Eight city workers arrested in Columbus Animal Care & Control investigation

COLUMBUS, Ga. ( WRBL )— Nearly three months after the Columbus Police Department launched an investigation into Columbus Animal Care & Control, eight individuals have been arrested.

“The investigation will be an essential part of reestablishing trust within the community and creating partnerships that will move us towards a more compassionate and humane solution to providing animal care and control,” Mayor Skip Henderson said.

Eight Columbus city employees are now facing a combined 34 criminal charges in the investigation of animal cruelty and procedural violations within the city-run shelter.

“This investigation also uncovered multiple criminal violations that are part of the Georgia State Code that are designed to establish legal guidelines and responsibilities as it relates to the care of animals in your care and custody,” Deputy Police Chief Lance Deaton said.

Those arrested include Manager Canita Hardnett-Johnson, admin coordinator Contreana Pearson, lieutenant Alexander Pimentel, corporal Tennile Toliver, officers James Elliott, Alizabeth Rodriquez, and Phillip Copeland, as well as veterinarian Dr. Henry Hall.

Charges range from cruelty to animals, forgery, violation of oath, disposal of dead animals, theft, false statements, failure to scan microchips.

“Certainly, it’s disappointing I would say. But I look forward to them having their day in court, so that we can make sure that we have all of the information,” City Manager Isaiah Hugley said. “CCG is a large organization, and there may be occurrences in departments that we’re not aware of. And when we find out about them, we have a responsibility to do something about them.”

The Columbus Police Department say the cruelty to animal charges do not stem from physical abuse, rather omission of care. District Attorney Don Kelly explains further.

“In what has been charged, to my knowledge, and what I’ve been briefed on is neglect of medical care. And so that is what will be litigated from here out,” Kelly shared with WRBL. “It is a somewhat difficult job in that these are unusual crimes. As Assistant Chief Deaton said, this is something we don’t normally go to the animal code except for cruelty to animals. And typically, it’s not public employees. However, we are working hard to treat this as we would any other case and to treat the defendants fairly and as we would in any other case.”

In the interim, management of animal control will fall on the director and deputy director of Public Works. Negotiations between the city and PAWS Humane have begun with the hopes of PAWS overseeing the operations of the shelter.

With eight employees now out of work from the shelter, there are only 13 employees left working.

Listen to Hugley explain how services typically provided by animal control will be impacted.

Those arrested and their charges can be found in their entirety, below.

Dr. Henry Hall, Veterinarian

• Forgery 1st Degree
• False Statements and Writings

Canita Hardnett-Johnson, Manager

• Theft by Deception
• False Statements and Writings
• Animal Cruelty
• Euthanasia (Unauthorized Personnel)
• Violation of Oath
• Disposal of Deceased Animals

Contreana Pearson, Admin Coordinator

• Animal Cruelty
• Euthanasia (Unauthorized Personnel)
• Disposal of Deceased Animals
• Violation of Oath

Alexander Pimentel, Lieutenant

• Euthanasia (Unauthorized Personnel)
• Leaving Animals Unattended
• False Statements and Writings
• Violation of Oath
• Disposal of Deceased Animals

Tennile Toliver, Corporal

• False Statements and Writings
• Violation of Oath

James Elliott, Officer

• False Statements and Writings
• Violation of Oath

Alizabeth Rodriguez, Officer/Kennel Staff

• Forgery 2nd Degree
• False Statements and Writings
• Euthanasia (Unauthorized Personnel)
• Violation of Oath

Plus, officer Phillip Copeland, charged with Failure to Scan for Microchips.

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