Ypsilanti Township man accused of selling pit bull puppies for dog fighting

[Debbie]

Ypsilanti Township man accused of selling pit bull puppies for dog fighting goes on trial
By: Art Aisner
Freelance reporter
Posted: Sep 27, 2010 at 8:25 AM [Today]

The trial for an Ypsilanti Township man accused of torturing dogs and trying to sell them to an undercover investigator for dog-fighting is scheduled to begin today in Washtenaw County Circuit Court.

B.J. Jarrell, 33, is charged with two counts of possessing animals for dog fighting and one count of animal torture. He was arrested earlier this year after he and accused accomplice Daniel Ryback were caught in a sting operation coordinated by the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

Authorities answered a suspicious ad on the Internet for pit bulls for sale in the Ypsilanti area late last year, said Matt Schaecher, the Humane Society's lead cruelty investigator. With the help of the Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team, they arranged several phone calls and a meeting, all recorded and expected to be key evidence presented during the trial.

During those conversations, both Jarrell and Ryback made statements and references consistent with dog fighting, such as discussing the animal’s lineage and even classification based on an ancestor’s fighting history, Schaecher said.

Investigators purchased two puppies from them for between $50 and $100 in late December. A subsequent search of Ryback’s home in the 2100 block Woodale Avenue revealed other dogs living in deplorable conditions, Schaecher said. Authorities seized the animals and condemned the property due to health code violations.

During their investigation, Schaecher said they learned Jarrell and Ryback would “crop” the ears of their dogs for sale, which involved slicing the ears so other dogs would have less to grab onto during a fight.

They allegedly used razor blades and no anesthetic, which led to animal cruelty charges.

“They were getting calls from buyers who had questions about cropped ears, and they decided to do it themselves,” Schaecher said.

Ryback, 33, pleaded no contest in July to one count of possessing an animal for fighting, court records show. Prosecutors agreed to drop counts of possessing animals for fighting and animal cruelty at sentencing, which was initially scheduled last week. Court officials said the hearing was delayed until Tuesday, and Ryback is expected to testify at Jarrell’s trial.

Court records also show Jarrell was arrested in February on assault charges. He pleaded no contest to a second-offense domestic violence charge in March and was placed on probation, court records show. He and Ryback were arrested on the animal complaints on April 2.

David Goldstein, Jarrell’s attorney, declined to comment.

Schaecher said all of the animals involved were adopted.

http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti-t...-on-trial/