Alaska State Troopers arrested a Homer man last week after he allegedly beat a dog living on his property with a baseball bat earlier this summer.
According to a Tuesday AST dispatch, Anchor Point troopers were informed of the incident, which allegedly occurred on or about July 22 at the home of 22-year-old William H.D. Chapman, by a concerned citizen Friday.
AST spokesperson Megan Peters says troopers quickly responded to Chapman's home on Ruth Way, arriving at about 3:30 p.m. Friday.
"We went to the homeowner's residence the same day we received the report," Peters said.
When troopers arrived to investigate the dog's beating, they also found a marijuana grow operation and a cache of firearms.
"Troopers were able to obtain evidence to corroborate the concerned citizen's account," troopers wrote. "Chapman was confrontational toward Troopers on scene and attempted to fight with them."
In addition, troopers also learned that two children lived at the home and were often left in Chapman's care.
Peters says it's not clear whether Chapman owned the dog that was killed.
"The dog lived at the property, and so did he," Peters said.
Peters says that while more details of the case are available in charging documents, which weren't immediately available Tuesday from the offices of Homer's court clerk or district attorney, troopers are learning additional information about the case.
"After it was apparent to a neighbor that the dog was severely beaten, they took it upon themselves to kill the dog," Peters said.
Chapman was arrested and charged with a laundry list of offenses including cruelty to animals, second-degree misconduct involving weapons and disorderly conduct. The bulk of the charges pertained to the marijuana grow, including one count each of second-degree, third-degree, fifth-degree and sixth-degree misconduct involving controlled substances, as well as three fourth-degree counts of the same offense.
Peters says an additional charge of second-degree endangerment of the welfare of a minor was added to that list, because of the children's presence in the same home as a marijuana grow. While she couldn't reveal full details of what troopers found, she reiterated that troopers had been able to corroborate the initial report that the dog was beaten.
"We believe we've obtained enough evidence to verify that, and will put it before a judge and jury," Peters said.
Troopers from the Alaska Bureau of Investigation's Statewide Drug Task Force have been assigned to the case, which remains under investigation.
Editor's note: An initial statement that Chapman was believed to have fatally shot the beaten dog has been removed after clarification from Alaska State Troopers.
Contact Chris Klint