Men arrested on animal cruelty charges

WAKEFIELD — Two Wakefield men have been arrested and charged with crimes related to animal cruelty.

Gerald Herlache, 51, and Lawrence Murphy, 52, were arraigned in Gogebic County District Court Monday afternoon on two counts of felony cruelty to ten or more animals. Deputies with the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office seized 19 animals last week from a home in Wakefield.

Both men are currently being held on 10% of a $20,000 bond. The City of Wakefield, Wakefield Fire Department and the HOPE Animal Shelter assisted the sheriff’s office in their investigation.