Man arrested on animal cruelty charge after marina pug video
A 32-year-old was booked Sept. 20 after surveillance video showed a pug being lifted by its leash, police records show.
A 32-year-old California man has been arrested after a video emerged showing him allegedly abusing a pug at a marina in Huntington Beach. William Kenneth Slocum, of Desert Hot Springs, was detained after footage showed him throttling and lifting the pup. Huntington Beach Police Department arrest records show Slocum was officially booked on Sept. 20 at 1:05 a.m.
The incident was captured early Sunday morning on surveillance cameras monitored by Secure Tel LLC, a virtual remote live-monitoring company based in Corona, before owner Steve Tripp called the police. Tripp said his organization caught the man in the act on its cameras and contacted authorities. He told KTLA the dog "appeared to be in distress," walking in a crooked manner with its tongue hanging out.
A man is seen on video appearing to harm the small dog near a dock in the marina. Slocum allegedly hoisted the pug over his shoulder by its leash, suspending the animal off the ground and restricting its airway. The footage showed the man lifting the dog by its collar and flinging it over his shoulder before putting it down and pulling it around.
The video shows Slocum taking a seat while the pug displayed clear signs of physical trauma. Even after sitting down, Slocum allegedly continued the assault, punching the vulnerable animal at least twice more. Tripp watched the video and saw the man hang the dog over his shoulder by its collar, yank it around, and punch it.
Tripp told KTLA that Slocum appeared to be under the influence during the attack. He cited visibly erratic behavior, including an instance in which Slocum licked his own hands.
According to Tripp, the dog was subsequently tied to a gate, where it was seen pacing in circles while authorities were on their way. Police arrived shortly after 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 company said on its Instagram page.
Slocum was taken into custody after footage captured him choking and lifting the dog at the marina, according to the reports. Police arrived shortly after the incident and arrested him at the scene.
As the video progressed, it appeared the man choked and struck the dog at least twice. The New York Post reported the case on Sept. 22, identifying Slocum from police arrest records.
He faces a felony charge of intentional animal cruelty. The pup was turned over to Orange County Animal Care, KTLA reported. Authorities have not yet released updates on the pug's current medical condition.
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