BUFFALO, NY — Two Buffalo men face drug and animal cruelty charges after search warrants were executed at two residences on May 14.
Maurice Ruttlen, 41, of Buffalo, and Benathan Cook, 46, of Buffalo, were arrested following an investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Intelligence Unit with assistance from the Buffalo Police Department.
Search warrants signed by Hon. Tiffany Perry of Buffalo City Court were executed in the morning at locations on Carl Street and Grider Street.
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team executed the warrant on Grider Street and took Cook into custody without incident.
Drug paraphernalia was seized from the residence.
The Buffalo Police Department SWAT team executed the warrant on Carl Street and took Ruttlen into custody without incident.
Cocaine, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency were seized from the residence.
Three dogs were located outside the Carl Street residence without access to food or water and appeared to be malnourished.
The dogs were turned over to Buffalo Animal Control.
Both Ruttlen and Cook have been charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts), second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and overdriving, torturing and injuring animals: failure to provide proper sustenance.
