Huckleberries Online

Suspect ID’d In Brutal Dog Assault

July 2, 2009 4:45 p.m. • 13 comments

Spokane police have probable cause to arrest a 20-year-old man for brutally assaulting a small dog June 22 outside Spokane’s City Hall. Police are looking for Michael J. Jones for first-degree animal cruelty in connection with the case. Jones is accused of throwing a 4-year-old Shih Tzu named Cocoa Butter against a wall, after smashing a car window outside City Hall, pulling the dog out and swinging her from her leash. The dog’s owners, Louise and Tom Tuffin, left her in the car while they went to see a movie, returning several hours later to find the dog laying on the sidewalk. Jones was identified in a surveillance video, walking past the car/Sara Leaming, SR. More here.

Question: What should be the punishment for the individual convicted of this crime?

13 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Dennis on July 02 at 4:54 p.m.
The punishment I’d like to see dealt isn’t legal.

If there was ever a case requiring a prison sentence upon conviction,,,,,,, this is it.
otisgexperience on July 02 at 9:07 p.m.
Okay…

This guy was I.D.’d from a really crappy surveillance video… meanwhile… I’ve seen warrants in the paper for people who live exactly where their phone book listing says they live.

Crazy.
Charlie on July 02 at 9:08 p.m.
How about the same treatment this putz gave to the dog? I’m ok with an eye for an eye!
HonestGeorge on July 02 at 9:12 p.m.
A year at Walla Walla would be about right - but he probably won’t see more than 90 days watching TV at Geiger.
Escapee on July 02 at 11:43 p.m.
He should be kept on a leash and forced to eat Kibbles and Bits for an entire year.
pthompson on July 03 at 9:24 a.m.
Less than that of a rapist, child molester, murderer, batterer.
Stickman on July 03 at 4:05 p.m.
As an animal lover, I have to be with Charlie.
BayviewBob on July 04 at 9:33 a.m.
How about some punishment for the owners of the dog too.?

Locking it in a car for several hours!!
Debbie1778 on July 10 at 10:08 a.m.
animal cruelty is the absolute worst crime you could ever commit and i believe there is no legal punishment suitable for this crime
Lynne on July 10 at 10:11 a.m.
What Charlie said!
BlueinIdaho on July 10 at 10:17 a.m.
Animal cruelty is the worst crime you can commit? Oh my. Where’s cabbageboy….
Aliasjax on July 10 at 10:35 a.m.
I did a double-take of sorts when I read that too, Blue. I wondered if she was being sarcastic - strangely ironic by being cruel about animal cruelty…but then I came to the conclusion she was serious. It’s a bit scary that there are those who would hold such a view: “worst crime.” Really? Wow!
Cabbage Boy on July 10 at 11:12 a.m.
I saw the Bat signal.

His actions were indeed cruel and bizzare. Maybe a mental evaluation. But I am pretty sure James Bond and Jack Bauer have suffered worst crimes than the poor pooch.

And that is a bit of sarcasm for the textually impaired.

« Back to Huckleberries Online

You must be logged in to post comments.
Please create a profile or log in here.

About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.