Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Animal Cruelty Arrest

On Monday, 7/18/05, animal control officers responded to an address in the 4300 blk. of Clay Pit Rd. regarding a report of animal abuse involving several horses. Animal Control Officer Braddock located 3 adult horses and 2 colts in a small feedlot area. The officer noted that there was no water or food available to the horses and there was no way to provide for them at the scene. Officer Braddock also noted that the horses were in very poor physical shape. While officers were speaking with a witness at the scene one of the adult horses was able to escape from the yard that the horses were being kept in. Due to the physical conditions of the remaining 4 horses, they were seized and taken to the Texarkana Animal Shelter for veterinary treatment . The horses have been treated by a veterinarian and are expected to regain their health. The owner of the horses has been identified as Randy Cornelius(age 37) of Texarkana, AR. Cornelius was arrested on a charge of animal cruelty and was released on a bond. He appeared in court on 7/21/05 and entered a plea of guilty to the charge of animal cruelty, as well as two city ordinance violations regarding animal neglect and the number of animals that were being kept on such a small piece of land. Cornelius was fined $1260.00 and was ordered to pay restitution to the Texarkana Animal Shelter and Artex Animal Welfare. In addition to these fines, Cornelius was ordered to forfeit ownership of the horses. Investigation of this incident is set to continue and additional arrests could be made in this case. Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.