Man accused of stabbing dog

A man was arrested Monday in West Valley City after police say he confronted a 12-year-old girl while wearing nothing but a towel and then stabbed her dog in the face.

The bizarre incident began when a man taking a shower in his apartment near 3800 South and 1700 West heard his mother yelling at him about a dog outside, said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan. Police later learned the mother may have been yelling something about a dog running loose without a leash.

The son, however, apparently interpreted his mother's comments as a dog was threatening her, McLachlan said. So the man stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist, got on his bicycle and rode around to the back of the complex.

The man spotted a 12-year-old girl walking a German shepherd that was leashed and not acting aggressively, McLachlan said. The man got off his bike and stabbed the dog in the face without warning, he said. According to a booking report from the Salt Lake County Jail, the man, 26, "stabbed the dog in the cheek area with a kitchen knife, cutting the dog's face."

Several people who witnessed the incident grabbed the man and held him until police arrived.

Brandon Lee Mike was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of cruelty to animals and disorderly conduct, both class B misdemeanors.

The dog was doing OK Tuesday, according to the family, McLachlan said.

Salt Lake County Animal Services spokeswoman Temma Martin said the attack is just the latest reason why stiffer animal cruelty laws are needed.

"There have been several cases in the last several months that are a slap in the face to people who care about animals. We've seen charges dropped, an animal abuser let out of jail early, we saw yet again the failure to increase animal cruelty penalties ... we don't seem to take these kinds of crimes seriously," she said.

---

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com