A Lancaster man has been arrested after authorities say he beat his grandfather's dog, threw it against a backyard outbuilding and then tossed the animal into a trash barrel and burned it.
Timothy Scotty Steele, 18, of 1064 Tryon St. was arrested April 25 and charged with animal cruelty, a felony, said Tom Holland, a Lancaster County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
The incident happened in early March while Steele's grandfather was away from home for several days, Holland said. According to police documents, Steele abused the dog, a Chihuahua mix, on March 9 or March 10.
"He slammed the dog in a wall and threw him in a bag," Holland said. "It was still alive when it was put in the bag."
A neighbor and children saw the bag move in and out as if the dog was gasping for air, Holland said. One witness said Steele, with a pistol in his hand, joked about killing the dog, according to the report.
The report notes that witnesses saw Steele beat and kick the dog before throwing it into the air and putting it in the trash barrel and burning it.
After Steele's grandfather returned home, he discovered the dog. It was "tortured and mutilated practically beyond recognition," according to police reports.
"The dog was in a trash barrel," Holland said. "His (the dog's) feet were burned."
Steele's grandfather called animal control, and the carcass was picked up, Holland said.
The grandfather, Jimmy Steele, believes his grandson was mad at him for not leaving him money while Jimmy went into the hospital.
"It's pretty sadistic," Holland said. "I've seen animals being tortured and beaten, but not like this."
Holland does not have a criminal record in South Carolina, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.
Holland, whose bond was set at $6,000, remained in custody Thursday at Lancaster County Detention Center. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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