Police are investigating the death of another Missoula dog, but unlike the pit bull shooting two weeks ago, this time a man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, partner or family member assault, and criminal mischief. 21-year-old Jesse Durham is in police custody after they responded to a call in the 4300 block of Expressway at about 5:00 P.M. on Monday.

“The report was that some type of disturbance had taken place," said Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh. "On officer’s arrival, they were met by a 45-year-old woman who was holding a broomstick and identified her son as having caused her fear of injury and had, in fact, killed the family dog and threw it in a dumpster.”

The lady took deputies to the dumpster where they found the dog badly injured, but not quite dead.

“It was a German Shepherd cross, apparently about 15 years of age, lying at the bottom of the dumpster and in severe distress having suffered some pretty traumatic injury, apparently having suffered some blunt force trauma," Welsh said. "He was immediately taken by animal control to a veterinary hospital, however, while he was there, the decision was made to euthanize him, and he was put to sleep.”

Jesse Durham was later located in some nearby trees, and attempted to flee officers on foot before being captured. It is unclear at this point if the dog was kicked to death or beaten with a bat or some other tool.

 

More From KBUL NEWS TALK 970 AM & 103.3 FM