Man charged with animal cruelty

A 28-year-old Elyria man who was arrested last week on felony drug and weapons charges, now is facing a charge of animal cruelty involving a dead dog.

Anthony A. Jackson Jr. who was charged with illegal manufacturing of drugs, trafficking marijuana and possession of marijuana, all third-degree felonies, carrying concealed weapons, a fourth-degree felony, trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of LSD and possessing criminal tools, all fifthdegree felonies, resisting arrest and obstructing official business, both second-degree misdemeanors, and drug paraphernalia, a fourthdegree misdemeanor following a Feb. 7 arrest.

Now, Jackson was charged Feb. 13 with animal cruelty, a fifth-degree felony, according to an Elyria police report.

Officers responded at noon to 440 Jefferson St., the residence Jackson leased, for the landlord who said he found a dead dog in an detached garage while he was cleaning, the report said.

Police found the dog lying on the floor near the garage door.

Officers believed the dog was malnourished due to portions of the skeleton protruding from its skin, the report said.

When officers questioned Jackson at the Lorain County Jail, he said he owned the dog and had locked it in the garage after it messed with his marijuana plants, but thought it had run away.

Jackson was provided with his warrant/complaint for cruelty to animals.

Jackson will remain at Lorain County Jail, without bond, pending an appearance in Elyria Municipal Court.

On the drugs and weapons case, police arrested Jackson at 6 a.m., Feb. 7, after detectives responded to his house with a warrant signed by Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge James L. Miraldi.

Officers knocked on the door, but no one answered.

They moved to the west side of the building and saw Jackson break through a basement screened window.

Jackson ran west through the backyard until he approached a fence, stopped, turned around and dropped to the ground where police put him in handcuffs, the report said.

When asked if there was anything illegal inside the residence, Jackson told officers there was cocaine, marijuana and a firearm, the report said.

Detectives searched the house and found 2.8 kilograms of marijuana, a marijuana grow operation with several marijuana plants, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and a loaded 9 mm handgun with a 30-round magazine, according to the report.

Jackson, who suffered a minor foot injury during the chase, was transported to UH Elyria where doctors treated and released him, the report said.

LAKE ERIE

Jackson