A homeless man is under arrest after witnesses claim he “violently slammed” his dog to the ground.
At 8:17 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, Gresham Police officers responded to 911 calls of animal abuse near the intersection of Southeast Stark Street and Southeast Kane Drive. Witnesses said the suspect attacked his dog, including the animal’s head on the pavement.
Officers discovered the black and white husky, with brilliant blue eyes, limping. There were no more visible injuries. Tagg, Gresham Police’s comfort dog, offered his bowl of water as his human colleagues investigated.
Marquel Phillips, 30, has been taken into custody. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center for second-degree animal abuse, carrying a concealed weapon (knife), and having several outstanding warrants out of Colorado.
Multnomah County Animal Control took the dog for additional treatment and evaluation.
