Dog slashed during hired theft
Des Moines, IA (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 10, 1999
County: Polk

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Denny Allen Brown - Convicted
» Roberta Ficek - Convicted

Suspect accused in dog's mutilation. Police say Denny Brown had meant only to steal it. It was supposed to be a dog-napping for hire, but things went wrong.

That's what Des Moines poice said Wednesday after arresting a man who allegedly hacked a dog nearly to death on Sunday.

Denny Allen Brown, 29, of 721 S.W. Watrous Ave was charged Wednesday afternoon with animal abuse. He was being held in the City Jail pending a court appearance today.

A day earlier, police charged Roberta Ficek, 49, of 336 S.E. Granger Ave with solicitation to commit animal abuse. Investigators said she hired Brown to kidnap the dog and get it out of her neighborhood.

Police did not disclose the amount of money paid for the dog-napping. They said that Brown admitted cutting the 18-month old Louie with a 2-foot long knife after the dog nipped him.

Louie, a cocker mix, was slashed in the face, the shoulders, hip and legs, said his owner, Marie Connet. Veterinarians used dozens of stitches and staples to close his wound. He was recovering Wednesday at Connett's home in the 300 block of Southeast Granger Avenue.

Police said Ficek had been annoyed by the dog because it had been barking. Ficek, who runs a child-care business in her home, apparently was angry that the noise was keep children awake, officials said.

Brown, whose two children attend Ficek's child-care services, cut a deal with her to kidnap the dog, police said.

Early Sunday, Brown tried to kidnap the dog, which was tied up in a fenced yard, according to detectives. They said Brown wanted to take Louie to an animal shelter. When Louie nipped him, police said, Brown took the long-bladed knife and began whacking the dog with it.

Marie Connett found Louie a few hours after the attack and rushed him to a veterinarian. He'd lost a lot of blood but was still alive.

References

• Des Moines Register - Oct 14, 1999

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