Horses seized after failed purchase

A Pender County deputy who spearheaded the removal of 10 horses from a Hampstead area farm earlier this month, and was demoted for his actions, said Thursday he tried to buy one of the animals the day prior to arresting their owner.

The owner of the horses, BJ Suttles, who was charged earlier this month with four counts of cruelty to animals, said it is "outrageous" that a deputy can try to buy a horse from him one day and then have it - along with nine others - seized the next.

Mike Lewis, who was busted from sergeant to deputy for ignoring warnings from superiors not to get wrapped up in another animal situation, said he was just trying to do the right thing.

"It was only one horse that caught my attention," Lewis said. "It depends on what happens in the case, but I would like to have that horse."

Lewis said it appeared to him that the horses were not fed properly. He called Pender County Animal Control, and they refused to help.

Pender County Animal Control Director Steve Thronburg said he had received previous complaints about three of the horses, but after checking the animals, he determined there was no reason to take them.

Lewis said he then called the Topsail Humane Society, which was against protocol, costing him rank and a suspension.

Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith did not return messages left with his office by Thursday afternoon.

Lewis said he does not regret his decision.

"I took an oath to uphold and enforce the law," he said. "I was told on the last case to leave it up to animal control, but I didn't and that is why I was busted down this time."

Lewis obtained warrants and, with the assistance of Topsail Humane Society, seized eight dogs and 10 horses May 7. The Topsail Humane Society took control of the dogs, and the horses were turned over to Scotts Hill Stables.

Suttles, who is due in court June 16, says he checks on his horses often and went to see his dogs, but the Topsail Humane Society had already fostered many of them out.

"How can they do that? I haven't even been to court, and my dogs are gone," he said.

Ellen Gordinier, a volunteer at the Humane Society said two St. Bernards had been turned over to a person who works with that breed of dog and some of the smaller dogs had been turned over to other homes.

Scotts Hill veterinarian doctor Emma Lackey has examined the horses since they were seized. She said they were thin but recommended the horses be returned to Suttles.

Dr. Matt Frazier, owner of Frazier's Mobile Equine in Benson, was also called in to examine the horses.

"They were pretty skinny," he said, adding that he did not know their situation prior to being rescued so he couldn't comment on whether they were better off in the small stables they were being kept in or Suttles' pastures.

Suttles admits the horses were thin and had intestinal worms, but he said he had been taking steps to improve the situation. He said a horse featured prominently in news reports is 32 years old and dying of cancer.

Contact senior reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.