From: Hannibal Police Department
Date: January 3, 2012
Phone: 573-221-0987
Fax: 573-221-3966
Contact: Lt. John Zerbonia
On Saturday December 10th at approximately 4:27 p.m., Officers of the Hannibal Police Department were called to the 200 block of North St for a report of numerous dogs running at large. When the officer arrived on scene he found several dogs running loose in the area of North St and Cardiff Hill. Eight (8) dogs were located and captured. The officer was notified by witnesses that the dogs were from a house in the 200 block of North St. The officer contacted the resident of the house, 40 year old Michael C. Childs of Hannibal, and discovered he had active Failure to Appear warrants for Dog at Large and No Vaccination. Childs was arrested without incident and gave consent to search his residence for more animals. Inside the house, thirteen (13) more animals, were located and seized. All animals were transported and released to the Humane Shelter. Childs was released on surety bonds for the warrants and released pending warrants on charges of Animal Neglect and Dog at Large. On January 2, 2012, 38 warrants were issued on Childs on charges of Animal Neglect (24), Dog at Large (10), Failure to License (2) and Failure to Vaccinate (2). Childs was arrested on the warrants and released to the Marion County Jail.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is, of course, presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.