California: Bruce Adams, 36, accused of torturing puppy he was dog sitting and trying to kill it

CALIFORNIA -- A Sonora man faces felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor drug charges after reportedly trying to kill a pit bull puppy in a Sonora park on Friday.

About 5:10 p.m. Friday, a Sonora police officer responded to a report of a man trying to kill a dog in Woods Creek Rotary Park.

The officer found Bruce Adams, 36, with a black-and-white pit bull puppy. “It’s probably about 8 pounds – not big at all,” Sonora police Chief Mark Stinson said Monday.

Witnesses approached and told the officer that Adams picked up the dog by the collar and threw it about 10 to 15 feet into Woods Creek. They reported that Adams said he was going to “kill the dog.”

One witness said Adams held the dog underwater with his foot for about five seconds. The depth of the water there is about a foot, Stinson said. The dog didn’t appear to have suffered injury, police said.

Investigators learned the dog did not belong to Adams. He was puppy-sitting for its owners and took it to the park, said Stinson. The owners were located and the dog was released to them.

Adams was taken into custody without incident. He was searched and found in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe, police reported. Officers believe Adams was under the influence at the time of the incident, Stinson said.

At the Tuolumne County jail, he was booked on a felony charge of animal cruelty and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

(Modesto Bee - July 25, 2016)