A 34-year-old Reston, Virginia man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after deputies say he stabbed his dog to death early Thursday morning in Frederick County.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:55 a.m. to the 7900 block of Hollow Road after a passerby reported a disabled vehicle and said the male driver claimed he had run over his dog. Deputies identified the driver as Erfan Behnam and found him covered in blood and dog hair. A deceased dog with approximately 14 stab wounds was found nearby.
Investigators say Behnam acknowledged stabbing the dog and deputies found a knife inside the vehicle. They also reported inconsistent statements about how the dog was injured and why he believed it needed to be euthanized. Behnam was taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center and charged with felony aggravated cruelty to an animal. Animal Control officers took custody of the dog’s remains.
Anyone with information can contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 301-600-1046 or the tip line at 301-600-4131.
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