A Brevard County man was arrested Friday after sheriff’s deputies say he brutally beat a Chihuahua because the dog had urinated on a bed. Deputies took the suspect into custody and escorted him into the county jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
As reported by FOX 35 Orlando, deputies arrested 41-year-old Kyle Nesbitt and walked him into the jail, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said. The station’s brief report notes that deputies allege the beating happened after the dog peed on a bed.
How the sheriff’s office responds
Brevard’s sheriff has made animal-cruelty enforcement highly visible, frequently turning to social media and video to highlight arrests and solicit tips. Sheriff Wayne Ivey has said he personally walks some suspects into the jail as part of that hard-line approach, WESH reported.
What the law says
Under Florida law, cruelty to animals can be charged as a first-degree misdemeanor, while deliberate acts that cause excessive suffering can be prosecuted as aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony with higher fines and the potential for prison time. The state statute spells out penalties and allows courts to prohibit people from owning animals after a conviction, according to Florida Statutes 828.12. FOX 35 Orlando did not list formal charges at the time of its report, and booking records will show whether prosecutors pursue misdemeanor or felony counts.
Where to find updates
Booking and charge information is posted on the Brevard County Sheriff’s inmate search and through the county clerk’s court records. For now, the sheriff’s inmate database remains the most direct place to check for updates on the case, via the Brevard County Sheriff's Inmate Search.
