Police arrest suspect in dog's gruesome death

NEWARK – A suspect has been arrested after reportedly mutilating and killing a dog early Wednesday morning.

Harley J. Paynter, 19, was arrested about 1 p.m. Wednesday by the Newark Division of Police. He was booked into the Licking County Justice Center on charges of animal cruelty, where he remained Wednesday night, records show.

Animal cruelty is a second-degree misdemeanor, meaning -- unless charges change -- the maximum penalty would be 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.

The incident was reported shortly before 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, when police were called to a Ballard Avenue home and found evidence the dog, a pug, had been cut apart, Sgt. Paul Davis said.

Only some parts of the dog have been located, with parts found both inside and outside the Ballard Avenue residence.

Davis said the crime could be elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor if certain elements can be proven. Motive remains unclear.

The dog's owner has "no idea what happened, and we are kind of at the same point," Davis told 10TV.

"I hope this is the last time in my career that I have to talk about something like this," Davis said.

A relative at the home on Ballard Avenue said the family did not want to speak with the media because the case is still under investigation.

A person saying they were a relative of the dog's owner called The Advocate and said the 11-year-old pug was sick and in pain, but the family did not want to put the dog down.

That relative said the suspect had just been staying the night at the home and was a friend of a person living in the home. Davis said the suspect gave police the Ballard Avenue address as where he was living.