Police Arrest Ride Operator
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A Lancaster woman who operates pony rides at the Santa Monica Main Street Farmer’s Market was arrested Sunday after authorities said they discovered 30 of her animals living in squalor inside a parked trailer.
Kathleen Marie Stone, 43, was booked on suspicion of animal cruelty at 1:25 p.m. after passersby heard the animals moaning in the trailer parked in the 500 block of Ocean Park Boulevard, said Santa Monica Police Lt. Gary Gallinot.
Officers found the animals were emaciated, had no food or water and were standing in their own feces, Gallinot said. Some of the animals appeared to be sick, he said.
“One goat was so emaciated it died in their arms,” Gallinot said.
The rest of the animals, including ponies, sheep and mules, were taken to the Santa Monica Humane Society, where they will cared for.
Stone is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail. She is expected to be arraigned later this week in Santa Monica Municipal Court.
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