New Bern police said 36-year-old Samuel Drew of New Bern was seen throwing a dog over the drawbridge in downtown New Bern shortly after noon.
The dog, apparently a stray, managed to swim to safety after being tossed into the Trent River.
Investigators said they got the call from eyewitnesses and arrived to talk with Drew.
Police said he told them the stray was following him and annoyed him, so he threw her over the bridge. Another stray dog managed to run away.
The dog was rescued from the river and is doing fine. She swam near the New Bern Convention & Visitors Center where an animal control officer went in the water and pulled her out.
The dog is being held in quarantine after biting one of the people who tried to rescue her from a boat.
Drew was charged with animal cruelty, and appeared Monday morning before a judge. Drew briefly talked to WITN while being led back to jail after his court appearance.
He remains in jail and his next court date is July 8th.
(WITN - June 17, 2013)
