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Four Arrested for Animal Cruelty by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office

Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationNashville, TN – The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Department arrested four individuals after they were indicted by the Cheatham County grand jury yesterday on multiple counts of animal cruelty stemming from a dog fighting operation that was discovered in Ashland City, Tennessee in November 2012.

James Callis, 31, of 1823 Marowbone Road in Ashland City was charged with one count of animal fighting, one count of cruelty to animals and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

James Callis, Gary Phelps, Arsenio Williams and Avery Bell

Gary Phelps, 50, of 118 West McQuarry Street in Ashland City was charged with one count of animal fighting, one count of cruelty to animals and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

The third subject, Arsenio Williams, 29, of 915 12th Avenue North in Nashville, TN was charged with one count of animal fighting, one count of cruelty to animals and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Avery Bell, 54, of 1015 Buckeye Road in Ashland City was charged with one count of animal fighting, one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, one count of cruelty to animals, setting fire to personal property and burning without a permit. Bell and Phelps are cousins and all four subjects are friends.

On November 22nd, 2012 the Cheatham County Fire Department responded to a brush fire at Bell’s residence on Buckeye Road where they discovered numerous dogs chained in the woods. Cheatham County Animal Control removed approximately 60 dogs in various stages of health that also showed signs of fighting.

A search warrant was executed shortly after the dogs were removed from the property and dog fighting paraphernalia was found on the property including a treadmill, a spring pole, and weighted sled.

All four individuals were booked into the Cheatham County Jail on $50,000 bond each.

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