A Portland, Tennessee man is facing aggravated animal cruelty and weapons charges after police say he shot his own dog in the head while under the influence of alcohol, leaving the animal so badly hurt it had to be euthanized. Officers responding to a report of a severely injured dog on November 7 found the animal in significant distress, with a critical head wound and no sign it had received any veterinary care.
According to the Portland Police Department, officers who responded to the residence identified Brockman Woods as the dog's owner and, through their investigation, developed evidence alleging that Woods shot the dog while intoxicated. As reported by WSMV, the dog was rushed to a veterinary clinic for emergency care but could not be saved because of the severity of its injuries.
Woods was initially arrested on charges of aggravated animal cruelty and resisting arrest. Police said he resisted officers' efforts to take him into custody, and officers had to use physical force to complete the arrest before transporting him to the Sumner County Jail.
Search Warrant Turns Up Guns Woods Was Barred From Having
The case escalated the next day, November 8, when investigators received information that multiple firearms were inside Woods' residence. Because of a prior domestic assault conviction, Woods was legally prohibited from possessing firearms, according to police. Investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at the home, and officers recovered multiple firearms along with numerous rounds of ammunition, the department said, the same report noted.
That discovery led to an additional charge: unlawful possession of a firearm after a domestic assault conviction. Altogether, Woods now faces aggravated animal cruelty, resisting arrest, and the firearm charge. The sumner county outlet's report on the case, Sumner County Source, also detailed the charges stemming from the search.
Woods Remains Jailed Ahead Of Late-November Court Date
Woods remains incarcerated at the Sumner County Jail on a $5,000 bond. He has an initial court appearance scheduled for November 24 at 10 a.m.
The Portland Police Department said it is committed to thoroughly investigating animal cruelty offenses and holding responsible parties accountable through the judicial process, and it is encouraging anyone who witnesses or suspects animal abuse or neglect to report it to the department. The department also stressed that the charges and allegations outlined in its release are accusations, not evidence, and that Woods, like any defendant, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt through due process.
