Raymone Clements walked the dog into the park in the early evening of Nov. 25, tied him to a tree and fired four shots at the dog, striking him twice, police Chief Jeff Robertson said in a news release.
The dog, in a state of shock, was found Nov. 26.
Police received multiple tips about the shooter's identity and a $3,500 reward was offered. The investigation of possible accomplices continues, Robertson said.
The dog, now named Forest, was shot in the chest and jaw. One bullet was surgically removed, while the other shattered, leaving fragments in the Forest's lower jaw.
Cleveland Heights police retrieved the bullet from the veterinarian and sent it to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. Fingerprints could not be retrieved.
Forest is now recovering in a Public Animal Welfare Society foster home from surgery to remove a testicular tumor.
Donations for Forest's care are being accepted at pawsohio.org; 440-442-PAWS (7297). Bil Jac is donating all of Forest's food during his recovery period.
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| Raymone Clements |
"We extend our thanks to the Cleveland Heights Police Department for their dogged pursuit of the individual who shot Forest," PAWS director Amy Beichler said. "PAWS is grateful for the time, effort and dedication it took to bring about an arrest."
Clements has a lengthy criminal history in Cuyahoga County, including rape. He was classified a sexual predator in 2006 and served five years in prison.
(Plain Dealer - Dec 20, 2012)
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