A Thomasville man has been arrested after he allegedly assaulted a photojournalist for a local television station reporting a story of animal neglect at a local kennel on Thursday.
Marshall Lee Everhart, 56, of Thomasville was charged with theft; felony assault with serious injury; felony common law robbery; felony second degree kidnapping and two counts of felony injury to personal property.
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According to the arrest warrant issued by the Davidson County Magistrates’ Office, Everhart allegedly punched the photographer in the jaw and “caused serious injuries to his mouth, including broken or dislodged teeth and possibly a broken jaw.” The arrest warrant also stated that he took the photographer’s video camera and damaged it; held or crushed the photographer and damaged his vehicle.
According to FOX 8 News in Winston-Salem, their employee was attacked by two men while shooting videos outside Pretty Paws Country Club in Thomasville. The news organization investigated a report that the dog boarding house was recently fined by the state of North Carolina for animal cruelty.
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An April report from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division said Pretty Paws Country Club in Thomasville, owned by Kali Jump and Ryan Everhart, was fined $1,400 in civil violations following an investigation into complaints against Company.
The report states that during an unannounced inspection in March, 12 dogs were left unattended in a single water bowl fence that had fallen over. 19 other dogs were found unsupervised in another outdoor play area with one water bowl, which was empty. According to the report, Pretty Paws was cited by the state in January 2020 for similar violations.
According to the report, researchers also discovered a recent incident in which a dog was taken to a veterinarian by the facility owner after showing “impaired mental illness and other neurological symptoms.” The suspected diagnosis was marijuana intoxication, and OTC drug screening came back positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana.
“Given the time when clinical signs for this type of intoxication began, the most likely exposure was in the kennel,” the report said.
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Another incident included in the NC Department of Agriculture inspection report stated that two dogs, known to be incompatible, were placed in a kennel together and then got into an argument, with one dog being seriously injured, but not taken to a vet. was brought . According to the NC Department of Agriculture, the kennel was cited for a similar violation earlier in March 2021.
For the full report, visit https://www.ncagr.gov/vet/aws/BoardingKennelsandPetShops.htm
After the alleged assault on the photojournalist on July 28, Everhart was given a $200,000 bail and a first court date of August 29 in Davidson County.
General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.