Man accused of setting dog on fire arrested

Published 7:49 pm Monday, October 25, 2010

Suffolk police have arrested a man accused of setting his brother’s dog on fire earlier this month.

Lashawn M. Harper, 28, was arrested Sunday and charged with one count of animal cruelty, one count of malicious wounding of an animal and one count of burning or destroying personal property.

Lashawn Harper

Harper initially was wanted on the animal cruelty and wounding charges for allegedly setting a 1-year-old pit bull on fire on Oct. 6. Police, animal control and fire investigators were called to the 400 block of Webb Street that day in reference to an injured animal, according to city spokeswoman Debbie George.

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The dog’s owner told police he and Harper, his brother, were having an argument when Harper threw gasoline on the dog and then set it on fire. The dog rolled in the grass to extinguish the fire. He suffered head, neck and chest burns, but his injuries did not appear life-threatening, George said at the time.

The charge of burning or destroying personal property was brought by the fire marshal’s office, George added.