Florida: 6'5", 200 pound Jason Snead is accused of nearly beating 8 pound dog named Elizabeth Taylor to death

FLORIDA -- A Florida man is facing charges that he nearly beat to death a dog named Elizabeth Taylor, according to an arrest report.

Jason Robert Snead, 40, is facing charges of animal cruelty, possessing a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug equipment and is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $9,000 bail.

The dog, a 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has a fractured skull, according to Animal Care and Control Capt. Dave Walesky.

“We’re hoping she makes a full recovery, but she’s not in the clear yet,” Walesky said late Monday.

Snead was seen by a witness and caught on surveillance video brutally beating the dog outside a car dealership in Palm Springs , the report said.

The video appears to show Snead kicking, punching and “aggressively swinging” the dog against the inside the vehicle, the report said.

A witness told Palm Springs police that the dog looked “lifeless” as Snead swung it around by its leash.

Snead told police that the dog, which belongs to his girlfriend, was injured when he was forced to brake hard while driving.

Snead said he hit his lip against the steering wheel while braking, but the report states the man “did not exhibit any injuries to his face consistent with his story.”

During a search of Snead’s vehicle, 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, a glass pipe, multiple syringes and a straw with drug residue were found, the report said.

Of the methamphetamine discovered in the vehicle, Snead allegedly told Palm Springs police: “Off the record, I started [using meth] today.”

The dog’s owner, Denise Richter, told CBS12 over the phone that she drove down with Elizabeth and her boyfriend Snead to purchase a car Sunday at the dealership. Denise says she came outside and was horrified at what she discovered.

“My main concern is getting her back, she is my life, my world, my heart, she’s my soul,” Richter said.

Walesky said that Snead’s girlfriend originally agreed to renounce ownership of the dog, but changed her mind Monday.

Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control says the two-year-old dog is receiving advanced care and is not out of the woods just yet.

“She has really serious head trauma, we’re hoping she doesn’t have any permanent neurological damage” David Walesky with Palm Beach Animal Care and Control said. “At this point, there is no way in the world we’re going to release that dog back to that situation unless a judge forces us to do so.”

The dog is under the care of a private veterinarian, Walesky said.

Elizabeth Taylor weighs 8 pounds. The arrest report lists Snead as 6 feet 5 inches and 200 pounds.

DATE: 04/29/2014 08:39 AM
ADDRESS: PLANTATION OAKS, OB, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL
CASE NUMBER: 14-11503
Deputy Lee was flagged down by a worker in reference to people camping in the posted undeveloped area of Plantation Oaks. Jason Snead (Defendant 1) and Lynnette Sowder (Defendant 2) were located at their campsite near a retention pond and arrested for trespass. D2 was additionally charged with possession of paraphernalia for items found in her purse incident to her arrest. A stolen black 1978 El Camino (Case #14-8038) was recovered behind the campsite. Both denied involvement in the stolen vehicle, stating it was there abandoned and stuck in a hole when they arrived five days ago. The vehicle was towed for processing and possible charges are pending further investigation.

Arrest date: 03/14/2016
Full name: Jason Robert Snead
Race: White
Sex: Male
Birthdate: 01/12/1977
Arrest age: 39
Arresting Agency: OBPD - ORMOND BEACH
Arrest location: Volusia County, Florida
Charge:
DEALING IN STOLEN PROPERTY
STATUTE: 812.019(1)
BOND: $10,000

Arrest date: 12/30/2016
Full name: Jason Robert Snead
Race: White
Sex: Male
Birthdate: 01/12/1977
Arrest location: Volusia County, Florida
Charges:
#1 VIOLATION OF PROBATION / FALSE OWNER INFO PAWNED ITEMS LESS THAN $300
Case #: 2015 303112 CFDB
Bond: NO BOND
#2 PETIT THEFT FROM MERCHANT
Case #: 2016 317346 MMDB
Bond: $250

Arrest date: 04/05/2017
Full name: Jason Robert Snead
Race: White
Sex: Male
Birthdate: 01/12/1977
Booking number: 995585
Arrest location: Volusia County, Florida
Charges
#1 PETIT THEFT 1ST OFF. - Bond Amount: $500.00
#2 PETIT THEFT 1ST OFF. - Bond Amount: $500.00

(Dayton Daily News - May 23, 2017)