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Link to Vick in evidence seizure
Envelopes found addressed to him
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/22/07
Three envelopes addressed to "M. Vick" were among evidence seized by police under the authority of a search warrant executed on the Virginia property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Also seized in the search, authorized in late April in relation to organized dogfighting, was a black 3-ring binder containing "contracts" or copies of contracts.
According to the warrant, police were searching for and could seize "information related to dogfighting, registration papers, other written materials showing ownership of pit bull terrier dogs or other fighting dogs including bills of sale, pedigrees, breeding records and veterinary records; any dogfighting records including name and telephone numbers lists of person suspected of being dog fighters."
The contents, if any, of the envelopes and the nature of the contracts were not indicated in the documents. Vick's company, MV7 LLC, runs a company that breeds and sells pit bulls and presa canario dogs.
Copies of the search warrant, affidavit and the inventory list of evidence collected by the Surry County (Va.) Sheriff's department were obtained by the AJC in a records request filed under the Freedom of Information Act. The information was received by the AJC on the same day that the prosecutor, law enforcement officials, investigators and a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture met for two hours to review the evidence in the month-old case. The USDA's presence was the first time a federal agency was confirmed to be involved in the investigation.
All representatives at the meeting declined comment, but commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter and Sheriff Harold Brown issued a joint statement saying: "At this time, the investigation continues. We have no further comment."
Poindexter said last week that it appears dogfighting did take place in a room inside the two-story house on the property, but it could take several weeks to determine whether charges would be filed and against whom. At least six people could be involved, Poindexter said. A review of evidence will determine if Vick is among those being targeted, Poindexter said.
"I'm never there. I'm never at the house," Vick said before the NFL draft April 28. "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing. The issue will get resolved. It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on."
Poindexter has said there is proof Vick has visited the property.
Vick has since declined to comment on the investigation. He did so again Monday night at a Falcons function at the Fox Theatre. His attorney, Lawrence Woodward, has not returned repeated messages.
The complete list of items seized from Vick's property also included: Cat mill, Jenny mills, carpet mill/stand, treadmills/electric/modified for dogs (all used for conditioning dogs to fight), a rape stand (used for breeding), assorted dietary supplements, weight pull harness, three wooden slat mills, all animals/breeder certification and kennel documents, four stainless kennels, dog food, chains and collars, assorted medicines and a weight scale.
Among the nearly 70 dogs discovered at the property, where police were called initially in a drug investigation involving Vick's cousin Davon Boddie, were five dogs with scars and other injuries. According to the affidavit, three heavily scarred pit bulls were seized: "The scars were distributed over the faces, head, ears, chest and front legs of the dogs."
One dog with old scarring and recent lacerations on the chest and front legs was discovered and in need of immediate veterinary care. According to the documents: "The dog also had what appears to be an injury to the front leg causing swelling and the leg to bend at an unnatural angle." One dog had old scarring and recent lacerations on the chest and front legs that "required medical aid to prevent suffering."
Documents indicate Surry County animal control officer James Smith recently completed a basic animal control academy which included a class on dogfighting investigation. He called in Kathy Strouse of the Virginia Animal Control Association to help with the investigation. Strouse, who was invited to but did not attend Monday's meeting to review the evidence, told the AJC last week: "Let me be very, very clear: There's no doubt in my mind that this was a dogfighting operation."
According to the documents, when Smith was called to Vick's property by state police he found: "Multiple pit bull type dogs, some in kennels and approximately 30 tethered on heavy logging type chains. The dogs are tethered so as to allow them to come in close proximity to each other but not have contact with each other. The chains are attached to car axles that are buried in the ground. In this officer's training and experience, this method of restraint is consistent with the restraint of fighting dogs."
The care of the dogs was also questioned in the affidavit. "The majority of the dogs either had no water or very dirty water in bowls that were coated with a green slimy substance consistent in appearance with algae," Smith wrote.
The negative glare this has caused is wearing on Vick, according to his high school coach, Tommy Reamon.
"He is hurting and hoping that this process will take care of itself as soon as possible," Reamon, who coached Vick at Warwick High in Newport News, said in a telephone interview Monday. "He is doing those things that we all know need to be done. However, the fascination of the media continues, and nobody sees him making these changes. He's doing what he has to do, and God bless him."
— D. Orlando Ledbetter and Chris Vivlamore contributed to this report.
Envelopes found addressed to him
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/22/07
Three envelopes addressed to "M. Vick" were among evidence seized by police under the authority of a search warrant executed on the Virginia property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Also seized in the search, authorized in late April in relation to organized dogfighting, was a black 3-ring binder containing "contracts" or copies of contracts.
According to the warrant, police were searching for and could seize "information related to dogfighting, registration papers, other written materials showing ownership of pit bull terrier dogs or other fighting dogs including bills of sale, pedigrees, breeding records and veterinary records; any dogfighting records including name and telephone numbers lists of person suspected of being dog fighters."
The contents, if any, of the envelopes and the nature of the contracts were not indicated in the documents. Vick's company, MV7 LLC, runs a company that breeds and sells pit bulls and presa canario dogs.
Copies of the search warrant, affidavit and the inventory list of evidence collected by the Surry County (Va.) Sheriff's department were obtained by the AJC in a records request filed under the Freedom of Information Act. The information was received by the AJC on the same day that the prosecutor, law enforcement officials, investigators and a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture met for two hours to review the evidence in the month-old case. The USDA's presence was the first time a federal agency was confirmed to be involved in the investigation.
All representatives at the meeting declined comment, but commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter and Sheriff Harold Brown issued a joint statement saying: "At this time, the investigation continues. We have no further comment."
Poindexter said last week that it appears dogfighting did take place in a room inside the two-story house on the property, but it could take several weeks to determine whether charges would be filed and against whom. At least six people could be involved, Poindexter said. A review of evidence will determine if Vick is among those being targeted, Poindexter said.
"I'm never there. I'm never at the house," Vick said before the NFL draft April 28. "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing. The issue will get resolved. It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on."
Poindexter has said there is proof Vick has visited the property.
Vick has since declined to comment on the investigation. He did so again Monday night at a Falcons function at the Fox Theatre. His attorney, Lawrence Woodward, has not returned repeated messages.
The complete list of items seized from Vick's property also included: Cat mill, Jenny mills, carpet mill/stand, treadmills/electric/modified for dogs (all used for conditioning dogs to fight), a rape stand (used for breeding), assorted dietary supplements, weight pull harness, three wooden slat mills, all animals/breeder certification and kennel documents, four stainless kennels, dog food, chains and collars, assorted medicines and a weight scale.
Among the nearly 70 dogs discovered at the property, where police were called initially in a drug investigation involving Vick's cousin Davon Boddie, were five dogs with scars and other injuries. According to the affidavit, three heavily scarred pit bulls were seized: "The scars were distributed over the faces, head, ears, chest and front legs of the dogs."
One dog with old scarring and recent lacerations on the chest and front legs was discovered and in need of immediate veterinary care. According to the documents: "The dog also had what appears to be an injury to the front leg causing swelling and the leg to bend at an unnatural angle." One dog had old scarring and recent lacerations on the chest and front legs that "required medical aid to prevent suffering."
Documents indicate Surry County animal control officer James Smith recently completed a basic animal control academy which included a class on dogfighting investigation. He called in Kathy Strouse of the Virginia Animal Control Association to help with the investigation. Strouse, who was invited to but did not attend Monday's meeting to review the evidence, told the AJC last week: "Let me be very, very clear: There's no doubt in my mind that this was a dogfighting operation."
According to the documents, when Smith was called to Vick's property by state police he found: "Multiple pit bull type dogs, some in kennels and approximately 30 tethered on heavy logging type chains. The dogs are tethered so as to allow them to come in close proximity to each other but not have contact with each other. The chains are attached to car axles that are buried in the ground. In this officer's training and experience, this method of restraint is consistent with the restraint of fighting dogs."
The care of the dogs was also questioned in the affidavit. "The majority of the dogs either had no water or very dirty water in bowls that were coated with a green slimy substance consistent in appearance with algae," Smith wrote.
The negative glare this has caused is wearing on Vick, according to his high school coach, Tommy Reamon.
"He is hurting and hoping that this process will take care of itself as soon as possible," Reamon, who coached Vick at Warwick High in Newport News, said in a telephone interview Monday. "He is doing those things that we all know need to be done. However, the fascination of the media continues, and nobody sees him making these changes. He's doing what he has to do, and God bless him."
— D. Orlando Ledbetter and Chris Vivlamore contributed to this report.
