Jul 30, 2007 10:52 pm US/Central
DPD Chase Suspect Known To Some As A Cat Collector
by Brooke Richie
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
A driver who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through multiple cities said he was trying to take his sick cat to the vet.
The suspect identified himself as Ron Teague.
"My cat was dying. I'm trying to get him to the vet," said Teague. "I was trying to get to the vet, and I was hoping they would just quit following me."
To people in the animal community, the east Dallas resident is infamous as a cat collector. He's allegedly known to have more than 40 cats in his house.
The executive director of Operation Kindness, an animal shelter in Carrollton, said agencies across the metro area were encouraged to prevent him from adopting. The organization turned Teague down for adoption back in May.
A neighbor said he tried to find other people to adopt for him.
"He even came by one time, saying they wouldn't let him into the Carrollton animal shelter," said Andy Charbeneau, one of Teague's neighbors. "He tried to get my wife to go in there for him to get a cat out. She said no."
A representative from the Have Mercy Foundation sent the following email to warn the Frisco Humane Society:
Please be aware that a man by the name of Ronald Teague is said to be making the rounds of area shelters and adoption events trying to adopt or foster either cats or dogs. Allegedly, he is a collector and has been in trouble before. He may get angry if refused an adoption so please be careful.The SPCA received a complaint about Teague just last Tuesday, and they say they plan to investigate.
A neighbor who participates in animal rescues said she confronted Teague on July 17. Pam Hart told CBS 11 News that he replayed by saying, "I'm going to shoot you, and I'm going to cut your head off."
"And a neighbor who was on her porch called 911 with her cell phone. And she said, 'Could you say that again for the 911 operator?' He said three times he was going to kill me," said Hart.
"This guy's been peculiar from the first time we met him, which was when we found out he took our cat," said Charbeneau.
Neighbors say their biggest concern is to make sure their cats and dogs in his house are going to be okay.
Dallas Animal Services paid the pets a visit Monday night to check on their welfare.
They say there might be more than 50 cats in the house.
Dallas Animal Services says the cats and dogs don't appear to be in a life or death situation.
Tuesday, they'll determine whether they need to obtain a warrant to remove the animals.
As for the cat in Teague's SUV, Animal Control found the cat, dead, in a pet carrier inside the vehicle.
(CBS 11 News)
FEATURED SLIDESHOW: A Look Inside The House Of A Suspected Cat Collector
Click to enlarge
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