A Maryland man has been arrested months after allegedly using fireworks to kill a dog in Tennessee, police said. Cornell Mersiers Jr. was taken into custody last week and faces multiple charges, including animal cruelty and arson.
The incident occurred on March 4 in Chattanooga, where police responded to a report of a fire in the woods caused by a man throwing a dog from his car and tossing fireworks at it. Officers found a small black and white pitbull mix lying on the ground with its torso torn open, deceased.
Two witnesses identified Mersiers as the suspect. One witness reported seeing him throw an object from his black Jeep Wrangler, which then caused a loud bang and sparks, igniting a fire. When confronted, Mersiers ignored the witness and fled. Another witness provided a photo of the vehicle.
Police contacted Mersiers, who identified himself as “Jason Smith” and claimed they had the wrong number. They asked him to come pick up the dog without revealing details, and he agreed but never returned. He subsequently stopped answering calls.
It remains unclear where Mersiers was during the months following the incident. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 3.
