Animal Cruelty Charges Land Man in Jail

ALACHUA – An Alachua resident was arrested on Jan. 18, and is facing charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty and felony animal cruelty stemming from a December incident. On Dec. 12, 2023, officers from the Alachua Police Department responded to Raymond Leon Merricks Jr.'s residence after receiving a call for assistance from the Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAS) with an investigation. The ACAS received a call that Merricks's pit bull had been running loose within the neighborhood, killed the neighbor's chickens and was severely malnourished. The pit bull was captured by the ACAS.

While attempting contact at Merricks' residence, another pit bull was located in the front yard chained to a tree stump and surrounded by animal feces. The pit bull was suffering from hair loss and covered in flees. Officers and ACAS investigators also located two makeshift confinements in the rear of the residence. One confinement contained another pit bull which was also severely malnourished.

In the second confinement, they located a deceased pit bull that was severely malnourished and chained inside the makeshift kennel. Inside both confinements, the flooring was covered in trash and animal feces and neither animal had proper food or water. Once the animals were removed from the confinements it was discovered that both dogs were covered in feces and infested with fleas and one of the dogs had missing teeth and sores on its skin.

According to APD, “Although there was no food in any of the dog bowls, the Defendant had a large unopened bag of dog food in the garage.”

On Dec. 17, 2023, an arrest warrant for Merricks was obtained. On Jan. 18, 2024, Merricks showed in a court hearing for custody over the animals and was arrested for two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and two counts of felony animal cruelty.

Bond was set at $99 for each of the four charges totaling $396. Merricks has since been released from the Alachua County Jail.

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