Escambia County, FL – A Florida man has been arrested and is facing felony animal cruelty charges after being caught on video beating a dog. According to sources, Charles David Thornton II, 49, told Escambia County deputies that he was simply “disciplining” his dog, not beating him.

The incident took place in February, but Thornton was not arrested until March. Sheriff Simmons explains to WEAR TV:

“We were under the impression Animal Control was going to be working the investigation and that’s how it ended with our involvement. Fast forward a couple weeks, I see the video on social media, so I ask, ‘Hey what’s going on with this case?’ … Come to find out Animal Control wasn’t working it, so we picked it up. Obviously with the video, we identified him and charged him as quick as we could get the warrant signed for felony animal abuse.”

The video in question, captured on a neighbor’s surveillance cameras, shows Thornton beating the dog with a piece of wood, and the dog trying to get away. The dog’s current condition and location are unknown.

Anyone who knows where the dog is should call Animal Welfare at 850-595-0097.

Thornton is a career criminal with a lengthy history, including 14 arrests in Escambia County since 2009. Thornton was briefly employed at Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grill – they issued a statement after his arrest, notifying the public that he was terminated from his position there.

Thornton is due in court on April 17.

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