65 animals, nine guns seized in Sumerduck
What began as a simple complaint ended with Christopher Dowd, 30, being charged with nine counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to court records.
Fauquier County Deputy Lane Phillippe is assigned to the Animal Control Division of the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office. He recently responded to a report of a loose horse in the area of Golden Drive in Sumerduck.
While he didn't find the animal he'd been sent to look for, Phillippe said he spotted some other horses in plain view on another property. It was readily apparent that there were some problems with the animals, he added. Specifically, they had no food and water and were "extremely emaciated."
In a search warrant affidavit filed in Fauquier County Circuit Court July 30, Phillippe said Suzanne Ashby, an humane investigator for the county, had also contacted him "regarding a complaint of animal abuse and neglect" at the address.
Phillippe said there was no one home when he noticed the the animals were in such poor condition. So the next day, July 28, he and another humane investigator, Hilleary Bogley, went back and got permission to search the property.
Subsequently, 65 animals were seized "for neglect and/or abuse."
During the consent search on Dowd's property, Phillippe said he saw a "black powder rifle and several shotguns" in an outbuilding. The firearms were easily visible, he added.
Fauquier County Sgt. James Hartman III said several firearms — including rifles and shotguns — have been confiscated so far.
The investigation — which involves other jurisdictions — is ongoing, Hartman said.
E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com