A multi-agency investigation found dozens of violations and hundreds of dead cows on properties owned by or associated with rancher Raymond Christie, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
Violations range widely, from causing an animal to be cruelly killed, to dogs not having adequate water. Almost 200 cattle have been confiscated and other animals placed in the care of a responsible party.
Christie's ranch has been in the spotlight before.
Press release Via HSCO:
During a five-month investigation into large-scale animal cruelty complaints about properties owned by or associated with local rancher Raymond Frank Christie, Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies observed bovine bones and carcasses in/near waterways, as well as, areas on the properties where cattle were being contained with little to no feed or grass. These observations validated community complaints that serious violations were taking place on the properties.
On Monday, March 19, 2018, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office served search warrants at four northern Humboldt County properties associated with Christie, with assistance from the following agencies:
- Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office
- United States Bureau of Land Management
- United States Department of Agriculture
- California Department of Food and Agriculture
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Humboldt County Code Enforcement
- Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Hazardous Materials Division
- Humboldt County Animal Control
- Humboldt County Drug Task Force
During the service of the warrants, personnel located approximately 250 to 300 deceased cows, some of which Christie had heaped into large piles approximately 10 feet high near an excavator; others were located laying in/near waterways. Personnel also found a large number of cows contained in small or insufficient corrals and many malnourished animals.
Further violations found included:
- Moving dairy cattle without official ID tags
- Removal of Brucellosis tags
- Removal of state livestock back tags
- Bringing cattle into California without veterinary inspection certificates or ID tags
- Improper disposal/storage/removal of solid waste
- Improper animal keeping
- Illegal development within a streamside management area
- Cannabis permit violations
- Improper/illegal disposal of biohazard waste
- Building code violations
Additionally while on the properties, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife discovered the following violations:
- Twenty-one violations of disposal of a carcass within 150 feet of a state waterway
- Seven violations of discharging sediment into state waterways
- Five violations of placement of refuse within 150 feet of a state waterway
- One violation of abandoned motor vehicle in a state waterway
- Eight violations of substantial alteration of bed and banks of a stream without a permit
- Three unpermitted stream crossings
Humboldt County Animal Control found the following violations on the properties:
- Five violations of dogs kept in unsanitary conditions
- Eight violations of dogs without water
- Five violations of inadequate space for dogs to move freely
- Four violations of primarily housing a dog on wire flooring
Violations found by the Humboldt County Animal Control were corrected on scene and the dogs were left in the care of a responsible party. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has placed 179 head of cattle on hold for repossession pending further investigation. A plan to care for the remaining livestock owned by Christie is still being developed.
Based on the evidence located, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christie on the following charges:
• PC 597(a) – Animal cruelty
• PC 597(b) – Causing an animal to be cruelly killed
• PC 597.1 (a) – Failure to provide proper care to an animal
• FG 5652 – Disposal of a carcass within 150 feet of a state waterway
Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding these cases or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445- 7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268- 2539.