A Hagerstown, Md., man is facing animal-cruelty charges for allegedly tossing his stepdaughter's dog in front of a moving car, killing the animal.
The stepdaughter allegedly told police that 59-year-old Tammam al-Bazari doesn't approve of owning dogs because of his religious beliefs.
The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reports that al-Bazari was released on $75,000 bond Sunday.
He was charged June 30 after police were flagged down at the scene of the incident on West Lee Street.
The stepdaughter allegedly told police she had acquired the black poodle mix while al-Bazari was working in Egypt. From the Herald-Mail:
The stepdaughter told the officer that Al-Barazi “does not approve of her owning a dog due to their religious beliefs” and had threatened on several occasions to kill the animal, the statement said. The document did not state the religion of Al-Barazi or his family.
That night, Al-Barazi grabbed the dog and began choking it, the statement said. The stepdaughter and Al-Barazi got into a struggle over the animal and he pushed her to the floor, took the dog and threw it outside, court records show.
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The stepdaughter, her two brothers and her mother chased the dog down the street and caught him in the first block of West Lee Street, the statement said. While the stepdaughter held the dog, Al-Barazi came up behind her, took the animal and threw it in front of a car, court records show.
Her brothers allegedly told police that al-Bazari also threatened his stepdaughter.
A telephone message left at al-Bazari's home wasn't returned. Court records do not list a defense attorney.
