a $15,000 bond. Roberts was still being held Tuesday, also on a $15,000 bond.

News, Pages 6 on 07/28/2010