A St. Petersburg man faces multiple charges, including two counts of animal cruelty, after witnesses reported him abusing two dogs, according to police affidavits.
Officers say Sean Etty, 37, was seen dragging the dogs on leashes before punching one several times, forcing a fist into its mouth and choking the other. The incidents involving each dog resulted in two separate felony counts.
When an officer ordered Etty to the ground, he refused, leading to an additional charge of resisting without violence. Police deployed a Taser before taking him into custody.
Etty told investigators the behavior was part of “playing rough” with the dogs, according to the report.