Owner Whose Dogs Reportedly Terrorized Community Held Without Bail on Heroin Charges

Posted

Jacob Hadaller, the man whose pack of German shepherds allegedly terrorized a community near Mossyrock before they were seized by the county in October, is now being held without bail on previously filed felony heroin trafficking charges.

Initially charged after a SWAT raid in July, Hadaller was released on bond and returned to the neighborhood where residents had long lived in fear of his dozen or more dogs. Following complaints to the county about aggressive behavior and dead livestock, Lewis County filed a public nuisance complaint against Hadaller, earning a court order to remove the dogs.

At a preliminary court appearance Tuesday, Judge Andrew Toynbee ordered Hadaller held without bond. He had already forfeited a previous $250,000 bond when he failed to appear at a court appearance in October.

Hadaller was arrested on July 20 following a seven-month investigation by the Joint Narcotic Enforcement Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In a SWAT raid on his property, agents turned up a quarter pound of heroin, a small amount of methamphetamines, more than $5,000 in cash, a digital scale, drug packaging, Oxycontin pills, Suboxone strips, pistols holsters and ammunition.

At his father’s home, law enforcement officers seized three more firearms, including a “Tommy gun,” and Hadaller claimed to have hidden more weapons in “the hills.” Beneath the floorboards of his father’s home, agents located a safe with $95,000 in cash, on which a narcotics K-9 detected the odor of drugs.

After being released on bail this summer, Hadaller continued to have altercations with his neighbors and county enforcement officials as his pack of dogs killed pets and chickens and chased large livestock through the fields. Officers rounded up the dogs on Oct. 9, following a court order.

All 17 German shepherds have since been adopted out, said Lewis County Animal Shelter Manager Amy Hanson. Once separated, they displayed none of the aggressive behavior that comes out in a “pack mentality.” Initially, the dogs were anxious of new surroundings, but adjusted quickly.

“They were really fearful of anything new, but we’ve heard nothing but good reports from people once they get them home,” Hanson said.

Soon after, on Oct. 11, Hadaller fled the scene of a traffic stop, resulting in another warrant being issued on Oct. 25. After being returned to custody, Hadaller appeared at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Following Hadaller’s forfeiture of his initial $250,000 bail in the drug case, Lewis County prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said it was an easy decision to ask for him to be held without bond.

“We were obviously concerned with the entire situation,” he said. “You have a mix of guns and drugs and money, and then you have the dogs thrown in there. Then you have him posting a significant amount of bail and leaving. Yeah, we have some concerns.”

He added that those concerns were magnified when Hadaller’s initial bond did not seem to act as a deterrent.

“Usually bond is a pretty good way to coerce compliance,” Meyer said. “Obviously, he didn’t follow the rules. Our theory is, he had his bite at the apple. He shouldn’t get another one.”

Hadaller’s arraignment and trial setting have been scheduled for Nov. 21.