Oregon zoo owner arrested after raid finds drugs, guns and $1.6m
Oregon police have arrested a zoo owner on drug charges following a police raid at the facility earlier this month that found drugs and widespread animal mistreatment.
The Coos county sheriff's office said that Brian Tenney, the owner of West Coast Game Park Safari, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of methamphetamine possession, manufacturing and attempted distribution. He was later released as the district attorney's office awaited more information, a staff member at the Coos county jail said when reached by the Associated Press.
West Coast Game Park Safari has been under scrutiny in recent weeks, following a raid in mid-March that resulted in drug seizures. Authorities served multiple search warrants at the zoo, which holds more than 450 animals and is located near the small town of Bandon on the southern Oregon coast. The action followed an investigation into the facility, including inquiries into the animals' welfare, Oregon state police said.
Police said they found 80g of methamphetamine, 44 firearms, roughly 8g of cocaine and $1.6m in cash, cashier's checks, bonds and certificates. Inspectors also raised concerns about the treatment of the animals, including malnourished lions and leopards that had 'hips, ribs, and spine prominently displayed under the skin'.
Veterinarians and staff with the Oregon Humane Society and the state departments of fish and wildlife and agriculture responded to the scene to assess the animals' health, food quality, water supply, sanitation and enclosure conditions, authorities said.
Police said 310 animals were relocated to animal sanctuaries or rescue facilities. After being evaluated by veterinarians, a camel, a chicken and a kinkajou were euthanized.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
19 minutes ago
- Times
Saudi Arabia gifts Smithsonian rare leopards after Trump visit
Act now to keep your subscription We've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Times
19 minutes ago
- Times
Eurostar challengers ‘need to think about storing rolling stock'
Act now to keep your subscription We've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Reuters
38 minutes ago
- Reuters
Humana to back curbs to Medicare Advantage billing practices, WSJ reports
June 5 (Reuters) - Humana (HUM.N), opens new tab has told congressional staffers that it will support moves that would curtail billing practices worth billions in extra payments to the industry, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing staffers and a document viewed by it. The company is willing to back new limits on lucrative payments insurers can gain from diagnoses recorded by nurse practitioners who visit millions of enrollees in their homes, according to a one-page policy overview shared with the staffers, the WSJ reported on Thursday. Humana did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Nearly half of the 65 million people covered by Medicare, the U.S. program for people aged 65 and older or with disabilities, are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers. Insurers are paid a set rate for each patient, but can be paid more for patients with multiple health conditions. Last fall, staff working for Senators Mike Crapo and Ron Wyden, the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, contacted Medicare Advantage insurers for suggestions on legislative steps that would address the potential misuse of home visits described in Journal articles, the newspaper reported citing people familiar with the matter. The Journal reported in February that the U.S. Department of Justice was examining UnitedHealth's (UNH.N), opens new tab practices for recording diagnoses that trigger extra payments to its Medicare Advantage plans. The healthcare conglomerate had then said it was unaware of any new probe. The WSJ has run a series of stories over the last several months detailing how UnitedHealth profited from using Medicare billing rules to its favor.
