- California, USA -
The Merced Police Department has arrested 32-years-old MARLAND STEEPLES (pictured).
Police said that on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 12, 2022, Officer Arturo Dehoyos responded to the 900 block of ‘D’ Street in the City of Merced after receiving calls of shots fired within the apartment complex.
On the scene, Officer Dehoyos found a deceased Husky and several witnesses.
The officer learned that STEEPLES had shot and killed the furbaby.
According to a Facebook post by the Department, STEEPLES “was cooperative with officers on scene and admitted to shooting the dog.”
As reported by Merced Sun-Star, Lt. Emily Foster said it appears that the dog, who was not STEEPLES’, was walking around the apartment complex and was not aggressive toward STEEPLES before being fatally shot.
Merced Sun-Star reports that “According to police, Steeples expressed he didn’t want the dog in the complex but a motive for the killing remains unclear.”
Police confiscated a firearm which was described as a high-powered BB gun.
STEEPLES was arrested on “suspicion of felony animal cruelty” and booked at the Merced County Jail.
Merced Police are also asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Arturo Dehoyos at (209) - 388 - 7816 or by email and cite case number: 22-21799. Thank you!
I have searched for STEEPLES’ arrest records through the Merced County Jail but I could not find a listing for him.
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