A Polk County couple have been arrested, accused of child neglect, animal cruelty and possession of marijuana, deputies said.
Dustin Deck, 28, and Katie Renner, 27, were taken into custody on Tuesday, after deputies went to their home in the 5600 block of Viburnum Court. Renner had accused Deck of domestic violence earlier in the day at a gas station.
Upon entering the home, deputies discovered “deplorable conditions,” according to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
From the Polk County’s Sheriff’s Office:
There were 7 adult pit-bull dogs and 8 pit-bull puppies inside and outside the home, dog feces in the living areas (next to children’s toys), urine stained carpet, dirty dishes, upon which was rotting food, flies, and cockroaches, stale food on a baby’s highchair, a baggie of marijuana and smoking pipe sitting out on a living room table, marijuana in the bedroom, dead flies and cockroaches in a child’s room, dirty laundry on the floors, cluttered conditions, damaged walls, and dirty carpets, walls, and bathrooms. According to the affidavit, the odor inside the residence was overwhelming with dog feces, urine, and rotten food.
Deputies said, Deck and Renner had access to the children – a five-year-old and 18 month old – and were responsible for their nourishment, care, supervision, and wholesome environment.
According to the arrest affidavit: Renner told deputies the conditions were appropriate in her home and the children were happy. She admitted to the marijuana being in the home and admitted to smoking marijuana, saying she believed marijuana should be legal. Investigators said, the marijuana & bong was sitting on a low table in the living room, providing access to the children.
Deputies also determined that the conditions of care for the animals showed neglect. Two pit-bull dogs were locked in a cage with no overhead cover to protect them from the direct sunlight and intense heat (temperature at the time was 91 degrees with a heat index of 101 degrees). There was no access to fresh or clean water. There was dirty water in a plastic bucket lined with green algae. 8 pit-bull terrier puppies and one adult pit-bull were located in the garage. The garage was littered with feces and urine and no clean or fresh water was accessible. The dogs were removed from the property by animal control.
Deck is charged with child neglect (2 counts), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic violence battery, and assault on a law enforcement officer. Renner is charged with child neglect (2 counts), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, animal cruelty (15 counts), battery on a law enforcement officer, and tampering with evidence.
Deck’s criminal history includes 12 arrests, 2 prison incarcerations, 9 felonies, 12 misdemeanors, 3 failure to appear, and 2 “others.” Renner’s criminal history includes 5 arrests, 5 felonies, and 9 misdemeanors.
