SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. — A 56-year-old homeless man is being held on $2,000 bail after police say he beat and strangled a dog with a shoelace Sunday. Ray Comer is charged with felony animal cruelty. At least three witnesses called dispatchers to report seeing Comer “shake, beat, and strangle” the young dachshund, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Police said Comer left the beige and tan dog dead on the sidewalk. He also left his Florida identification card lying next to the dog’s body, so police had an idea of who they were looking for. Police had encountered and cited Comer earlier that day for an animal ordinance violation, according to a charging affidavit. The dog had been wearing pink collar and had a blue shoelace around its neck at the time for a “restraint.” Both items were found later near the dog’s body, the report states.
Police found Comer sitting on the sidewalk with no shirt and no shoes. He he told them he wanted to be arrested, police said.
