EXCLUSIVE: Animal Cruelty Investigation, and now CPS Case

This time Child Protective Services joined Fresno Sheriff's deputies.

Conditions at the property prompted animal control to remove several animals last week.

And Monday, a baby was removed from the home by Child Protective Services.

Just before six-thirty in the evening, Child Protective Services took a 16 month old child from the home on South Cornelia Avenue.

Social workers and Fresno Sheriff's deputies had spent more than a half an hour inside.

“We received information that the living conditions inside the residence were not safe to be living in, so we had to respond out with CPS to check those conditions,” said Sgt. Ryan Hushaw with the Fresno Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies say three people lived at trailer home, including the child.

“We determined by walking through the residence and checking the residence that it was not safe for the child to be living in at this point. So we are going to place a protective hold on the child,” Sgt. Hushaw said.

Last Wednesday, deputies got an anonymous call about malnourished animals on the property.

They found a dead cow and several dead chickens alongside malnourished cows, even though there was hay nearby. And pigs, dogs and rabbits that had no food or water were also at the home.

30-year-old Gary Charles Long was arrested on 16 accounts of animal cruelty.

Deputies say there is no connection between the animal cruelty case and the CPS case, but there is a common thread: “Obviously the living conditions of the entire property are not in a good condition and not safe for children or animals,” said Sgt. Hushaw.

Investigators say the child will remain in protective custody until the home is cleaned up.