LCSO: Limestone man fed meth to caged ‘attack squirrel’
Published 9:40 am Tuesday, June 18, 2019
- This caged squirrel, "Deeznutz," was removed from a Limestone County apartment June 17, 2019, after a search warrant was served. Limestone County Sheriff's Office investigators were told the squirrel's owner, Mickey Paulk, kept it as an “attack squirrel” and fed it methamphetamine to keep it aggressive.
A Limestone County man kept a caged “attack squirrel” in his apartment and fed the animal methamphetamine to ensure it stayed aggressive, an official said.
Limestone County Sheriff’s Office deputy and spokesman Stephen Young said the squirrel was among several items seized Monday morning as part of a search warrant at an apartment in the 21000 block of Piney Chapel Road in Athens. Narcotics investigators also seized meth, drug paraphernalia, ammunition and body armor.
As a result of the warrant, investigators are now seeking 35-year-old Mickey Paulk on charges of possession of a controlled substance, certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.
When investigators served the warrant, 37-year-old Ronnie Reynolds of Ardmore was inside the apartment, but Paulk wasn’t home. Reynolds was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and loitering at a known drug house. He was later released from the Limestone County Jail on $4,000 bond.
Prior to executing the warrant, investigators were informed Paulk kept an “attack squirrel” inside his apartment and Paulk fed the caged squirrel meth. An animal control deputy arrived and contacted the Alabama Game and Fish Division of the Department of Conservation.
Game and Fish confirmed it is illegal to have a pet squirrel, and they recommended releasing the squirrel, which deputies did successfully.
Young said there was no safe way to test the squirrel for meth.
