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Former Officer Orders Pit Bull To Attack Dog, Assaults Owner

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A former police officer charged with unthinkable animal cruelty. The Anne Arundel County ex-cop is accused of ordering his pit bull to attack another dog.

Police say he did it because he wanted to videotape a dog fight.

Meghan McCorkell has more on this disturbing incident.

Jason Parrotte faces multiple charges after police say he stuck his pit bull on another dog.

A horrifying sight, as two dogs are forced to attack each other on tape. It's a sick scene like this that investigators say  Jason Parrotte, 36, was trying to recreate when he unleashed his pit bull and ordered it to attack a Labrador Retriever.

"That's sick. I mean, I'm completely against it," one neighbor said.

Witnesses say a 52-year-old man was walking his lab in the Curtis Bay neighborhood Tuesday night when Parrotte commanded his pit bull to attack. The lab's owner tore the two dogs apart.

"At that point, he began questioning him why he did that, indicating that he actually wanted to witness a dog fight and videotape a dog fight," said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County Police.

That's when police say Parrotte headbutted the other dog owner. Parrotte is a former Anne Arundel County police officer, who left the force in 2011.

Neighbors who often walk their dogs in the area tell WJZ they were in shock about what happened.

"It could be anybody. Sure. It could be anybody," said dog owner Steve Jackson.

Jackson says he walks his dog, Ozzie, in the same area three times a day.

"I think that's terrible. Dogs in this area and homeowners, we all love our dogs. And to see something like that happen is terrible," said Jackson.

The labrador survived its injuries, but needed veterinary care.

Jason Parrotte now faces several charges, including animal cruelty and training a dog to fight.

Parrotte has also been charged with second-degree assault for attacking the dog's owner.

He has been released on $75,000 bond.

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