A 38-year-old Salem man was given a notice to appear in court after being arrested by Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies for animal torture and cruelty to an animal.
Daniel Thomason of Church Road was arrested based on a video of the beating being sent to Salem Animal Control Officer David Lusch by an unknown person. Upon investigation, Lusch determined the incident had occurred at Thomason’s home outside the city limits. He turned the investigation over to the Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies.
After Thomason voluntarily came to the sheriff’s department for questioning he was arrested.
The sheriff’s department reports the video taken in March allegedly shows Thomason beating a dog he formerly owned with a PVC pipe. Deputies say the dog could not get away because it was chained up. The dog did not appear to have sustained any serious injuries. Thomason told deputies he got rid of the dog in May.
Thomason also told deputies he was upset with the dog because it had killed two chickens and had defecated in the yard.
The State’s Attorney’s office will make the final decision on what, if any, charges are filed.
