LA Man Caught On CCTV Tossing Dog Down Apartment Staircase, Canine Breaks Leg
A Los Angeles man has been arrested after he tossed a 7-month-old puppy down the stairs of an apartment building in the city's Koreatown neighborhood, leaving it with a broken leg.
The horrifying act, which took place at an apartment complex in the 4000 block of Oakwood Avenue Sunday, was captured by surveillance cameras.
The footage, obtained by TMZ, showed the suspect carrying the whimpering dog by its neck up to a railing before dropping the animal down the apartment staircase.
The man, later identified by police as 27-year-old Joeboury Coleman, could be seen walking away shortly after.
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Another surveillance video, obtained by Fox 11 Los Angeles, showed that the dog later ran back up the stairs after being thrown.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the apartment complex after concerned individuals saw the footage on social media.
Police took Coleman into custody, and he was charged with three felony counts of animal cruelty.
Coleman, who is currently being held without bond, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.
Coleman's preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 22.
The dog was brought to a local animal shelter for treatment following the incident.
The puppy suffered a broken hind leg and may require surgery. It is also being treated for malnourishment, according to the LAPD.
Fox 11 reported that a large pit bull was also found in the man's apartment, but it was not taken by officers. The report suggested that the second dog may be taken by Los Angeles City Animals Services.
The Kris Kelly Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving animals from abuse, slaughter and neglect, was among those who shared the footage of the man throwing the dog and helped it go viral Sunday.
According to its Instagram post, a resident of the apartment building shared the video on social media but later deleted their post.
The unnamed resident claimed that they saw police knock on the suspect's apartment door and then leave when he didn't answer.
"Of course, right after they leave, [Coleman] came out to check if they were gone," the resident claimed. "I also fear for my safety and the safety of others in the building."
Fox 11 confirmed this account and reported that police later returned to arrest Coleman and take away the dog.
