An England man had been arrested after a video surfaced online of him dragging a dog from his truck earlier this week.
In the video 38-year-old Jacob Eugene Smith is seen in the drivers seat of the truck holding an animal control pole with the cable around the neck of a dog. The video then shows Smith driving down the road, dragging the dog along the side of the truck.
Deltaplex News has decided not to show the video due to its graphic nature.
Smith was later located and arrested for animal cruelty.
Following the arrest Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley released the following statement:
Over the last few hours, I’ve been in contact with Chief Richard Friend of the England Police Department regarding the recent animal cruelty case. Even while off duty today, Chief Friend stayed involved and guided his officers through the investigation.
The England PD used witness tips and video evidence to identify the suspect as Jacob Smith. Smith admitted to being the person in the video and was arrested for Cruelty to Animals, a Class D Felony. He was transported to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Detention Center, where he is being held pending his first court appearance to set bond.
Great work by the England Police Department, and a big thank you to the citizens who came forward with information.
— Sheriff John Staley
The dog in the video has been picked up by and taken care of by NovaStar Rescue in Dover. Owner Terre Wood reports that the dog, now named Liam Charles, is safe and recovering from his wounds.
