Ross police considering charges against man seen on video beating dog

Ross police said charges are being considered against a man who they say was recorded on security video repeatedly beating a dog at a motel along McKnight Road.

The suspect remains at large.

Detective Brian Kohlhepp said the man, who has not been publicly identified, came to the station Friday night and surrendered the dog to authorities.

Kohlhepp said the man is cooperating with police and was not arrested. Charges, if any, will be determined based on the dog’s condition.

“Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh assisted with the custody of the dog, who appears to be stable and in good spirits,” Kohlhepp said. “There are indications of and concerns for the nature and extent of internal injuries. The dog is to have a full medical evaluation.”

Police were notified shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday that a man was beating a dog in the parking lot of the InTown Suites in the 4500 block of McKnight Road.

According to Kohlhepp, motel surveillance video shows a man who appears to be in his 20s “punching, choking, slamming and repeatedly punching a small white dog.”

The video also shows the man arguing with other residents inside the hotel who were “yelling out the window objecting to these acts of animal cruelty,” Kohlhepp said, adding that the man responded by throwing bottles and other items at the people.

The man is later seen in the video leaving the motel with the dog and a male and female companion, the detective said. When the dog runs from them into a grassy area, Kohlhepp continued, the second man retrieves it for the first man who then punches it.

“He then chokes the dog, grabbing it from the other male, and slams it against the side of their black GMC Yukon,” Kohlhepp said.

The detective said the dog was then thrown into the SUV and beaten by the man before they drove off.