A 38-year-old convicted felon was arrested on suspicion of two animal cruelty offenses and unlawful firearm possession after apartment surveillance video captured him kicking and dragging two dogs at a Tulsa complex, according to the Tulsa Police Department.
Officers responded around 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, to Eagle Suites, near East 31st Street and Memorial Drive, to investigate an animal cruelty report made earlier that morning, police said. Employees at the complex told officers and Tulsa Animal Welfare that they had found a loose dog running around the property, KTUL reported.
Staff reviewed security camera footage to find where the dog came from and discovered the owner abusing that animal and a second dog, according to police.
The footage shows the suspect kicking both dogs in the face and dragging them by their leashes, police said. One dog ran away while the man hit the other with its leash and dragged it up the stairs toward his room, authorities said.
Officers said the dogs could be heard yelping on the video and did not appear to have been aggressive toward the suspect at any point.
Officers took the man into custody and executed a search warrant on his apartment to locate the second dog. During the search, police said they found a handgun in his room. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The suspect was booked into the Tulsa County Jail on two counts of animal cruelty after former conviction of a felony and one count of possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony.
Tulsa Animal Welfare took custody of both dogs.
Formal charges had not been filed as of Thursday, Oct. 15, according to KTUL. KRMG also reported on the arrest. The Tulsa Dispatch is withholding the suspect's name until charges are formally filed.
Anyone who witnesses animal cruelty in Tulsa can report it to Tulsa Animal Services at (918) 596-8001. After hours, call Tulsa police’s nonemergency number at (918) 596-9222.
