A 53-year-old Florida man has been arrested after allegedly beating a six-week-old puppy to death, with investigators saying the assault was captured on video. Neil R. Puterbaugh, of Punta Gorda, in south-west Florida, was arrested at his home on Tuesday by deputies from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
Arrest and Charges
Puterbaugh is accused of aggravated animal cruelty, a felony offence under Florida law, and is also alleged to have violated the terms of his probation. The investigation began after a local news organisation sent police a tip containing video footage, which investigators said showed Puterbaugh repeatedly punching the puppy.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the assault continued until the animal died. Investigators said Puterbaugh then disposed of the puppy's body.
Investigation and Admission
Detectives obtained the footage and spent the next two days investigating the allegations before arresting Puterbaugh at his home. Police said Puterbaugh admitted during an interview after his arrest that he had struck the puppy and acknowledged that he had "went too far".
Detectives also recovered additional videos from the property which they said showed further abuse of the same puppy.
Sheriff's Response
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said he was particularly distressed by the circumstances of the animal's death. "My heart hurts for what this sweet puppy endured," Mr Prummell said in a statement. "There is no excuse for abuse of this kind, and I believe the only word to describe it is 'evil'."
The sheriff also thanked the person who reported the footage and the media organisation which passed it to investigators. "I wish we could have known sooner so that maybe we could have prevented this terrible outcome," he said. Mr Prummell added: "I pray this puppy is now playing free for eternity in a world without pain and fear."
Puterbaugh remains in custody at Charlotte County Jail and is being held without bond, according to the sheriff's office. The case remains ongoing. The allegations against Puterbaugh have not been tested in court.
Charlotte County is on Florida's Gulf Coast, roughly 170 miles (275km) south-west of Orlando. Punta Gorda, the county seat, has a population of about 20,000 people.
