Horse ‘on brink of death’ euthanized as deputies serve Patterson marijuana warrant
An abused horse “on the brink of death that had been left out to die” was found at a property by Patterson Police Services deputies serving a search warrant Wednesday related to an illegal marijuana grow. It had to be euthanized by animal control personnel at the scene on the 1100 block of Orange Avenue, PPS said in a Facebook post about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Deputies also found contraband and animals associated with rooster fighting, according to the post. Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Luke Schwartz said Thursday morning that other horses were on the property but PPS Chief Joshua Clayton does not believe animal control took possession of them.
The horse that was put down “was extremely dehydrated and appeared to have been left in that spot for several days,” Schwartz said in a text message.
The search warrant led to the discovery of about 1,500 marijuana plants and a pound of processed pot. About $5,000 in cash and 12 firearms were seized.
Salvador Sandoval, 42, was arrested. He was booked on three felonies and two misdemeanors, Schwartz said: two counts of cruelty to animals, possession of marijuana for sale, possessing game cocks for fighting, and cultivating marijuana.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 7:14 AM.
