ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Thursday, a Cornell Township woman appeared in court, following her arrest for biting a police officer during an animal neglect investigation.
On February 4, 22-year-old Brianna Makosky was arrested on three counts of resisting and obstructing a Michigan State Police trooper. The felony charges each carry a penalty of up to two years in prison.
On February 26, Makosky’s attorney requested that she undergo a competency examination.
“She’s not able to effectively communicate with us because she was off her meds and her memory is absent from the event due to blackout spells,” her attorney told the judge.
The judge granted the request, despite pushback from County Prosecutor Lauren Wickman.
“This court well knows that there was a pending matter in the district court for a period of about four to five months, during which the defense attorney had no problem communicating with Ms. Makowsky,” Wickman said.
Court proceedings regarding the resisting and obstructing charges will resume once the competency examination has been completed. WZMQ 19 reached out to Wickman to ask whether additional charges related to the animal neglect investigation could be brought against Makosky.
“Currently, the Michigan State Police is investigating the matter, gathering relevant evidence, information, and fact that may, or may not, lead to charges upon my review,” Wickman wrote to WZMQ 19. “No decision[s] have been made at this time, and no additional comments can be made at this time until the investigation has been completed. As always, a criminal charge is merely an allegation and that any suspect or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
During their initial investigation, Michigan State Police personnel found several dead animals on the property. They seized more than two dozen malnourished animals, including cats, rabbits, and a sheep. Most of those animals are now in the care of the Delta Animal Shelter.
“It’s not the first time we’ve been there,” said Shelter Operations Coordinator Vonnie Bruce. “We were there over the summer helping [the State Police] remove a pony from the property, so we kind of knew—to an extent—what we were getting into.”
Because the shelter does not typically take in farm animals, the sheep was only in the shelter’s care for a few days before being moved to a foster home.
“We set him up in a nice little, quiet spot in the back,” Bruce said. “We got him a nice, cozy bunch of straw. He got to have a good diet and hay, and he was really happy.”
The number of cats the shelter is caring for has increased since the animals were seized.
“Two of them have given birth to kittens,” said Bruce. “The first one gave birth to four kittens, and then the other one had six. We have 23 total cats that were taken, if you include the kittens. If we would’ve gone a couple weeks later, these cats would’ve already had their kittens. Who knows where the kittens would be hidden? Would we have gotten them all? It’s definitely nice to see them give birth in a clean, happy, healthy environment.”
With the investigation still in progress, the shelter does not have official custody of the animals. Bruce says it could be a long process.
“There has to be enough to be sure that laws are being broken,” she explained. “Some people could have a totally different way of life, but under the law, it could still be legal. Hopefully, the next step would be some sort of hearing where the animals either get forfeited or they end up legally being in our care. Then they can start to get spayed and neutered and put up for adoption.”
Bruce encourages those concerned about the animals to have patience as the case moves through the legal system.
“Everyone who is involved is really trying to do their job to the best of their ability,” she said. “The officer that’s in charge of this situation is making sure to gather evidence and have everything she needs before she presents that to the prosecutor. We’re 100% behind our local law enforcement and our prosecutor. Just try to put the good vibes out there and hope for the best.”
Until then, Bruce assures the public that the animals are receiving the best possible care at the Delta Animal Shelter.
“All of us really look at the animals that are here as our own pets while they’re here,” she said. “It’s tough thinking about the possibility of them going back, but also, that’s not our decision. We’re just happy that we have space to care for them.”
The Delta Animal Shelter welcomes guests who want to visit the rabbits during business hours. Bruce says they enjoy receiving fresh vegetables and hay.
WZMQ 19 will continue to follow this case as it develops.
