Cass Lake man wanted for poisoning neighbor's pets with antifreeze

BEMIDJI — Police are looking for a Cass Lake man accused of poisoning his neighbor’s pets with antifreeze in January.

A warrant was issued in late March for William Lee Croaker Jr., 39, 17158 Mission Road SE, in Ten Lakes Township. Croaker failed to appear in court on March 20, where he was to have his first appearance on one count of cruelty to animals.

In the warrant filed by the Beltrami County Attorney’s, Croaker is cited as admitting to Leech Lake Police that he set out food laced with anti-freeze in an attempt to keep his neighbor’s pets away from his residence.

On Jan. 16, police were called to the area of Mission Road Southeast by a man who said his dog was not moving. When police arrived the dog had trouble standing up. Leech Lake Police had previously received several reports from the area about dogs and cats being poisoned, the warrant stated.

The next day officers searched the area for evidence of the poisonings, and found a dog bowl with green liquid around it outside Croaker’s home. When questioned about the substance in the bowl, Croaker admitted to poisoning the animals, according to the warrant.

Police later learned that several dogs and cats in the area had become sick recently, and a few had died.

Some of the animals were taken to the Bemidji Veterinary Hospital and Animal Care Clinic. Doctors there told police that the animals were likely poisoned with anti-freeze, according to the warrant.