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Attorneys/Judges
| Judge(s): | Gerald Feissner |
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Dog beaten, suspect threatens to kill police
Freeland, PA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Apr 11, 2011
County: Luzerne
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Donald H. Corey
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Freeland man accused of beating his dog and threatening to kill police officers was arrested Monday.
The woman who watched Donald H. Corey pummel a small boxer and confronted the man deserves credit for her courage, police said.
"She's the hero of the whole story," Freeland police Chief Nadine Sist said.
Joyce Hrabovecky was driving in the area of Washington Street in Freeland around 7 p.m. when she saw Donald H. Corey, 50, of 511 Washington St., run onto the road to retrieve a brown dog, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Corey picked up the dog - a small boxer between 3 and 5 months old - by its collar and punched it in the head several times, Hrabovecky said.
Then, according to the affidavit, Corey put the dog's head on the hood of a Ford Escape parked in the 500 block and punched the dog in the head several more times until it went limp. Hrabovecky said Corey "body-slammed" the dog on the car hood.
Horrified to see the dog go limp, she blew her horn and yelled for Corey to stop. Corey cursed at her, saying it was his dog and he'd do what he wanted with it as punishment for running away, Hrabovecky said. It was later learned that someone else owns the dog.
Eventually, Corey retreated back to his home with the dog in tow.
Hrabovecky, however, wouldn't leave. She pulled her vehicle over and called the police while Corey allegedly continued to yell at her from near his home.
"I couldn't believe it because I'm an animal lover and I can't stand animal abuse," she said.
Sist said Hrabovecky was intent on helping the dog and should be commended.
"She was determined to get him to stop beating the dog. She was persistent," Sist said.
The police chief said she is sure other people saw the incident unfold but simply ignored it.
Hrabovecky said adrenalin and fear for the dog made her stay.
"We have to stand up for the animals that can't stand up for themselves," she said.
When police officers arrived at the home, Sist said, they asked Corey, who appeared "heavily" intoxicated, why he hurt the dog. Corey told them the dog ran into traffic and when he got him inside, he hit him with a rolled-up newspaper, according to police.
Sist and Officer Matthew Williams said they found the dog and another small black dog hiding behind a couch in Corey's living room. The dog Corey allegedly beat came out but cowered to the floor, according to the affidavit. Sist said both animals did not act like typical puppies but rather showed signs of fear.
As police began to check the dogs for further signs of abuse, they said Corey became belligerent and threatened to kill Williams if he took his dogs. Police said Corey was told several times to calm down but he kept cursing and became violent and again threatened to kill Williams.
Officers took Corey into custody, and as Williams placed him in the police car, Corey said, "When I get out I'm gonna find you and kill you," according to police.
While in custody at the Freeland Police Department, Corey again threatened to kill Williams but also threatened to kill Sist and officers Scott Michalesko and Rob Maholik, police said. He also tried "charging" out of his chair several times and threatened to assault officers, according to the affidavit.
Corey was taken to Luzerne County Correctional Facility on Monday night and arraigned. He remained lodged on $3,000 bail as of Thursday.
He was charged with cruelty to animals, public drunkenness, four counts of terroristic threats with intent to terrorize and three counts of disorderly conduct.
Sist said the dogs were taken to the Hazleton Animal Shelter, where they were checked out by a veterinarian who also ensured they were up to date on shots. A shelter worker said the animals are owned by Thomas Gill of Freeland, who surrendered the animals Thursday. The dogs are available for adoption.
Case UpdatesMan faces animal cruelty charge for alleged dog beating
A Freeland man, arrested and imprisoned after allegedly beating a dog on a borough street April 11, will face one count of animal cruelty and one count of terroristic threats.
Three counts of disorderly conduct, three counts of terroristic threats and one count of public drunkenness against Donald H. Corey, 50, were withdrawn in district court in Freeland on Wednesday.
His bail was also modified from $3,000 straight to $3,000 unsecured. However, Corey must obey by the conditions of bail set by District Judge Gerald Feissner; he is prohibited from contact with any animal and with the witness to the dog beating, and from living at 511 Washington St., as per the owner of the home, where he was living when the alleged animal abuse occurred.
A Freeland woman saw Corey beat a dog on Washington Street and though she told Corey to stop, the man continued to punch the dog, police have said. Police credit the witness, Joyce Hrabovecky, with saving the dog and calling authorities.
Officers who responded said Corey threatened to harm them.
Freeland Police Chief Nadine Sist said two dogs were surrendered and adopted into new homes from the Hazleton Animal Shelter. | Source: standardspeaker.com - Apr 21, 2011
Update posted on Apr 23, 2011 - 11:26AM |
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