WASHINGTON (7News) — The man arrested for partaking in a violent standoff with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Southeast was within the technique of dealing with an eviction, in response to courtroom paperwork filed in Superior Court.
Steven Rattigan, additionally identified below the alias “Julius James” is accused of taking pictures three MPD officers once they arrived to his home, serving an arrest warrant on behalf of the Humane Rescue Alliance for cruelty to animals. A fourth officer was additionally injured.
Investigators reported a complete of 31 dogs have been discovered contained in the 48-year-old man’s home: 11 puppies and 20 grownup dogs.
One neighbor advised 7News she knew Rattigan, and couldn’t consider the brand new particulars surfacing about this case.
“We all thought it was simply 10 [dogs]. He actually brings the dogs out. As you possibly can see behind me, I’ve a transparent shot of his yard,” mentioned Tammy Alexander.
Rattigan offered the identify Julius James to his landlord to lease the home. The courtroom paperwork filed check with Rattigan as “Julius James.”
Alexander mentioned she had no thought Rattigan was going by a number of names.
“I by no means went to him and requested his identify. He’s solely been right here for just a few years,” Alexander mentioned.
Court paperwork filed by Rattigan’s landlord present a 30-day discover was given in April 2023, claiming Rattigan, “has two dogs pit bulls [sic] attacked a 2-year-old and her guardian.”
The eviction discover states James had till the tip of May to do away with his dogs or vacate the home on Hanna Place SE.
By January 2024, the owner filed grounds for eviction, attributable to Rattigan’s failure to do away with the dogs.
That identical month, the Washington Humane Society obtained a name from a neighbor involved there have been dogs being uncared for in Rattigan’s home.
An Animal Control officer arrived on the home January 6, 2024, however smelled a “robust odor of canine feces and urine” whereas nonetheless exterior by the entrance door. The officer knocked on the door, however did not get a solution, and left a discover of a failure to offer “correct air, mild, area.”
Just just a few days later, the Washington Humane Society obtained video displaying what gave the impression to be Rattigan punching a canine “within the face six occasions, inflicting the canine to yelp every time.”
“I see this man each day. I greet him each day. He greets me each day. I watch him put the dogs in his automobile, take them to the park, do various things with them. That was extraordinarily stunning once I heard that,” Alexander mentioned.
Rattigan confronted a decide on Thursday who ordered he be held with out bond hours after the injured law enforcement officials have been launched from a hospital.
During the listening to, it was revealed that Rattigan is now dealing with extra prices, together with assault with intent to kill whereas armed.
Court paperwork revealed all three officers who have been shot have been hit within the decrease left leg, with a kind of officers additionally struggling a graze wound to the left arm.
“God bless these officers and thank God for his or her therapeutic. I’m additionally very, very grateful they did not take this man’s life due to a mistake. I simply really feel that in my coronary heart,” Alexander mentioned.
Alexander’s yard digicam video exhibits the second officers ran towards Rattigan’s home a while after the taking pictures.
Rattigan’s protection argued that he ought to be launched on private recognizance, however in the end a decide determined there was possible trigger that he dedicated the crimes. Upon his lawyer’s request, he’ll obtain a forensic analysis.
Rattigan is scheduled to look in courtroom once more on February 29, officers mentioned.
The Humane Rescue Alliance shared the next assertion:
“Throughout the course of our investigation, our Humane Law Enforcement officers obtained evidence of the suspect allegedly striking and punching a dog, and we obtained an arrest warrant on charges of animal cruelty. At the end of the day on February 14, after the suspect was taken into custody, our officers removed 31 dogs – 20 adults and 11 puppies – from the house on the 5000 block of Hanna Place SE. They range in age from 2 months to several years old. All of the dogs appear to be American Bullies, or some mix thereof.
So many of you have reached out about the dogs, and we appreciate how much you want to help them. Right now, our priority is to focus on their care and wellbeing, and to allow them to settle in after what was an exceptionally traumatic day in their lives. For those of you who are looking to add a new pet to their family, we do have nearly 100 adoptable dogs who are looking for loving new homes,
Earlier today, our three colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Department, who were shot while serving the arrest warrant, were released from the hospital. We are thrilled and relieved that they are on the mend, and the whole HRA team is thinking about them, and their loved ones, as they recover. While we are always grateful for their partnership, we especially want to honor them today. Together with our own field services officers, our MPD partners encounter unpredictable and volatile situations in the course of our work. We truly could not fulfill our mission without them, and we thank them for their courage.”
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