(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------Multiple Ill Treatment of Animals charges have been obtained by Animal Control Officers against three Salem residents who were arrested on Monday of this week.
77 year old William Andrew Hill, 58 year old James Thaddeus Gaskill, Jr. and 71 year old Ann Hill, all of N. Little River Road, were booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 3:42pm, 4:51pm and 4:59pm respectively Monday.
William Andrew Hill and Ann Hill have been charged with 67 counts each of Ill Treatment of Animals while Gaskill, Jr. has been charged with seven counts of Ill Treatment of Animals.
On Monday morning of this week, Animal Control Officers executed a search warrant at a residence on N. Little River Road near Easy Street. The search warrant was obtained due to reports of animals living in unsanitary conditions inside of the residence. Initial reports indicated that maybe as many as 50 to 60 animals, mostly dogs, were inside of the residence.
During the execution of the search warrant, an adult male produced a firearm at around 11:43am Monday while in the presence of an Animal Control Officer, a Deputy and a Veterinarian. The man, identified as Hill, barricaded himself inside of a room while the Officers and the Veterinarian were able to leave the residence unharmed.
SWAT team members and other Deputies assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau, the Special Operations Bureau and the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to the scene. Negotiators were able to make contact with Hill, who later surrendered to Deputies without incident at around 1:26pm Monday. No employees of the Sheriff’s Office suffered injuries as the situation was resolved peacefully.
After Hill surrendered to Deputies, he was checked out by a paramedic on scene. William Andrew Hill, Ann Hill and James Thaddeus Gaskill, Jr. were then taken into custody and transported to jail.
On Monday, Animal Control Officers seized approximately 79 animals from the property (six kittens, one cat, two pigs, one goat, nine puppies and 60 dogs). One dog has given birth to five puppies at the Oconee County Animal Shelter.
At this time, all three subjects remain in jail on surety bonds.
William Hill was also charged with one count of Pointing and Presenting a Firearm at a Person. The arrest warrant on that charge was obtained by an Investigator from the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
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