Two arrested in animal killings - Update: Drinking may have been a factor

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BARRON - The Barron County and Dunn County Sheriff's Department announced yesterday the arrest of two teenagers who allegedly shot and killed three horses and five cows last month.

Trenton Hollister, 17, Dallas, made his first court appearance yesterday in Barron County Circuit Court on the charges of felony mistreatment of animals. Hollister was taken into custody Monday. No charges have yet to be filed as of Wednesday against the other individual, a 17-year-old from Wheeler.

Prosecutors said two teenagers were drinking before they shot-and-killed eight farm animals in Barron and Dunn counties last month. Hollister was freed on a signature bond, and is due back in court next Wednesday. The 17-year-old Wheeler boy is also awaiting court action. On-line court records did not list any charges for him yet – but media reports say he’s due in court next Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, Hollister and the other boy each had eight-or-nine beers before they got into Hollister’s car, drove around the countryside, and shot three horses in one location and five cows in another. Officials said their original plan was to poach deer.

On Nov. 30, the Dunn County Sheriff's Office received reports of three horses that had been shot during the night. Two were found dead and a third died from the injuries the following day.

The same day, the Barron County Sheriff's Office received reports of five cows being shot in Barron County. All of the animals ended up dying or had to be euthanized.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald and Dunn County Sheriff Dennis Smith explained in a joint press release that since the incident, investigators from both agencies have been working to solve these crimes. And on Monday, investigators checked on a tip they received where the arrests were made.

Tags: local news, animal killings, barron county, dunn county, news