Humane Society of the United States Give Five Law Enforcement Officials An Award

Montgomery, Alabama - The Humane Society of the United States is presenting its 2014 Humane Law Enforcement Awards to law enforcement in the Middle District of Alabama who are responsible for taking down the second largest dog fighting organization in the country. Two FBI Agents; one Auburn Police Detective; Keith Baker, a former FBI agent; George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama; and Clark Morris, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama all received this award.

On Friday, August 23, 2013, agents executed 13 search warrants, 11 in Alabama and two in Georgia. Agents have seized approximately 458 pit bull terriers, guns, illegal narcotics, drugs used to treat and train dogs, and other evidence indicative of dog fighting. During the course of this investigation, agents have further seized over $500,000 from dog fighters involved in this organization. As a result of this investigation 14 people were indicted and are awaiting trial scheduled for May 8, 2014.

While only the lead agents and prosecutors received this award, the success of this investigation is a result multiple law enforcement agencies including the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office; Alabama State Troopers; the Lee County District Attorney’s Office; the Alabama Department of Public Safety; Bainbridge, Georgia Department of Public Safety; the United States Marshal’s Service; the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; the Houston County Sheriff’s Office; the Opelika Police Department; the Georgia Highway Patrol; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; the Pensacola, Florida and Columbus, Georgia offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Taylor Crossing Animal Hospital.

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617