Warning: This article discusses themes which some readers may find distressing.
Authorities were met with a disturbing scene outside an Alabama home earlier this week — a lifeless puppy with b:u:rn injuries lying in the driveway — and what investigators say happened behind closed doors has left even seasoned officers shaken.
A 44-year-old man from Atmore has been arrested and charged with aggrav@ted animal cruelty following the puppy’s de@th. Police have referred to the incident as “horrible and inhumane.”
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were called to a residence on Cruitt Drive on Monday after receiving a call about a possibly injured animal. Upon arrival, they found a Chihuahua puppy had severe b:u:rn injuries in the driveway.
Investigators said Williamson allegedly thre@tened to put the puppy in the oven during an argument with a family member after the dog would not stop barking — a thre@t he reportedly carried out by placing the animal inside, t:urning the oven on, and pushing a chair against the door to keep it shut.
Sergeant Darrell McMann from the Atmore Police Department confirmed that neighbors reported hearing distress sounds from the home.
McMann, who was at the scene, found the puppy outside the house. “I have a Chihuahua myself,” McMann told FOX10 News. “When I got there, I was just at a loss for words… I really just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together.”
Williamson is currently being held on a $15,000 bond and faces a Class C felony charge. If released, he will not be permitted to own or possess animals.
Sergeant McMann expressed concern regarding the existing legal framework. “I think in cases like this, they should be strengthened. Because I don’t think being a Class C felony fits what he did. That pretty much describes what he did: horrible and inhumane,” he said.
The case has drawn strong attention from law enforcement and the local community. The investigation remains ongoing.
Source: ondoho.com
