A 32-year-old California man has been arrested after a video allegedly showed him abusing a pug.
William Kenneth Slocum, of Desert Hot Springs, was taken into custody after footage captured him choking and lifting the dog at a marina in Huntington Beach.
The incident was recorded by Secure Tel LLC, a virtual remote-monitoring company. Its owner, Steve Tripp, contacted police after seeing the footage.
In the video, Slocum allegedly lifts the puppy over his shoulder by its leash, leaving the animal suspended above the ground and restricting its airway.
Tripp told KTLA that the dog “appeared to be in distress.” He said the pug was walking crookedly, with its tongue hanging out.
The footage then shows Slocum sitting down as the pug exhibits apparent signs of physical trauma. Despite sitting, Slocum allegedly continued the attack and punched the vulnerable animal at least two more times.
Tripp said Slocum appeared to be under the influence, pointing to his erratic behavior, including an instance in which he licked his own hands.
According to Tripp, the dog was later tied to a gate and was seen pacing in circles. Police arrived soon afterward and arrested Slocum at the scene.
“Every day we are reminded of how important our job is. From vandals, thieves, to now animal abusers, Secure Tel remains dedicated to keeping people, property, and animals safe,” the Corona-based virtual live-monitoring company said in a post on Instagram.
Huntington Beach Police Department arrest records show that Slocum was booked at 1:05 a.m. on September 20. He faces a felony charge of intentional animal cruelty.
The pug was placed in the care of Orange County Animal Care, KTLA reported. Authorities have not released an update on the dog’s current medical condition.
