DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A Decatur man was arrested and then later released under the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act for cruel treatment after two puppies were found dead and a third found malnourished.
On Dec. 11, 2023, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control was dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of E. Whitmer Street regarding two dead puppies and one malnourished puppy in the backyard. Upon arrival, Animal Control did not see any heat source or food/water for any of the dogs.
The Decatur Police Department was notified, and a police officer took the initial investigation which included a neighborhood canvas in an attempt to identify the owner of the dogs. This investigation was immediately assigned to a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division.
The owner of the three dogs was identified as Derrick D. Tyus, 53.
Tyus was arrested for three counts of cruel treatment on Jan. 3. He was processed at the Macon County Jail and then released.
The Decatur Police Department prioritizes addressing animal cruelty and will actively investigate to guarantee animals receive the compassionate care they rightfully deserve.
Copyright 2024. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
