WATCH: Brevard Sheriff Ivey Locks Up Merritt Island Man in Connection With ‘Horrific Puppy Mill’, Faces Multiple Animal Cruelty Charges

Richard Cleveland is the husband of Elisabeth Cleveland, who was arrested last week on animal cruelty charges

WATCH: Richard Cleveland, 44, of Merritt Island was arrested Monday afternoon and personally walked into the Brevard County jail by Sheriff Ivey. Richard Cleveland is being held in the Brevard County jail on a $261,500 bond, as Elisabeth Cleveland faces 134 counts of animal cruelty and was released on a bond of $259,000. (BCSO video)

Richard Cleveland is being held in the Brevard county jail on a $261,500 bond, as Elisabeth Cleveland faces 134 counts of animal cruelty and was released on a bond of $259,000.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Richard Cleveland, the husband of Elisabeth Cleveland who was arrested last week on animal cruelty charges, was arrested and charged with 97 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 38 counts of unlawful confinement without food, water, and/or exercise, according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Richard Cleveland, 44, of Merritt Island was arrested Monday afternoon and personally walked into the Brevard County jail by Sheriff Ivey.

Richard Cleveland is being held in the Brevard county jail on a $261,500 bond, as Elisabeth Cleveland faces 134 counts of animal cruelty and was released on a bond of $259,000.

According to Sheriff Ivey, an investigation was started in June after a Rockledge police officer informed sheriff’s agents about the puppy mill across three properties in a shocking case of animal cruelty on Crisafulli Road in Merritt Island by Richard Cleveland and his wife, 36-year-old Elisabeth Cleveland.

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Throughout the investigation, detectives discovered that dogs had been left out in the sun without proper shelter, with food dishes containing vomit and water pails being filled with mold, Ivey added.

“When our team started looking into this, we found there were over 20 complaints dating back as far as 2016,” said Sheriff Ivey.

He said each time, they would respond to one of three locations: this property in Merritt Island, a place next door, and a property in Cocoa.

“When we went on the premises, we found that the animals didn’t have any cover,” said Sheriff Ivey. “They were out in the heat, their water pails had mold in it, they had algae in it, they had tadpoles in it.”

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Sheriff Ivey said that dogs were being kept under the floorboards and Agents discovered dogs with open wounds, eye infections, and one dog had a broken leg.

Sheriff Ivey said the puppy mill was operated online 0n Curio Kennel on Weebly and urged residents not to patronize the website.

As of Monday, though, the sheriff’s office has rescued 59 dogs and three cats from the Cleveland couple.

“We are going to continue to pursue every lead,” Ivey said. “My goal is to keep these people locked up where they can never have any type of other pet. They shouldn’t be allowed to own a pet rock, much less anything like this.”

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff’s Department agents arrested a Merritt Island woman on Wednesday in a shocking case of Animal Cruelty after multiple pets were located at a residence on Crisafulli Road in Merritt Island. According to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Elisabeth Cleveland was charged with 38 counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty and is in the Brevard County Jail on $114,000 bond.

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND,  FLORIDA – Brevard County Sheriff’s agents arrested a Merritt Island woman on Wednesday in a shocking case of Animal Cruelty after multiple pets were located at a residence on Crisafulli Road in Merritt Island.

According to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Elisabeth Cleveland was charged with 38 counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty and is in the Brevard County Jail on $114,000 bond.

Sheriff Ivey made the announcement in a video with a detailed version of the case, which can be seen above.

“When our team started looking into this, we found there were over 20 complaints dating back as far as 2016,” said Sheriff Ivey.

He said each time, they would respond to one of three locations: this property in Merritt Island, a place next door, and a property in Cocoa.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office started an investigating in June after a Rockledge police officer contacted agents.

“When we went on the premises, we found that the animals didn’t have any cover,” said Sheriff Ivey.

“They were out in the heat, their water pails had mold in it, they had algae in it, they had tadpoles in it.”

Sheriff Ivey said that dogs were being kept under the floorboards and Agents discovered dogs with open wounds, eye infections, and one dog had a broken leg.

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