Holmes County man charged after welfare check leads to animal cruelty, meth arrest

HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Holmes County deputies went to a home on Highway 179-A for a welfare check and found a dead dog on the porch and several other dogs on the property that appeared to be neglected and in poor health.

Deputies said they tried to get in touch with the man living in the home, John Hoover, but he refused to come outside and would only talk to his sister over the phone.

An animal control investigator responded to the scene and obtained an arrest warrant for animal cruelty and a search warrant for the home.

When deputies went back to the property with the search warrants, Hoover tried to run, but was quickly caught.

Inside the home, deputies found methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.

Hoover was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence.

Deputies and animal control safely captured the surviving dogs, removed them from the property and took them to the animal shelter for evaluation and care.

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