FAST FACTS:
(Ripley, MS 01-26-12) – A Ripley, MS police officer resigned after being charged with animal neglect. Authorities say Eric Bibb and his wife, Natalie, neglected to feed their horses properly.
The Tippah County Sheriff’s Department said they received multiple complaints.
When they showed up, investigators found two horses suffering from malnourishment, one in such poor condition that it couldn't stand up. It had to be euthanized.
Investigator Jason Willis says the other horse was taken to another pasture and will be nurtured back to health.
This is not the first time the Ripley officer has been at the center of an investigation. In December 2010, Bibb was involved in a shooting where an unarmed suspect was shot and killed. A grand jury ruled the officers involved were not at fault.
One of Bibb's neighbors says he doesn't believe he would intentionally neglect his horses.
“I've never seen anything,” said Tommy Hopkins. “He's always brought in hay and fed them and watered them. I haven't seen anything out of the way over there.”
At one time we’re told Bibb had several horses in and out of his property. They say the one euthanized was blind and needed special attention.
Willis says cases involving malnourished horses are on the rise. He says the sheriff's department investigated four cases of animal neglect involving a horse yesterday.
“It could be due to the economy, people are having to care for themselves, not care for their animals properly,” said Willis. “It’s an ongoing problem we're experiencing in Tippah County.”
- A horse had to be euthanized after authorities say it was neglected
- A Ripley police officer and his wife were charged with animal neglect
- Investigators say horse neglect is a growing problem in Tippah County
(Ripley, MS 01-26-12) – A Ripley, MS police officer resigned after being charged with animal neglect. Authorities say Eric Bibb and his wife, Natalie, neglected to feed their horses properly.
The Tippah County Sheriff’s Department said they received multiple complaints.
When they showed up, investigators found two horses suffering from malnourishment, one in such poor condition that it couldn't stand up. It had to be euthanized.
Investigator Jason Willis says the other horse was taken to another pasture and will be nurtured back to health.
This is not the first time the Ripley officer has been at the center of an investigation. In December 2010, Bibb was involved in a shooting where an unarmed suspect was shot and killed. A grand jury ruled the officers involved were not at fault.
One of Bibb's neighbors says he doesn't believe he would intentionally neglect his horses.
“I've never seen anything,” said Tommy Hopkins. “He's always brought in hay and fed them and watered them. I haven't seen anything out of the way over there.”
At one time we’re told Bibb had several horses in and out of his property. They say the one euthanized was blind and needed special attention.
Willis says cases involving malnourished horses are on the rise. He says the sheriff's department investigated four cases of animal neglect involving a horse yesterday.
“It could be due to the economy, people are having to care for themselves, not care for their animals properly,” said Willis. “It’s an ongoing problem we're experiencing in Tippah County.”
