Woman witnesses dog being draggedSuspect arrested for alleged threatBY KEVIN KALHOEFER
THE OLYMPIAN
A man was arrested at his home Wednesday night for allegedly threatening to shoot a woman after she confronted him about dragging a dog by its leash from an all-terrain vehicle down a road, the sheriff's office reported.
At about 6:28 p.m., the Thurston County Sheriff's Office received a call from a woman reporting a man dragging a black Labrador by its leash from his ATV, said Captain Brad Watkins of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
The woman confronted the suspect, William E. Murphy, 42, who then threatened to shoot her, Watkins said.
The witness left and contacted law enforcement officials. She directed a sheriff's officer to Murphy's home on Baker Ames Road, north of Olympia.
Murphy was standing outside next to the injured dog, Watkins said. The officer asked to talk to Murphy, but Murphy ignored the officer and walked into his house, Watkins said.
Two sheriff's officers and two Olympia officers later arrived at the scene.
"For safety reasons, they avoided going inside," Watkins said.
Officers were able to telephone the house, where Murphy's mother answered. Murphy's mother came outside to ask what was going on, said she wasn't feeling well and walked back inside the house, Watkins said.
Officers were preparing to make a warrant request when Murphy walked out and gave himself up. He was arrested at about 6:50 p.m., according to the police report.
The dog was taken to Mountain View Veterinary Hospital in Olympia for injuries to its paws and legs. The dog will be turned over to Animal Services, Watkins said.
"There was a moderate amount of blood on the road" where the dog had been dragged, Watkins said. "We were appalled by it."
Murphy was booked for felony harassment for threatening to kill someone and referred for animal cruelty. He could face a prison sentence of up to five years, Watkins said.
Murphy did not give any statements for either charge, Watkins said.
Intoxicants were detected on Murphy's breath at the time of arrest, according to the police report.
Story in The Olympian HERE.