A former City of Silsbee animal control officer previously charged with improper euthanasia methods was arrested March 31 on a new charge by the Silsbee Police Department and has since been released.
Joshua Brandon Nolen, 29, was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, a Class A misdemeanor. His bond was set at $5,000, according to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police were notified of possible animal cruelty allegations by Michelle Lee Ladner, who operates the Silsbee-based rescue organization Angels to the Rescue.
Feb. 27, Ladner reported she went to the city’s animal shelter at 142 Woodward Lane to drop off two stray dogs. According to the affidavit, Ladner discovered an area near the shelter littered with the remains of multiple deceased dogs in various stages of decomposition.
Officers responding to the scene observed multiple canine remains scattered throughout the area, including some in a drainage ditch approximately 100 to 200 feet northwest of the shelter.
The affidavit alleges Nolen used a personal .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer to euthanize multiple dogs.