A Maryland man faces animal cruelty and other charges after police say he broke a puppy’s leg during an attempted robbery in Laurel.

Troopers who were called to Pampered Pets, located in the U.S. 13 Outlet Mart on Trussum’s Pond Road, around 3:30 p.m. Saturday arrested an apparently intoxicated Haywood Relysee, 45, of Fruitland, Md., outside the store, Delaware State Police Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said.

According to police, the store owner was walking through Pampered Pets when he noticed one of the Pomeranian puppies for sale, valued at $700, was missing from its pen. The owner, who spotted Relysee walking away from the store with the dog in hand, went outside and yelled for Relysee to stop. When Relysee began to run away, the owner chased him, Whitmarsh said.

Police say when the owner caught up to him, Relysee punched and kicked at the store owner while swinging the puppy by its legs. Finally, he gave the puppy back to the store owner and tried to flee the scene but troopers apprehended him, Whitmarsh said. When the owner got the puppy back, he discovered its leg was broken.

Relysee was charged with felony counts of second-degree robbery and cruelty to animal as well as a traffic offense of being drunk on the highway. He was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of $1,100.00 secured bail.

Source:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081019/NEWS/81019009