WARNING: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised.
NEW PORT RICHEY, FLORIDA: A Florida man, by the name of Arlow Lorenzo Phillips, 65, has been arrested for showing unusual cruelty to a helpless animal on August 14.
Phillips faced the charges after he was seen driving his car at a high speed on the highway and dragging his dog, a pit bull, attached to a back door, per Fox 13.
Who is Arlow Lorenzo Phillips?
Arlow Lorenzo Phillips is a resident of New Port Richey, Florida. Per Fox 13, Phillips was seen driving erratically, speeding and dragging a dog behind his car at about 9 pm on Thursday, August 10.
The dog, a pit-bull, was seen by the witnesses to have been leashed to the back passenger door of his 2008 Kia.
The witnesses saw the dog howling while it was being dragged by the speeding car.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy also saw Phillips driving the car erratically. The deputy also reported that the dog was lying in a pool of its own blood at an intersection on US Highway 19.
Per the news outlet, when law enforcement spoke with Phillips, they saw a leash attached to the back passenger door. The windows remained closed.
The authorities further shared that the deputy also noticed road rash on one side of the dog’s body. The pit bull's paws were also severely injured.
Why was Arlow Lorenzo Phillips arrested?
While Phillips was not arrested on August 10 itself. He was only contacted by the police on Monday, August 14. This time, the police followed his 2008 Kia to his home and conducted a traffic stop.
The stop was conducted because the license on which Phillips was driving was revoked in 2007. However, this was not the first time he was arrested regarding his license.
The police notified that Phillips had been convicted seven times before for driving on a revoked or suspended license and prior DWIs.
The police, after reading his Miranda rights, questioned him about the incident regarding the dog.
He reportedly told the police that his car’s AC was broken. This was why he leashed the pit-bull to the car outside as it was very hot inside the car.
Later, he forgot that he had leashed the dog to the car when he drove off and hit the highway, he told the police. Phillips allegedly admitted that he ended up killing the animal.
He also said that he took the dog to an emergency vet. The vet informed the police that they were told the dog was hit by a car.
Phillips was arrested for cruelty to animals and driving on a revoked license.
