Taunton Police arrest three men on animal cruelty charges

TAUNTON — Chief Edward Walsh reports that three men have been charged with animal cruelty after blowing what is believed to be marijuana smoke in a goat’s face this week.

Lorenzo Kelley, 20, Nuno Camara Jr., 18, and Jared Jorge, 21, all of Taunton were each charged with one count of Animal Cruelty. They have been issued summonses to appear in court at a later date.

At approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Taunton Police were notified about a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows three men taking a goat out of its outdoor pen and putting a chain around its neck. The video later shows the goat inside of a home with one of the men sitting on top of the goat’s back. Two of the men can be seen blowing marijuana smoke in the animal’s face, while the third man is filming the incident. The video was dated Tuesday, July 10. Throughout the video the men can be seen cheering and laughing at the alleged abuse of the animal.

Taunton Police immediately launched an investigation Tuesday to identify the men in the video and locate the goat.

The men in the video were subsequently identified as Kelley, Camara, and Jorge and charges were filed.

On Wednesday, the goat was located at a home belonging to a relative of Camara’s on Thrasher Street in Taunton.

Taunton Police and a Taunton Animal Control Officer went to the Thrasher Street home and positively identified the goat as the animal in the video. The goat was taken under the care and custody of Animal Control, where it will remain until the investigation has concluded.

The goat is expected to be okay and the men will be arraigned at Taunton District Court at a date that has not yet been determined.