09:02 AM PST on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
A Los Angeles County assistant fire chief accused of beating his neighbor's puppy with a 12-pound rock was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of felony animal cruelty.
Glynn Damon Johnson, 54, of Woodcrest near Riverside, was handcuffed and led away from his home by Riverside County sheriff's deputies.
If convicted, Johnson could serve up to four years in prison. Johnson was released on $10,000 bond.
Johnson also is charged with two enhancements of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Riverside County district attorney's office filed the charges more than a month after the Nov. 3 incident.
Johnson had said he hit the 6-month-old German shepherd mix, Karley, after she latched onto his hand and wouldn't let go. He said the dog nearly severed his thumb. Johnson and sheriff's deputies said he was treated at a hospital for injuries to his thumb.
The dog was so severely injured she had to be euthanized.
The dog's owners, Jeff and Shelley Toole, said they were happy to see Johnson get arrested from their front yard.
"I'm joyful. This is what we knew he deserved. We wanted him to feel the process of being arrested like a normal citizen," Jeff Toole said. "He did this to hurt the dog and to hurt us. He's not a nice man."
Following the incident Johnson was placed on paid administrative leave from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Officials did not comment Tuesday about the arrest or any changes to his employment status.
The case was fueled by angry rhetoric and protests in front of the district attorney's office along with heightened media attention. District attorney's officials said public pressure did not influence their decision to file charges.
Reach John Asbury at 951-763-3451 or jasbury@PE.com
Fucker.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled he was arrested
and charged. They don't hang people
anymore though,do they?
Remember that cocksucker who beat his pitbull puppy to death in Burnaby,I think it was?? This kind of shit is way too common for my liking.
Nah, hanging is considered "in-humane"...how ironic huh.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I do not remember that pitty pup being murdered. Soooo many souls in the past bit have been, it's mind boggling.
Hopefully this fucker will actually be punished. I don't hold out any hope though. I hope at the very least he is shamed and shunned. ( at the very least )