The Monroe County Sheriff”s Department along with help from the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the West Point Police Department have arrested a suspected murderer who has been on the run since 2005. During the operation the agencies also stumbled upon a suspected dog-fighting ring.
The MCSO was contacted by the U.S. Marshals Tuesday after the federal agency located Quincy Evans — who is wanted in Illinois for a 2005 Chicago gang-related homicide — in Monroe County.
Evans, 26, was arrested at 10081 Blackjack Road in the southwest part of the county without incident, Wednesday. The MCSO said, however, several fire arms were found in Evans” possession at the time of his arrest, all of which were at arms length to Evans when he was taken into custody.
Firearms recovered by law enforcement included a SKS assault rifle, a 20-gauge shotgun, a .410 shotgun, a .357 magnum handgun and a .25-caliber handgun.
Authorities also found 13 badly scarred pit bull dogs on Evans” property. Inside his residence, police found and seized several treadmill-like devices, which are believed to have been used to strengthen the dogs for fighting.
The Amory Humane Society was contacted and secured all 13 of the animals yesterday, two of which are puppies.
While at the humane society one of the dogs, a 55-pound female, had to be immediately put down.
“She was extremely vicious,” said Terri Tucker of the Amory Humane Society. “She busted out of her cage and attacked the cat pin and put a huge dent in the pin.”
Tucker is doubtful the animals can be rehabilitated but said she intended to get in touch with a pit bull rescue service to see what can be done.
“It”s amazing,” she said. “We”ve got socializing dogs, and when they come through the pits come unglued. They are trying to get through our cages to get to our other dogs.”
Tucker, who was checking the condition of the puppies when contacted, said someone called to claim the two younger dogs. The caller said Evans was raising the dogs for him.
“I told him, ”Mister, you will never see those dogs again,”” she said. “It made me so mad.”
Due to a city ordinance, it is illegal for the Amory Humane Society to adopt out pit bulls.
Evans is awaiting extradition in the Monroe County Jail. He was indicted by an Illinois grand jury for murder in 2005, when he disappeared. Authorities believe he may have been in Monroe County ever since.
He has not yet been charged in connection to the dogs.
However, the MCSO said they expect more arrests to come from the dog-fighting operation.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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