WISN (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 19 May 10 Owner: Exotic Animals Better Off With Him Than In Police Custody

Milwaukee: Milwaukee police are defending the care of more than 200 reptiles and rodents seized in a series of raids last week.

The owner of the animals has publicly suggested they were better off when he had them.

Police said they're still compiling their case a week after they first raided a storefront and another address, seizing alligators, crocodiles, anacondas and a host of turtles and rodents.

Container after container, the animals were hauled out of the building at 13th Street and Lincoln Avenue last week.

No charges have been filed in the case and the 60-year-old owner hasn't been arrested.

However, his 50-year-old girlfriend was arrested by police on charges of intentional mistreatment of animals and possession of an endangered species.

Police said the animal removal and charges are all part of an ongoing sexual assault investigation, although a police report detailing the arrest states the search warrant "was specifically for the purpose of locating endangered species."

The woman has since been released on $15,000 bail and is awaiting a decision on charges that could come this week.

Meantime, in a published interview, the self-described reptile expert who owns the animals claimed they're not getting the care they need while in police custody.

However, Milwaukee police took issue with the allegation, 12 News reporter Nick Bohr said.

The detective in charge of the investigation told 12 News, "That's a patent lie. They're in a much better condition than I found them in."

Lt. Paul Felician went on to say the animals are in the care of zoological experts at undisclosed city buildings and are getting the heat they need to survive.

Police said they don't know where the owner is and would like to talk to him.

When reached by 12 News, the owner said he couldn't comment on the record.

Police continue to be guarded about the investigation, barring the media from taking pictures or video of the confiscated animals. They've also obtained a court order sealing the release of exactly what they found in their search warrants.
Owner: Exotic Animals Better Off With Him Than In Police Custody

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