5 arrested on dog-fighting charges in South Bound Brook

5 arrested on dog-fighting charges in South Bound Brook
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100309/news/3090343/5-arrested-on-dog-fighting-charges-in-South-Bound-Brook
March 9, 2010

SOUTH BOUND BROOK — Five pit bulls will be euthanized after police busted a suspected dog-fighting ring in the basement of an Edgewood Terrace home Sunday.

The five dogs, who were all injured, were "unfortunately" deemed unsuitable for adoption by St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, said Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest.

Five people have been charged with animal fighting and animal cruelty. Charged were Barry L. Norman, 28, of Lincoln Street, South Bound Brook; Kaysona P. Miller, 27, of Edgewood Terrace, South Bound Brook; Armin L. Spann, 31, of Willow Avenue, North Plainfield; Artamas K. Miller, 39, of John Street, Plainfield; and Mylyn M. Robinson, 28, of South 17th Street, Newark. Artamas Miller was also charged with criminal trespass, hindering apprehension and criminal mischief.

Spann and Robinson were lodged in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Kaysona Miller was remanded to jail in lieu of $1,000. Norman was lodged at jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed set the bail amounts.

At about 4 p.m. Sunday, South Bound Brook police went to 30 Edgewood Terrace on an anonymous report of dog fighting, according to Forrest.

Officers approaching the home heard dog cries, barks and growls coming from the basement. The officers also heard people in the basement clapping, shouting and whistling, Forrest said.

After getting permission from the landlord and the tenant, Kaysona Miller, to enter the residence, officers discovered in the basement a dog-fighting operation, Forrest said.

The officers found a large blood-stained fighting ring, four pit bulls with facial injuries in crates, a large, bloody water bucket with a blood-soaked rag, and a dog bite stick used to pry open a dog's mouth, according to Forrest.

One of the pit bulls also had a leg injury.

Officers then found a fifth pit bull with a bloody facial injury in the basement bathroom. The bathroom had been damaged by the dog trying to escape, according to an affidavit filed in Superior Court.

There was no visible food or water for any of the dogs and no dog pet accessories, Forrest said.

Kaysona Miller told police told police that Artamas Miller had asked her if Norman could bring over his dog, according to the affidavit. Robinson and Spann also brought their pit bulls to the home, the affidavit said.

Police found Artamas K. Miller in an unoccupied upstairs apartment. Police said he broke into the locked apartment, damaging the door, and was found hiding in a closet, Forrest said.

Detectives from the prosecutor's office, along with an officer from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Police and animal control workers from St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, responded to the residence to investigate.

Five children ranging in age from 5 to 9 years old also were in the residence at the time of the incident. The state Division of Youth and Family Services was notified and the children were released to relatives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three suspects in dog-fighting ring remain in jail
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100310/NEWS/3100336
March 10, 2010

SOMERVILLE — Three of five suspects charged in connection with a suspected dog-fighting ring in the basement of a South Bound Brook home remain in Somerset County Jail.

Released on bail were Kaysona Miller, 27, of South Bound Brook, and Artamas Miller, 39, of Plainfield.

Barry Norman, 28, of South Bound Brook; Mylyn Robinson, 28, of Newark; and Armin Spann, 31, of North Plainfield remain incarcerated.

Artamas Miller and Norman were arraigned Tuesday afternoon before state Superior Court Robert Reed in a video conference from the Somerset County Jail.

Artamas Miller's bail was set at $50,000 while Norman's bail was set at $20,000.

Kaysona Miller's bail was $1,000. Robinson's and Spann's bail was $50,000 each.

With the exception of Kaysona Miller, the defendants each have a conviction on a drug charge, according to court records.

The five were arrested around 4 p.m. Sunday when South Bound Brook police went to 30 Edgewood Terrace in that borough on an anonymous report of dog fighting, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest.

Officers approaching the home heard dog cries, barks and growls coming from the basement. The officers also heard people in the basement clapping, shouting and whistling, Forrest said.

After getting permission from the landlord and the tenant, Kaysona Miller, to enter the residence, officers discovered a dog-fighting operation in the basement, Forrest said.

The officers found a large blood-stained fighting ring, four pit bulls with facial injuries in crates, a large, bloody water bucket with a blood-soaked rag and a dog bite stick used to pry open a dog's mouth, according to Forrest.

One of the pit bulls also had a leg injury.

Officers then found a fifth pit bull with a bloody facial injury in the basement bathroom. The bathroom had been damaged by the dog trying to escape, according to an affidavit filed in Superior Court.

The five pit bulls are scheduled to be euthanized.

That is horrible....I say strip them naked...put "dog in heat" scent on them and throw them in a pit with those PITS...Let's see if they enjoy that...people could place bets as to who would be the last one standing...

I have never been able to understand how human beings could get some sense of enjoyment out of dog fighting. Estee, I agree with your solution.

As we have humanity so we should not such type of nasty activities that directly or indirectly have bad effects in our society.They are enjoying the dog fighting by creating such a terrible situations for the dog's life.These activities should be punished.