Crime & Public Safety
Man Arrested in Center Hill After Deputies Find Severely Malnourished Animals
Sumter County deputies arrested a local man after they reported finding severely malnourished and dehydrated animals on his property in Center Hill. The sheriff’s office said responders discovered two horses in need of medical care and a large domesticated pig confined to a small, muddy pen without food or water.
Sheriff Pat Breeden told investigators the probe began after a concerned citizen contacted authorities last Thursday. When deputies arrived at the East Lane property, they reported the horses were confined to an area lacking sufficient grass and suitable water; the sheriff’s office also said the water source on scene had a dead animal floating in it. The owner, identified in the arrest report as Brian Hudson, later returned to the scene and spoke with deputies.
The arrest report, as provided by the sheriff’s office, alleges one horse had been in the defendant’s care for six months to a year during which reasonable efforts to provide care were not made. Deputies also observed the pig in a roughly 10-foot by 10-foot enclosure with only mud and no food or water. Animal control took custody of both horses and the pig.
Hudson was booked on two charges: animal cruelty and confinement of animals without sufficient food, water, or exercise. Detective Donald Fender of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Environmental Unit noted programs exist to support owners, and the sheriff’s office emphasized that deputies and animal control removed the animals and completed arrests as part of the investigation. Current case status: arrested and animals in custody of animal control, per the sheriff’s office.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.