NEW BALTIMORE, Mich. – The FBI calls New Baltimore one of the safest towns in Michigan.
However, a house right down the street from the New Baltimore Police Department is under an intense investigation. The details are disturbing.
On Tuesday, police raided the home on Main Street. Neighbors said prescription pain killers allegedly were being sold out of the home.
When investigators were serving a search warrant, they just happened to look in the freezer. The investigation suddenly changed. What they found was the remains of several dogs wrapped up inside the freezer.
"You have popsicles on one side, hamburger meat and here right next to it are deceased animals," said New Baltimore Police Chief Tim Wiley.
On Wednesday, a second search warrant was served. This time, officials with Macomb County Animal Control went inside. They call the deceased dogs major red flags.
"I don't know why you would put the animals in the freezer. That behavior in itself was suspicious," said Jeff Randazzo, chief of Macomb County Animal Control.
There's more: Animal Control removed the remains of three dogs, 11 live dogs, a python snake, a mouse and a pit bull. Investigators suspect the house also was being used as a puppy mill.
"It's not the best scenario for the dogs," said Randazzo.
A man who owns the home told Local 4 Thursday afternoon that it's no "house of horror."
52-year-old Margaret Carp, who lives at the home, is charged with felony failure to confine a dangerous animal.
Police and Animal Control are investigating a drug-related issue. Animal Control has ordered three necropsies (autopsy for an animal). They want to know how the dogs died.