Florida: For twenty minutes, Donte Francis punched, beat, slammed, threw, abused and tried to drown his Pit Bull. Now he's been charged with Felony Animal Cruelty

FLORIDA -- The Tallahassee Police Department has arrested a man on charges of animal cruelty.

Donte Francis, 34, was arrested at his home in the 2000 block of Sheridan Drive by an animal control officer with Tallahassee Police Department.

The officer was responding to a call from a witness who told police he saw Francis on top of his Pit Bull, punching it with closed fists.

The witness took a video of Francis’ cruelty and showed it to officers, who observed him punch the dog about 18 times, throw it in the pool and hold its head under water, choke it and pick it up, slamming it to the ground.

A police report on the incident says the entire episode of Francis’ abuse took place over 20 minutes.

When officers arrived at Francis’ home to ask him about the footage, they said they saw the dog in a pen in the back yard and were concerned that it was not moving. 

The arrest report says Francis told officers he had “washed his dog in the back yard.”

Francis was charged with felony animal cruelty.  Francis was booked into the Leon County Jail and was released Wednesday after posting $1,000 bail. Officers took the dog to a local shelter.

Investigators are continuing to follow up with the case and are asking anyone with information to call (850) 891-4200, or if they choose to remain anonymous, to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Donte Keyon Francis
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 180
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
DOB: 10/10/1982
Arrest age: 34
Address: 2018 Sheridan Drive, Tallahassee FL
Charges:
Felony Animal Cruelty pursuant to Florida Statute 828.12(2)

(WCTV - August 16, 2017)