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A Daviess County sheriff’s deputy was forced to shoot and kill a chimpanzee in self defense after being attacked by the aggressive adult primate Monday evening at a rural home on Reel Avenue north of Winston.

The next day, Tuesday, March 31, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office returned to the residence with a search warrant regarding animal abuse and neglect. Three people were taken into custody at that time.

The sheriff’s department was first called to the residence Monday after a chimpanzee was reported to be running loose on Route Y, a blacktop highway.

Upon their arrival, deputies and the owners tried to capture the nine-year-old chimp, which weighed between 100-150 pounds. After several failed attempts to corral the animal, it opened the door of Deputy Larry Adams’ patrol car, grabbed the deputy’s leg and attempted to strike him. The deputy struck the chimp in the chest pushing him away. The chimp attempted to attack the deputy again. This time the deputy had to use deadly force in self defense.

The deputy suffered minor injuries. The owners of the chimpanzee suffered cuts and scratches from the attack and were treated at the scene.

While at the residence, the sheriff’s office noted about 200 dogs living in "deplorable" conditions on the property in what appeared to be a substandard puppy mill. The sheriff’s office reported the situation to the Missouri Department of Agriculture who requested the assistance of the Humane Society of Missouri to rescue the dogs, along with three primates.

Tuesday afternoon a warrant was served by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department for the removal of the animals. But when members of the sheriff’s department, the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force arrived at the location, all but 15 dogs and two cats had been removed from the property.

The Sheriff’s office arrested Brent D. Hudson, 49, Cherace E. Hudson, 41, and Mary C. Overton, 52, all of Winston. All three were charged with the following misdemeanors: one count of operating an animal care facility as a breeder or dealer without license; two counts of animal abuse; and multiple counts of violating provisions regarding disposal of dead animals.

Brent and Cherace Hudson were also both charged with four counts of keeping dangerous wild animal without registration with law enforcement agency; and one count of animal neglect or abandonment. The charges were filed Wednesday. Bond was set at $5,000 for each person.

The dogs and cats that were still on the property were taken to the Humane Society of Missouri headquarters in St. Louis for examination, care and shelter until the disposition hearing on April 6 in Daviess County.

According to a probable cause statement filed by the Daviess County Sheriff, Mr. Hudson was the owner of Timmy, a large, nine-year-old chimpanzee, which he failed to keep under adequate control, which resulted in the attack on Deputy Adams. Mr. Hudson also failed to have four primates living at the address registered with local law enforcement.

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the primates have since been located and officials are investigating their condition.

The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the location and recovery of the dogs that were removed from the property. Persons with information on the whereabouts of the dogs should contact the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Abuse Hotline, 314-647-4400.