A Central Florida horse owner was recently arrested with felony animal cruelty, and others on the property were also arrested.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit arrested a Lake Wales man on felony animal cruelty charges and seized horses and goats from his Poe Road property.
The investigation began after the PCSO received a tip about two horses in a field that appeared to be malnourished. According to local law enforcement, the horses were discovered in the following conditions: one was extremely skinny, with visible rib and hip bones; another was lying on the ground in its feces, unable to lift its head and barely breathing—this horse succumbed to severe neglect and died before detectives arrived.
Detectives also found numerous environmental dangers, as well as people and children living in various structures on the property. Joemanuel Nunez-Suarez, the homeowner, claimed possession of the majority of the cattle, which included eight horses (one of which was deceased), 11 goats, and two sheep. Three of the horses were mistreated and in bad shape. He told officers that he was looking after the animals for a friend but that feeding them was too expensive and that he had ordered the person to come grab the animals three months ago.
All of the animals were confiscated by the PCSO and will be rehabilitated.
Piles of solid debris, such as rotting household rubbish, scrap metal, discarded wood, 23 tires, hundreds of flies, and broken appliances, were scattered around. Detectives also discovered a trough filled with a mixture of antifreeze and gasoline, which leaked into the water that the animals were drinking.
Two defendants, Jorge Almeida Rodriguez and Idanys Queveto, were charged with environmental crimes, while Barbara Suarez and Hennycha Rosa Rosa were charged with resisting arrest. Barbara owned one of the horses and was also charged with animal mistreatment.
Nunez-Suarez was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty, as well as three counts of detaining animals without sufficient food, care, and nutrition.
Click here to watch a video about Thunder, a two-year-old stallion owned by Barbara Suarez who was kept in a small stall in a dark barn and never led out to pasture.
“We appreciate the tipster who alerted us to the deplorable conditions on this property,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “It’s a shame we were unable to save one of the abused horses, but we will make it our mission to rehabilitate all of the animals that were subjected to this filth and neglect, and ensure these suspects are never again allowed to own animals.”