EVERETT — The Lynnwood man told police he struck the dog with a golf club because the small German Shepherd charged him.
Tyler Young, 28, claimed it was a single blow to the dog’s head. A veterinarian later reported that the dog, Questa, was hit multiple times, including a powerful blow that left her blind.
Prosecutors have charged Young with first-degree animal cruelty, a felony. He pleaded not guilty to the charge late last month. He remained in the Snohomish County Jail.
Everett police received multiple 911 calls Feb. 29 from people near Everett and Harrison avenues.
The dog’s owner told officers that she was getting into her car, and Questa followed her out to the street. She said Young and his father were arguing on the other side of the intersection.
She told police her dog ran across the street, stood at the back of the men’s car and barked, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Lisa Paul wrote in charging papers.
She said she saw Young’s father reach inside the car and pull out a golf club. He allegedly took a swing at the dog. She said Young got out of the car with a club and went toward the dog. She yelled at the men to leave Questa alone. She told police Young chased after the dog and clobbered him in the head.
She said her dog didn’t try to bite anyone.
Another witness reported seeing Young swing the club, knocking the dog to the ground. She said a second blow left the dog unconscious. She told police she heard the defendant’s dad yell, “Get that dog. Get that dog,” Paul wrote.
The woman told police that the dog wasn’t aggressive toward the men. She said the dog was cowering and backing up as the men ran at her.
Another witness told police the dog was running back home when Young chased her into the street and hit her with a golf club.
Police arrested both men about four days later.
The older man told police the dog aggressively approached him while he was walking around to the driver’s side. He said he swung a golf club at the dog to protect himself. He said his son chased the dog away. He told police the dog charged his son as he was walking back toward the car. He said his son hit the dog once.
Young told police a similar story.
“This was inconsistent with what the witnesses and (dog’s owner) told police,” Paul wrote.
A veterinarian reported that Questa suffered trauma to her left eye. The attack left her blind. The veterinarian said the dog’s wounds were caused by multiple blows.
At the time of the incident Young was under the supervision of the State Department of Corrections and had a warrant for his arrest. He had failed to show up for a court hearing after being charged with failing to register as a sex offender. Young was 16 when he was convicted of second-degree rape.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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