Louisa Police executes search warrant in animal cruelty investigation
By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor
A Louisa man was arrested on drug and weapon charges after police arrive at his residence to follow-up on an animal cruelty complaint earlier in the month.
According to a press release by Louisa Police Chief Greg Fugitt, earlier this month they received a call of a deceased cat and an injured cat at the location of the Millard School.
Police opened an animal cruelty investigation into the incident after they say a subsequent veterinary examination determined that both animals had been shot with a pellet gun, with the deceased cat having a pellet lodged in its vertebrae and the injured cat sustaining two lodged pellets.
Through video surveillance analysis, investigators identified a pickup truck commonly driven by the suspect, Marcus A. Wilkes, on the school property at approximately 2:55 p.m. and again at 4:03 p.m., on March 1.
The press release went on to say that on Thursday, March 20, LPD officers, assisted by Lawrence County Sheriff Office, arrived at Wilkes’ residence with a search warrant for the pellet gun used in the incident. Upon contact, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the home. Wilkes voluntarily retrieved and surrendered the pellet gun and pellets. During the search, law enforcement observed a lit marijuana cigarette near where Wilkes had been sitting.
Additionally, officers identified and seized an AR-15 rifle and a Walther handgun in the kitchen, both of which had loaded magazines. Given Wilkes’ status as a convicted felon, the possession of these firearms led to additional charges.
Further investigation uncovered a marijuana cultivation operation in a designated grow room inside the residence. Officers discovered four large marijuana plants in buckets, five smaller plants in red Solo cups, thirteen cut stems, multiple packets of marijuana seeds, fertilizer, PH testing kits, lighting, and ventilation equipment. A crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine was also found in the grow room.
Additional searches within the residence yielded more marijuana, marijuana seeds, and a suspected THC “Dab” wax container.
Wilkes was arrested and charged with cruelty to animal’s 2nd degree, unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, cultivation of Marijuana (5 plants or more) 1st offense, trafficking in Marijuana (8 oz to 5 lbs.) 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance 1st degree (Methamphetamine), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and possession of Marijuana
Wilkes is currently in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center awaiting further legal proceedings.