Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A man and a woman were arrested in Millard County for investigation of animal cruelty and vandalism.
- Sheree Jean Willden and Michael Huntsman allegedly threw golf balls into a yard.
- Deputies found a dead skunk with drug paraphernalia.
FILLMORE — Two people have been arrested after allegedly throwing golf balls with derogatory comments into a yard and also killing a skunk.
Sheree Jean Willden, 35, and Michael Huntsman, 41, were booked into the Millard County Jail on Wednesday for investigation of aggravated cruelty to an animal, causing property damage, theft, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. Willden was arrested on suspicion of additional charges of assault on a police officer and interfering with an officer.
The unusual investigation began Tuesday when sheriff's deputies were called to 240 N. 400 West, in Fillmore, on a report of "multiple golf balls, which had derogatory comments written on them, had been thrown into the yard," according to a police booking affidavit. The affidavit does not say what types of comments were written on the golf balls.
On Wednesday, deputies were called to 175 N. 400 West on a report of people sleeping illegally behind a building.
"I arrived at the property and located a bucket of golf balls behind the building," the affidavit states.
Willden and Huntsman were then spotted nearby carrying golf clubs and walking away. When a deputy stopped them to talk to him, Huntsman claimed he had taken the golf balls from a nearby course, according to the affidavit.
While questioning the couple, the deputy was called back to the residence at 240 N. and 400 West where additional evidence was found, including additional golf balls.
"I arrived and observed multiple golf balls in the yard. I also observed a dead skunk, which had bailing twine around its neck, as well as a hypodermic needle in its neck," the deputy wrote in the affidavit.
While talking to another resident on the street, deputies were told Willden and Huntsman "had taken his dog during the evening/early morning hours, and said his dog smelled like a skunk when he went to feed it before he went to work on (Wednesday)," according to the affidavit.
When deputies attempted to take Willden into custody, she kicked a deputy in the chest, the affidavit states. Multiple deputies then put her in restraints and arrested her.
Huntsman was also arrested after a search warrant was served on a shed, and golf clubs and drugs were located, the affidavit states.
Investigators say they are still trying to determine if the couple targeted the victims and what their connection might be, or if the incidents were random.
