Man Arrested For Animal Cruelty, After Dog Drowned

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A man from Reisterstown was held without bail on Monday for allegedly drowning a dog in Liberty Reservoir in February, the Carroll County Times reports.

The dog was found dead in the reservoir, tied to a cinder block with a leash and electric cord around his neck, according to charging documents.

The Times reports 36-year-old Anthony Michael Muniz, from Reisterstown, is being charged with one felony county of animal cruelty, one misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, one count of trespassing and six other misdemeanor charges related to animal cruelty or abandonment, according to electronic court records.

On February 28, Humane Society of Carroll County Animal Control officers were called to Liberty Reservoir for a call of a dead dog floating in the water.

The Times reports that it was a male, black and white dog of a bully breed named Gus, which had been adopted from the Humane Society of Carroll County by Muniz, according to the dog's microchip information, on December 24.

Muniz reportedly brought the dog in on December 13 and said he was a stray. He then came back on  December 24 to fill out paperwork for the dog's adoption.

Charging documents say that a woman called the Humane Society on January 5 to say that they dog was not a stray, but belonged to her and that she was "concerned for the dog's safety."

Animal Control and the Baltimore Environmental Police have launched a joint investigation into Muniz.

Muniz was arrested and extradited with the assistance of Pennsylvania authorities, and brought before a judge in Carroll County on Thursday, March 23, according to Baltimore Environmental Police Chief Luke Brackett.

Muniz is being held without bail at the Carroll County Detention Center, according to electronic court files. He has a hearing scheduled for May 26.

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