Urbana man accused of hitting, throwing dog

An Urbana man has been accused of slapping a dog and throwing it against a building.

An Urbana man has been accused of slapping a dog and throwing it against a building.

An Urbana man has been accused of slapping a dog and throwing it against a building.

A report from the Urbana Police Division says David C. Skaggs, 28, of 113 S. Main St., Apt. 301, was cited with a single count of cruelty to companion animals, a first degree misdemeanor. Court records show he pleaded not guilty in Champaign County Municipal Court, and a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 20.

READ MORE: Clark County home with 25 dogs investigated, owner says pets healthy

An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of South Main Street shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, March 3, on a report of a man beating a dog. The officer didn’t see anything in the area but spoke to a witness who said she saw a man pick up a dog and throw it against a building in the 100 block of South Main Street, the police report says. Witnesses also provided a brief video of the suspect.

The officer returned the next day to identify the suspect and spoke to the dog’s owner, who identified Skaggs and said he was walking the 1-year-old Catahoula mix for her.

The report alleges Skaggs told the officer the dog had peed indoors, so he took it outside and “spanked it four or five times” so it learned not to pee inside.

He also allegedly told the officer the dog tried to pull away so he held it down by its shoulders and “gave it five or six good smacks.”

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