On Friday, The Animal Control Officer was called to a house in the 1100 block of Willis where the resident reported that her cat had been caught in a jaw type trap. The trap was taken out of the ground but the residents took the animal control officer to the place where the trap had been, just across the fence from their property. Upon inspection of the scene, the officer noted fur on the ground and the soil being disturbed, consistent with the reported trap being pulled out of the ground.
The officer then walked the adjoining property and found another trap with an opossum caught in it. After going to his truck to get a cage and gloves to remove the animal, Animal Control noticed a man resetting an empty trap where the opossum had been. When asked what the man was doing, he stated, “Resetting my trap”. Then he was asked where the opossum was, the man stated he had released it. After Animal Control questioned the man it was found that he was unaware that this type of jaw trap was prohibited within the city of Brownwood. The man stated that he had been setting the traps to catch raccoons for their fur. Six traps total had been set according to the report. The officer then asked him to bring all the traps. The man was then issued a citation for use of prohibited traps under Chapter 14 section 3 part B. The property where the incidence occurred was private property which did not belong to the man setting the traps according to police reports.
In other unrelated incidences:
Monday police were called to a residence for a domestic disturbance resulting in the arrest of Martin Knowles, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Early Tuesday morning, Brownwood Police were called to a hit and run of the King’s Grocery sign at the corner of 4th and Coggin. 17-year-old was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and the vehicle was impounded.