TEXARKANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2008 (Tuesday)
Officer Kristi Mitchell
Public Information Officer
903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)
903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)
The following in an update in reference to the animal cruelty case involving eleven horses that were seized on April 29th, 2008, at 6010 North State Line Avenue.
The suspects of the case, Emmons Booth and Betty Blackburn, are currently awaiting trial, which is dated later this month, after pleading not guilty to eleven counts of cruelty to animals in transportation. It was determined during the investigation that the owner of the horses, George Blackburn, W/M 52 Yoa, of Memphis Tennessee, is currently in custody in the Fayette County jail in Tennessee, facing animal cruelty charges in Tennessee concerning the 11 horses we seized on 04/29/08.
There has been a tremendous amount of community support in providing assistance and care for the animals, which are still located at the Four States Fairgrounds. Dixie Wilson, with the ARTEX animal welfare league states, “I am happy to report that the remaining horses are thriving and will be soon ready for foster placement until judicial proceedings are completed.”
Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is encouraged to notify TAPD or Texarkana area CrimeStoppers at 903-793-STOP.
Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.