Port Allen Mayoral Candidate Jailed

PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) — One of the four candidates seeking to be Port Allen's new mayor has been arrested and jailed in the mistreatment of animals.

The Advocate reports 63-year-old Larry Bell had been issued multiple warnings — written and verbal — about the undernourished appearance of his horses before he was taken into custody last week by the parish's Animal Control division.

Bell was booked Thursday on charges of cruelty to animals and on a bench warrant for having an animal at large. Bond information was unavailable. Bell wasn't immediately available for comment.

The special April 5 election is being held in the wake of a November recall of former Mayor Demetric "Deedy" Slaughter.

The candidates, including Bell, are retired law enforcement officer Richard Lee, retired teacher Kirby Anderson and Slaughter.

___

Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com