A man is facing multiple criminal charges, including aggravated animal cruelty, after East Ridge police say he put two dogs in a burning bedroom earlier this month.
The man, 30-year-old Dustin Sneed, burglarized a home in the 3800 block of Kingwood Circle by entering its unlocked back door on May 5, East Ridge court documents allege.
He destroyed a lamp and computer in the back bedroom by throwing them onto the floor, court records say, adding that he then set fire to a bed in the front bedroom and put two dogs in the room.
Sneed took a bottle of vodka before leaving the home and called the homeowner from a nearby diner, court documents state. His connection to the homeowner, if any, is not included in the documents.
At the diner, about a block and a half away on Ringgold Road, Sneed asked for a beer but was refused due to not having identification, diner staff told police. They said they asked him to leave after he dropped the bottle of vodka on the floor.
As he was leaving, he asked for matches, a request that was also refused, court records state.
He then started pouring the vodka up and down the sidewalk near the diner, court documents allege, adding that he threw the bottle of vodka beside the diner, where it was recovered by investigators.
All accidental causes for the fire were eliminated, police say.
Sneed was arrested on May 14 and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, aggravated burglary, arson and aggravated arson and vandalism/malicious mischief.
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