roscoe
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2002
- Messages
- 21,709
Two individuals from Hampton Roads, employees of the Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, were arrested Wednesday night in Ahoskie, N.C., on animal cruelty charges.<br /><br />The two were arrested after authorities allege they dumped dead dogs and cats in a dumpster at a shopping center on Memorial Drive in Ahoskie.<br /><br />Andrew Benjamin Cook, 24, of Virginia Beach, and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, of Norfolk, were arrested at the shopping center. Police say they found 18 dead animals in the dumpster and 13 dead animals in the couple's van, which according to authorities, is registered to PETA. Both suspects were charged with 31 counts of animal cruelty and eight counts of illegal disposal of animals.<br /><br />According to police, the animals were from two North Carolina animal shelters - one in Northampton County and the other in Bertie County.<br /><br />Officials say the animals were alive when they left the shelters, but have not said how they died.<br /><br />North Carolina officials say they have been investigating reports of dead animals at the shopping center for over a month. Authorities say there were four other incidents of dead animals found in the shopping center dumpster, each on a Wednesday night. Surveillance was conducted this week, resulting in the two arrests.<br /><br />Cook and Hinkle were released on bond. They have a court date in Winton, N.C., on June 17th.<br /><br />A PETA spokesperson told WAVY News 10 that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has a long-standing relationship with shelters to euthanize pets that the shelters feel are no longer adoptable, and the spokesperson is confident the animal cruelty charges will be dropped.<br /><br />If the animals were put into a dumpster as alleged, the spokesperson termed that 'outrageous.'<br /><br />PETA says Hinkle has been suspended. Cook is still working for the organization.
