Dog owners face drug, weapons, child abuse charges
The owners charged in the recent brutal dog mauling of a Plymouth Township jogger are now facing penalties for child abuse, torture, unlawful imprisonment, narcotics trafficking and felony firearm violations.
According to Plymouth Township police, multiple calls to the 911 emergency line May 7 triggered a further investigation at the Beaco
n Hill Circle home. Kelita Yolanda Jackson-Holland, 56 and her boyfriend, Edward Alan Turner, 56, residents at the address, were already facing charges in the dog attack. In that case, two cane corsos and a pit bull escaped from the yard March 28 and attacked a jogger who was seriously injured. Prosecutors charged Jackson-Holland with three counts tied to dangerous animals causing serious injury and Turner with one count related to ownership of one of the dogs. The victim, a man in his mid-60s, remained in serious condition and is still recovering, police said.
Police Chief James H. Knittel Jr. said while the defendants had been “cooperative” during the investigation of the dog attacks, the latest charges were disturbing.
“To have someone mauled, and then to uncover all of these other allegations afterward -- it’s very concerning,” Knittel, told reporters. “This neighborhood has really been jarred by this situation. It’s a very quiet neighborhood, and all of a sudden you have all these negative issues developing.”
The child abuse investigation was triggered by several 911 calls at about 6:45 a.m. May 7, reporting a disturbance and fighting outside the home. Responding officers observed two men fighting in the driveway of the home and several bystanders shouting. Officers reported that one teen at the scene was visibly and “extremely emotional and crying” while holding unattached dreadlocks in his hand. Officers reported the teen also had visible injuries, including a bloody mouth.
The teen told officers his grandmother, whom he identified as Jackson-Holland, woke him from a sound sleep brandishing a machete. The teen said Jackson-Holland accused him of taking her 9mm firearm and repeatedly “tried to poke is face with the knife but was unable to reach due to the position of the blanket,” according to police reports. The teen, according to officers, said Jackson Holland slapped him repeatedly, and threatened to cut off his hand. She and Turner then tied the teen to a chair with zip ties and a rope, he told officers. Investigators found evidence at the scene corroborating the teen’s allegations. He told officers Jackson-Holland cut off his braids.
According to the report, Jackson-Holland yelled toward officers that the teen had stolen her 9mm handgun and “needs to go to jail.” She later admitted to police she put zip ties on the teen.
Police documented injuries to the teen, including cuts to his lip and face, bruising, scratches near his eye, marks on his wrists and arms, and the braids that had been cut off.
“When we spoke with the teens, it was very concerning,” Knittel said. “We were able to substantiate not only through statements, but through physical evidence, child abuse, to include torture and false imprisonment.”
Township Police called in the Western Wayne Special Operations Team, a SWAT-style unit, to assist in their search of the home after dispatchers received reports of weapons and drugs at the home.
In the child abuse case, Jackson-Holland and Turner are both charged with first-degree child abuse, torture, unlawful imprisonment, assault with a dangerous weapon, and domestic violence.
Each was issued a $25,000 cash bond during arraignment at 35th District Court with conditions prohibiting contact with minors and possession of firearms.
The couple also face drug charges. Police reported that during the initial search of the home they observed evidence of drug trafficking in plain view, prompting a second search warrant. Cocaine was found in the home, along with scales and packaging material. Police said approximately 9.2 grams of suspected cocaine were confiscated. Investigators also confiscated psychedelic mushrooms, other hallucinogens, mescaline, and peyote, as well as glass vials containing residue and a digital scale, along with packaging materials.
Multiple firearms including an AR-15-style rifle and a shotgun with a defaced serial number were also found in the home. Police said they also found ammunition, seized multiple cell phones, and more narcotics paraphernalia.
Jackson-Holland and Turner are charged with delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance involving cocaine under 50 grams, two counts of felony firearm, and safe firearm storage violations involving minors based on the evidence officers found in the home. Both were issued $25,000 bonds during arraignment on the charges at 35th District Court.
“These are difficult cases because they involve family members,” Knittel said. “Our investigators did a phenomenal job. We worked pretty much straight for four days pulling everything together.”
Jackson-Holland and Turner are scheduled to appear for preliminary examinations on the additional charges May 29 in 35th District Court.
