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By Pat Reavy
Deseret Morning News
A man was arrested Monday in West Valley City after
police say he confronted a 12-year-old girl while wearing
nothing but a towel and then stabbed her dog in the face.
The bizarre incident began when a man taking a
shower in his apartment near 3800 South and 1700
West heard his mother yelling at him about a dog outside,
said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan. Police
later learned the mother may have been yelling some-
thing about a dog running loose without a leash.
The son, however, apparently interpreted his moth-
er's comments as a dog was threatening her, McLachlan
said. So the man stepped out of the shower, wrapped a
towel around his waist, got on his bicycle and rode
around to the back of the complex.
The man spotted a 12-year-old girl walking a German
shepherd that was leashed and not acting aggressively,
McLachlan said. the man got off his bike and stabbed the
dog in the face without warning, he said. According to a
booking report from the Salt Lake County Jail, the man,
26, "stabbed the dog in the cheek area with a kitchen
knife, cutting the dog's face."
Several people who witnessed the incident grabbed
the man and held him until police arrived.
Brandon Lee Mike was booked into the Salt Lake
County Jail for investigation of cruelty to animals and
disorderly conduct, both class B misdemeanors.
The dog was doing OK Tuesday, according to the
family, McLachlan said.
Salt Lake County Animal Services spokeswoman
Temma Martin said the attack is just the latest
reason why stiffer animal cruelty laws are needed.
"There have been several cases in the last several
months that are a slap in the face to people who care
about animals. We've seen charges dropped, an animal
abuser let out of jail early, we saw yet again the failure
to increase animal cruelty penalties...we don't seem
to take these kinds of crimes seriously." she said. |
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