Arrests Made in Animal Cruelty Investigation

Bishop Police Department

BISHOP - (News Release) On 8/1/23 Bishop Police Department Criminal Investigators opened a criminal investigation on allegations of animal cruelty, stemming from a local post on social media.

During the course of their investigation detectives discovered three (3) individuals were involved in caring for the dogs and all of them had direct involvement in the unsafe conditions and improper housing of the animals, which led to the death of one of the animals.

Detectives applied for felony arrest warrants for Animal Cruelty on the three (3) adults responsible. The arrest warrants were obtained from Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace, Judge Larry Lawrence.

At approximately 7:00AM on Thursday, August 3, 2023, investigators contacted two of the wanted persons involved, identified as and 31 year old Joe Beltran (Left) and 26 year old Michael Sanchez (Right).

Both individuals were taken into custody without incident and later transported to the Nueces County Jail on charges of Animal Cruelty (3rd degree felony).

This is an ongoing criminal investigation and additional charges may be filed at a later date. One (1) suspect is still outstanding in this case. Additional information will be released on that suspect, when possible.