Dog whipped with riding crop New Smyrna Beach, FL (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 County: Volusia Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: James Merle Warner

Case ID: 4948 Classification: Beating Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Sanford man remained in the Branch Jail on the afternoon of June 17, facing animal cruelty charges after police said he whipped his dog with a riding crop.

A New Smyrna Beach police officer was on patrol in Riverside Park shortly before 10:45 a.m. June 16 when she saw a man, identified as James Merle Warner, 66, hit a Dalmatian several times, the arrest report said.

When Officer Jennifer Dean confronted Warner, who was listed on the police report as a dog trainer, she said he stopped striking the dog and put it into his vehicle, along with the riding crop.

Dean said Warner was reluctant to cooperate with officers, failing to show them his identification and creating a disturbance during questioning. He was eventually arrested and charged with cruelty to animals and resisting arrest without violence.

After he was transported to the police station, the report said, Warner continued to be uncooperative and started kicking the holding cell door. When officers tried to restrain him, Warner kicked one in the arm and legs.

Warner was also charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and taken to the jail where he was held in lieu of $3,000 bail.

The Dalmatian and a Jack Russell terrier found in Warner's vehicle were taken to the Southeast Volusia Humane Society.

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