Douglas County deputies have questions about the mental status of a woman arrested and charged with stealing and killing a puppy this week.
Ryeeah Christine Hatcher of Douglasville, was arrested on charges of felony cruelty to animals, theft by taking and obstruction of an officer, according to Douglas County Chief Deputy Stan Copeland.
Sheriff’s deputies say 27-year-old Hatcher stole a puppy from the backyard of a neighbor Monday evening.
“She stuffed the puppy in a backpack-type bag,” Copeland said. “Neighbors saw her and for lack of a better term, gave chase.”
Copeland said someone called police and Hatcher attempted to flee the scene, but the neighbors cornered her.
“Just prior to the arrival of deputies, the neighbors had her kind of cordoned off so she couldn’t go anywhere,” the spokesman said. “She then took the backpack, with the puppy in it, and beat it against a tree.”
Once deputies arrived, Hatcher was taken into custody after a struggle, Copeland said.
“We do have questions about her mental state at the time of the incident,” Copeland added.
Hatcher is being held at the Douglas County jail in lieu of a $12,000 bond.
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