Man Charged in Chihuahua's Death

Tampa police said a 37-year-old man was charged this week after investigators concluded he fatally injured a family member’s six-year-old Chihuahua in a late-night incident at a home on West Cordelia Street. The dog, Rufus, died after what police described as an intentional attack on May 4 at about 10 p.m. in the 3100 block of W. Cordelia St. Hillsborough County Animal Control later determined that the four-pound dog died from blunt force trauma, according to a City of Tampa police release. Christopher Malone was arrested on May 12 and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, police said. ### Who is accused, and what do police say happened inside the home? Christopher Malone, 37, is accused of intentionally inflicting the fatal injury after Rufus walked past him, according to Tampa police. The department said officers responded to the house on May 4 and that investigators found Malone was intoxicated at the time of the incident. (tampa.gov) The City of Tampa release identified Rufus as a family member’s dog and said the Chihuahua weighed four pounds. Police did not publicly describe in the release how the injury was inflicted beyond saying it was intentional and fatal. ### What did animal control determine about Rufus’ death? Hillsborough County Animal Control concluded that Rufus died from blunt force trauma, according to Tampa police and local television reports citing the department. (tampa.gov) That finding came after the initial police response and was the basis for the arrest announced on May 13. FOX 13 reported that police did not specify what object, if any, was used. (tampa.gov) Tampa police’s own statement likewise did not identify a weapon or give further details about the mechanics of the injury. ### What charge was filed, and where was Malone taken? Malone was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, the Tampa Police Department said. (tampa.gov) Police said he was arrested on May 12, eight days after officers first responded to the home. Orient Road Jail is where police said Malone was transported after the arrest. A Hillsborough County case search page is available for court filings and hearing information, though the search result reviewed did not list a case number in the search snippet. (fox13news.com) ### What have officials said publicly about the case? Chief Lee Bercaw said in the department’s statement that the case involved “a senseless act of violence” against a family pet. (tampa.gov) He also said the family had lost a “beloved dog” and that police were committed to holding Malone accountable. The police release described the incident as “deeply disturbing,” language Bercaw used while emphasizing the size of the dog and the circumstances described by investigators. (tampa.gov) Those comments were included in the city’s May 13 announcement of the arrest. ### Why did the arrest come more than a week after May 4? May 12 was the arrest date because investigators waited for the animal-control findings before filing the charge, according to the Tampa police timeline. (tampa.gov) The department said Malone was arrested following Hillsborough County Animal Control’s determination that the dog’s death was caused by blunt force trauma. WTSP and WFLA both reported the same sequence: officers first responded on May 4, animal-control investigators later confirmed the cause of death, and police then arrested Malone on May 12. ### What comes next in the case? Hillsborough County court records are the next public place to track the case as prosecutors and the court process the aggravated animal-cruelty charge. (tampa.gov) Tampa police have already announced the arrest, and Malone’s booking into Orient Road Jail marks the handoff from the investigation stage to the court system. (wtsp.com) May 12 is the arrest date attached to the charge, and future hearing dates should appear through Hillsborough County’s case-search system as filings are entered. (tampa.gov)