SPRINGVILLE – A Springville woman was arrested after she continued to let her animals run loose.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control Officer Chad Hillenburg went to 36-year-old Sarah Weldy’s home on Friday, January 5, after a report of horses running loose in the 300 block of Poplar Trail.
When Officer Hillenburg arrived at 1:15 p.m., he found a black horse and a tan mule running loose. The animals belonged to Weldy, who lives in the 400 block of Poplar Trail.
The animals were led back to Weldy’s property. Officer Hillenburg contacted Weldy by phone, and she told him she was leaving Bedford and heading home. Meanwhile, Weldy’s teenage children were requested to put the animals up. However, before they could do that, the animals took off again.
According to the caller who reported the animals running loose, this was not the first time the horse and mule were out loose. The caller also claimed Weldy’s dogs had been running loose, and it has been an issue for years.
Officer Hillenburg reminded Weldy that he had, on multiple occasions, spoken with her about her animals running loose and advised her the situation needed to be addressed immediately, and if not, criminal charges would be filed.
Hillenburg reported that the department has responded to numerous calls of the animals on neighbors’ properties and in the roadway,
putting the public at risk.
“Based on these occurrences, I believe she has knowingly and intentionally failed to comply with Indiana Code 15-17-18-8 and 15-17-18-9,” the probable cause affidavit read.
Weldy was arrested on misdemeanor charges and a Level 6 felony charge of permitting her livestock to run at large and knowingly or intentionally violating state code.
