Puppy slammed on sidewalk in front of children
Columbus, GA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 17, 2010
County: Muscogee
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Devon Bell
A Columbus man arguing with his child's mother Sunday grabbed her children's puppy by the hind legs and slammed the dog against the pavement three times, killing the pet, police said.
Devon Bell, who had just marked his 22nd birthday Friday, faces charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, terroristic threats, obstructing police and disorderly conduct, according to jail records.
Police were summoned about 6 p.m. Sunday to a home on Winifred Lane, where Jimea Williams told them she had an argument with Bell, her child's father. During this dispute, Bell grabbed the dog and bashed it against the pavement, she said. "The puppy suffered severe injuries to his neck, spine and ribs," police reported.
Bell ran from officers, who arrested him about an hour later at Blueridge Drive and Blueridge Court.
Investigators said multiple witnesses told them that during the altercation Bell "stood in the street cursing and using profanities as he killed the dog," and he "threatened to kill all other animals in the yard." Bell's home address was the same as Williams', according to police and jail reports.
Bell is set for a preliminary hearing in Recorder's Court at 2 p.m. today, according to the jail. He has bonds of $250 each on the charges of obstruction and disorderly conduct. No bonds were set on the other charges.
The Georgia law on felony aggravated animal cruelty states: "A person commits the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals when he or she knowingly and maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animal´s body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal. A person convicted of the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000, or both." References |
