A man is facing fifth-degree felony charges of cruelty to a companion animal after allegedly killing a dog in a fire pit.
According to Alliance Police Sergeant Perkins, police received a phone call on January 19 from a couple that spotted flames in the backyard of the home on W. College St.
"Their dog was running around on fire," the caller said in the 911 recording. "When the guy caught him, he threw him in a fire."
Police told News 5 the dog was seen crawling out of a fire pit only to be hit with a 2x4 and thrown back in.
"The guy was carrying the dog limp and threw him in the freaking fire," the 911 caller said.
When police arrived at the scene, the remains of an animal were found on the property. They found 40-year-old Chad W. Karka intoxicated. Police later took Karka into custody the next day, charging him with cruelty to companion animals - a fifth-degree felony.
Neighbors who witnessed the aftermath said they were stunned.
"It was ball of flames and it was running around the backyard," said neighbor Byron Knight. "I don't understand how someone could do that."
Neighbors said the dog that was allegedly killed did not match the description of the dog that they had seen Karka with in the neighborhood.
News 5 spoke with both eye witnesses who said they were instructed by the Stark Co. Prosecutor's Office not to give additional statements at this time. A spokesperson for The Stark Co. Humane Society was also instructed not to speak with reporters about the incident at this time.
