Police arrested 26-year-old Michael Berst on Sunday, several days after the dog died. Berst was charged with cruel neglect of animals and tampering with physical evidence. Both charges are class four felonies and each charge carries a possible zero to five years of incarceration or a zero to $10,000 fine, or both.
"Police was notified by the Humane Society of a possible cruelties to animals case. A dog was evidently killed and thrown into a trash receptacle," said Officer Butch Hurst of the Grand Island Police Department.
In court on Monday, the State said Berst used a ball-peen hammer to kill Buddy, a 6-month-old pit bull mix.
The State said a witness saw Berst placing what appeared to be the body of an animal in dumpster on April 15. The Central Nebraska Humane Society and the police were called, and the body of the puppy was found.
Authorities said the dog was deceased by the time they arrived and that there were visible head wounds.
Neighbors said they've tried to intervene before because they often saw the dog being mistreated.
"Their dogs were always outside, even in bad weather, raining. I never saw the dogs taken inside.
They cried constantly, there was no food, there was no water, nobody petted them," said a neighbor who did not wish to be identified.
The State said Berst was questioned and later admitted to killing Buddy with blows to the head with a hammer.
Citing Berst's previous encounters with the law, including failures to appear, and the "heinous nature of the crime," the State asked for a high bond.
Judge Art Wetzel ordered a bond of $100,000 at 10 percent. Berst's preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 11, 2013 at 10 a.m., and he has said he will hire his own attorney.
(1011now - April 23, 2013)
Piece of shit. Hope he rots in prison
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