by Jackie Kent, KOMO News ReporterTue, November 12th 2024 at 12:47 PM
Updated Wed, November 13th 2024 at 8:44 AM
0 seconds of 2 minutes, 32 secondsVolume 90%
Image of a dog that was reportedly beaten inside transitional housing for the homeless in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. (Photo: KOMO News)
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SEATTLE — A man accused of beating a dog inside transitional housing for the homeless is out of jail.
A judge on Monday found probable cause to charge the dog’s owner with animal cruelty before releasing him from jail. The 19-year-old suspect was seen in a now-viral video that led neighbors to rescue the injured pit bull.
KOMO News was at the facility on 10th Avenue East and John Street East when Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth and neighbors rallied together to get the dog to safety after watching the viral video. This effort happened a couple of days after the suspect’s arrest on Saturday from the building operated by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).
RELATED | Seattle council member helps rescue dog after alleged abuse in transitional housing
The group of neighbors told KOMO the suspect’s girlfriend surrendered Angel the pit bull without any problems. For many members of the community, it was an emotional moment when they left the building with the injured dog.
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Hollingsworth learned that 1-year-old Angel had scratches and some soreness after taking the dog to a veterinarian.
Prosecutors at the suspect’s first court appearance argued for him to be held behind bars on bail. However, the man was released on personal recognizance and the judge ordered he cannot possess animals. Personal recognizance is an agreement for release without posting bail in exchange for a promise by the defendant to appear in court when a judge requires it.
Prosecutors cannot make a charging decision until police investigators refer the case to their office.
Hollingsworth said she is working with the KCRHA to get a case worker at this facility to better help the people and animals living there.
“[These are] people that have really severe cases that come from encampments that might have mental health issues or other issues. We have to have accountability,” Hollingsworth told KOMO News.
Hollingsworth and neighbors have detailed a variety of problems they allege stem from the transitional housing complex.
“We see them doing drugs all the time in there,” neighbor Rebecca Leslie explained.
Another neighbor, Kylie Rowland, said she’d like to see more security or staff at the complex: “Even if it’s like one security person,” Rowland said. “It would be helpful. I don’t think it would solve everything.”
Since the incident, the KCRHA has been tight-lipped about its staffing, so KOMO asked what are their challenges with getting a case manager at this location, and possibly others?
“We hope residents here who deserve to be here, they deserve housing, will get the supervision and support staff they need in order to successfully live in the neighborhood,” neighbor Stephen Sinclair added.
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