A teenage defendant has been charged with animal cruelty after video evidence was provided to the Bellefontaine Police Department showing the suspect striking a dog multiple times.
Josiah Dooley, 18, of Bellefontaine was charged with cruelty to animals, a second-degree misdemeanor. Officers were dispatched to Saturday, Jan. 4, to an apartment in the 800 block of east Sandusky Avenue around 10:30 p.m. in response to a dog complaint.
Upon arrival, Officers spoke with the complainant, who provided video evidence of the suspect hitting the canine several times.
The video footage reportedly showed Dooley walking toward the dog on a balcony, striking it multiple times, walking away, returning to the dog, picking it up and appearing to bite it. The footage then showed Dooley punching the dog in the face and head multiple times. A copy of the video was provided to law enforcement for evidence.
When officers spoke with Dooley at the apartment, he admitted to being upset because the dog had bitten him during rough play, which he believed was caused by stepping on the dog’s foot or tail. Dooley was counseled about his actions and issued a citation for cruelty to animals.
A copy of the report will be sent to the Logan County Dog Warden for further review.