Fort dog trainer with warrant apprehended in Illinois

By Kim McDarison 

A Fort Atkinson dog trainer with a warrant out for her arrest was taken into custody last night, according the Capt. Jeff Davis of the Fort Atkinson Police Department. 

Davis confirmed that Tammy Flemming, who is wanted in connection with a felony animal cruelty charge in Jefferson County, was arrested in Illinois. She is currently in custody in Illinois and will undergo an extradition process to bring her back to Wisconsin, Davis said. 

A warrant for Flemming’s arrest was issued by a Jefferson County Circuit Court judge in June after Flemming did not appear for a scheduled arraignment hearing. Flemming, who was charged in March with a felony count of “mistreatment of animals/cause death,” was released on a $1,000 signature bond. The court issued a judgement in the amount of the bond on July 29 after Flemming did not appear at a bail/bond forfeiture hearing held July 26.

Davis said the Fort Atkinson Police Department had become aware that Flemming might be in Illinois and shared that information with law enforcement in that state. 

He described circumstances leading to Flemming’s arrest as “consistent with that information.” 

Lindsey Davidson, the owner of an 8-month-old puppy who was allegedly killed during a training exercise preformed by Flemming, told Fort Atkinson Online that she learned about Flemming’s arrest early this morning through an email she received from the Fort Atkinson Police officer who assisted her on Sept. 10, 2020, the night that her puppy, “Cooper,” died. 

After learning of Flemming’s arrest, Davidson said: “I definitely feel happy with the progress and I’m glad we can go to court and move through the trial and have some closure in the near future verses waiting however long we would have had to wait before.” 

A representative at Jefferson County District Attorney Monica Hall’s office, responding by phone to questions about Flemming’s extradition, said: “We have no comment at this time.” 

If convicted on the felony animal cruelty charge, Flemming could face fines up to $10,000, up to three years of incarceration, or both. 

An earlier story outlining details associated with the animal cruelty case is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/process-through-the-court-system-has-been-long-and-emotional-says-owner-of-deceased-pup/.