Man punches puppy in the face in startling video in DeKalb

DeKalb County police have made an arrest after a man was seen punching a puppy in the face on video outside a gas station.

DeKalb County police have made an arrest after a man was seen punching a puppy in the face on video outside a gas station.

To “discipline” a wayward puppy, a man punched her with such force a witness thought the blows could knock down a person, DeKalb County police said.

Kirby Crane, 26, of Ellenwood went to the BP gas station at 1736 Candler Road outside Decatur this past Saturday, according to a police report. He brought his dog, which wasn’t wearing a leash.

It wandered the parking lot while Crane stood around.

A couple started petting the dog. The girlfriend picked her up and walked toward Crane when he called for the puppy.

“As she went to hand the dog to the suspect, he struck it with a closed fist twice,” a responding officer wrote, citing security camera footage, which was released Thursday. “After striking it with a closed fist, he grabbed it by the neck and dragged it back to his vehicle and left.”

Witnesses got his tag number.

At his home, Crane admitted being the man at the store to police, but said he didn’t recall hitting the puppy, the report said.

But if he did, he said, it was for disciplinary purposes.

Crane was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

He was released Wednesday on $3,000 bond and ordered to stay away from animals, jail records show.

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