Who is Joshua Crain? DEC investigator who executed search warrant for Peanut the Squirrel comes under fire
The lead investigator behind the death of Peanut the Squirrel has been identified as Joshua Crain. The news came a few days after Peanut’s owner, Mark Longo, opened up about the incident and revealed that the squirrel was seized and euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Days after Peanut’s death, The New York Post revealed the name of the lead investigator, and claimed that Joshua Crain executed the search warrant “after receiving a sign-off from Chemung County Judge Richard W. Rich Jr. the day before."
The publication also stated that a DEC spokesperson spoke to them on Friday, November 8, 2024, and said:
“Internal investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we are reviewing internal policies and procedures to ensure we continue serving this core mission.”
As per Times Now, Joshua Crain, a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation official, was named the Wildlife Officer of 2022 by a conservation organization.
For the unversed, the whole fiasco took place on October 30, 2024, when the authorities raided Mark’s house after complaints from the neighbors.
The hours-long raid executed by Joshua Crain led to the authorities seizing Peanut the Squirrel as the officials claimed that it was illegal to keep young wildlife as pets as they “are not well suited” to be held in captivity.
It is also worth noting that along with the Squirrel, Joshua Crain and his officials also euthanized Mark’s racoon, as they stated that the animal could be carrying a number of diseases which could be passed to humans.
Social media users criticize Joshua Crain
Days after Mark Longo narrated the whole incident of how the DEC officials barged into his house and euthanized his squirrel Peanut and also his racoon, the name of the lead investigator has finally come forward.
With the news going viral, many social media users started lashing out at the official, as the followers of the squirrel were heartbroken after its demise.
An X account, @ThePatriotOasis also shared the news on the platform, to which multiple people responded by criticising Joshua Crain. The comments read:
Furthermore, as Mark Longo shared his side of the story on November 2, 2024, while speaking to The New York Post, he claimed that a dozen officials walked into his house and conducted a five-hour-long raid. He said:
“They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours. They asked my wife, who is of German descent, what her immigration status was. They asked if I had cameras in my house.”
He also said:
“They wouldn’t allow me to go to the bathroom without a police escort, who then checked the back of the toilet to see if I was hiding anything there. We rehabbed him for eight months, we released him for a day and a half, but he ended up getting attacked. He never developed the instincts to survive outside."
On the other hand, the DEC also released a statement just after the passing away of Peanut, where they mentioned that an official involved in the investigation was also bitten by the squirrel.
However, the officials, and the lead investigator, Joshua Crain continue to receive negative comments from the masses for the euthanization of Peanut the Squirrel, and Mark’s racoon.