Man accused of beating woman’s dog over the phone, police say

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) - An Indiana man is accused of beating a dog and then threatening to beat its owner.

Officers with the Evansville Police Department said the incident happened late Tuesday afternoon.

The dog’s owner reportedly told them she had been in an argument with 43-year-old Dewey Smith before she left the location.

Police said she then played audio recordings of a phone call where a dog could be heard whimpering. Officials said Smith could be heard saying, “I’m beating your dog. Can you not f***ing hear it?”

In the recording, police said Smith could be heard saying, “No, this is how it’s gonna be. When I see you, I’m gonna bust your f***ing teeth out. I promise.”

While officers were speaking with the woman, they said Smith called her again.

Officers said they spoke with Smith and told him they were going to pay him a visit.

Once at his house, police said Smith denied beating the dog or threatening the woman.

They said he claimed the recordings were from another day and were not of him.

Police said Smith was taken to the hospital for an unrelated medical condition before being booked in jail on charges of intimidation and animal cruelty.

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