New Bedford Police Seeking Animal Cruelty Suspect After 21 Dogs Rescued
NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A New Bedford man is facing 39 animal cruelty charges as well as drug charges after 21 dogs had to be rescued from his apartment due to unsanitary and dangerous conditions.
New Bedford Animal Control officers and detectives initiated an investigation on July 8 and said that upon arriving at the home at 184 Myrtle Street, they detected a pungent odor of urine and feces in the apartment, and multiple dogs were heard barking.
Police said the tenant, Derrick Ambrose, 35, fled the house before animal control officers arrived.
It’s reported that 12 Cane Corso dogs were discovered in cages within the attic, with temperatures allegedly over 100 degrees.
Police then found nine French bull-mixed dogs in the third floor apartment.
According to police, some bulldogs were loose in the apartment, and some were caged. They said none of the dogs had adequate access to food or water.
Some dogs were also reported to have had overgrown nails, which prevented them from walking normally.
Police described the conditions as unsanitary.
After further investigations, police recovered over nine grams of fentanyl, over 25 grams of crack cocaine, Adderall, oxycodone, mushrooms and marijuana found in the apartment.
They also found vacuum sealers, packaging materials and digital scales, all used in the processing and packaging of illegal narcotics for street-level sales.
A warrant has been requested for Ambrose for 39 counts of animal cruelty and numerous narcotics-related charges, including trafficking over 18 grams of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute Classes A, B, C, D, and E.
Police said Ambrose also has an extensive criminal history with 67 adult arraignments and convictions for a variety of offenses, possession and discharge of a firearm, and possession of a dangerous weapon.
He has two previous convictions for dealing cocaine, one for dealing fentanyl, and one for dealing marijuana.
Ambrose currently has three open cases in Falmouth District Court and nine open cases in New Bedford District Court.
Police are asking anyone with information on Ambrose’s whereabouts to contact the New Bedford Police Department by calling 508-99-CRIME.
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