Former Baltimore City Officer Sentenced 1 Year For Puppy's Choking Death

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- One year in prison. That's the sentence for a former Baltimore City police officer who killed his girlfriend's dog.

Rochelle Ritchie reports with more on the punishment.

The former Baltimore City police officer was charged with killing his girlfriend's puppy and then texting a picture of the dog's dead body to her.

It's a one year prison sentence for Alec Eugene Taylor after a judge finds him guilty of animal cruelty for killing Rocko, a seven-month-old Jack Russell Terrier puppy.

"I think it's important that he was held responsible. I think it's important he is going to jail," said John McCarthy, Montgomery County state's attorney.

It happened at a Silver Spring apartment complex in March. According to police, 27-year-old Taylor beat the dog with a mop and choked him to death after the puppy relieved himself on the carpet.

Police say he took a picture of the dead animal and sent it to his girlfriend.

"Internal injuries resulted in this dog bleeding out and he strangled this dog for two minutes," McCarthy said.

The girlfriend sends a message back to Taylor asking if the dog is walking. Taylor tells her "Nope, I think he's pretty much dead now." Taylor texts he is going to throw him out, put him in a shoe box on the balcony and then asks her "Anything else?"

Taylor worked for the Baltimore City Police Department before being suspended without pay after killing the dog.

The department released this statement at the time, saying: "Allegations of animal cruelty are taken serious by Baltimore Police. Significant emphasis has been placed on training investigators to handle animal abuse incidents in Baltimore."

Taylor will spend one year in prison with five years of probation.

Taylor walked to the Montgomery County courthouse, talking on the phone and avoiding reporters' questions. But his family is not remaining silent.

"The judge has handed down his sentence. He is going to do his time. His career is over," Mannie Taylor III, Taylor's father, said.

Before the sentence, Taylor told the judge he was ready for his punishment.

The judge says the former officer acted with no regret.

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