Cruelty to Dogs Described in Court
News Sun Staff Report
SurburbanChicagoNews.com
November 5, 2003 -- Another in a series of pre-trial hearings on charges of animal cruelty filed against Arthur Mitsias and his son Jason, was held Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court before Judge Donald Geiger.
Defense attorney Robert Novelle contends that law enforcement officials lacked permission of Arthur Mitsias, who leased the land, before searching a house, barns and the grounds, and the evidence should be suppressed.
Animal Control Officer Michelle Kritch of the Lake County Health Department testified that she had a letter from Tempel Smith Jr., authorizing searches of the site for two months, on the second visit by herself and Lake County Sheriff's deputies. She said Smith's ex-wife had given verbal approval for the initial search.
Deputy Robert Bell said they had initially gone onto the property on Wadsworth Road following a large, stray dog and observing two dogs chained to posts in the front yard. Kritch said she tried to slip a pole noose over the stray dog's head, but it moved off and got into "a fierce fight" with one of the chained dogs. Bell shot the stray dog twice before it went down. "I went over and watched him take his last breath," she said.
Searches of the property disclosed a number of dogs and pups, many emaciated and dehydrated according to reports. Also found were syringes and liquids officials believe are steroids, and equipment that Kritch said could be used to train fighting dogs, including a treadmill, an S-hook, staples and a staple gun.
Also found near the equipment were empty packages of raw chicken. "Normally that is unhealthy to eat raw, but sometimes it is used for training," Kritch said.
Kritch said she also observed a dog's paw sticking up out of the ground. Digging turned up the bodies of three dead dogs in a crude grave.
Nearby in a field, with vehicle tracks leading to it, was a large circular area where the grass was flattened down, plus numerous barrels, with posts and chains, used as kennels.
Arthur Mitsias, 60, and Jason Mitsias, 29, both of Streamwood, are charged with animal cruelty. The puppies and a number of the dogs were impounded at the Lake County Animal Control Facility near Mundelein. The puppies were adopted by new owners. Nine of the adult dogs, deemed too dangerous, were euthanized. The largest female and male dog were stolen from the facility during a midnight break-in.
The hearing was continued to Nov. 12.
