GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – Georgetown County Deputies arrested one of their own after they received a complaint about three dead dogs at a residence.
Deputy Russell Goodale, spokesman for the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, said deputies received the complaint on March 4. Upon arrival at the residence on Dennis Drive, deputies found three dead dogs in fenced kennels, all in various stages of decomposition.
When deputies attempted to make contact at the residence, they also found a female lab with nine puppies on a porch.
Upon further investigation, deputies determined the dogs belonged to Deputy William Baxley. Baxley was placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation.
According to Goodale, Baxley worked with the K-9 unit for a little over a year.
When the investigation was completed, Baxley was placed on administrative leave without pay and charged with four counts of cruelty to animals.
Baxley's wife, Miranda Baxley, has also been charged with four counts of cruelty to animals.
[To view Georgetown County's animal cruelty ordinance, click here (PDF)]
According to the Georgetown County Detention Center, William Baxley bonded out Wednesday on a $2,000 personal recognizance bond.
Copyright 2011 WMBF News. All rights reserved.
William Roger Baxley (Source: GCSO)
Miranda Marlow Baxley (Source: GCSO)
The Baxley home where the dogs were found (Source: WMBF News Reporter Laura Thomas)
