According to police, officers were called to the 1600 block of Shelby Drive on April 13, in reference to a woman reporting that her roommate killed her Chihuahua. The complainant reported that she left her residence to go to work and was later called by her roommate and informed her dog was dead.
Danny Steen, 26, 1608 Shelby Drive, Dyersburg, is alleged to have killed the dog after it urinated in the house.
Tennessee State Law states "a person commits aggravated cruelty to animals when, with aggravated cruelty and with no justifiable purpose, the person intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal."
Steen was issued a $5,000 bond and had his first court appearance on April 23. His next court date is June 4 in Dyersburg City Court.
DPD Capt. Steve Isbell stated all cases of animal cruelty or animal neglect will be thoroughly investigated by the department, and charges will be filed if the investigation determines that state law was violated.
"I hope this will help educate people that there are consequences to harming animals," said Isbell. "It is very troubling to me that there are people in society that feel harming a companion animal or any animal is OK. People need to know that we will investigate and take the cases as far as we can for those who can't defend themselves."
(State Gazette - April 25, 2012)
