From staff reports
CENTER POINT — A Center Point man is at large, and is charged with cruelty to a dog according to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Marvis Rutledge, 46, of Center Point, is wanted for allegedly beating a Chihuahua to death with a mop handle the department said.
Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies were called to the 1500 block of Charter East Circle on Nov. 11 around 9:30 p.m. to investigate a report of animal cruelty. It was reported to the department that a man was seen beating a small dog with a mop handle. When the dog stopped moving and crying the man threw the dog into a dumpster.
The suspect told investigators he left the dog tied to his back porch, but when he returned home the dog was gone. He identified the dog in the dumpster as his, but denied knowing how it got there. Deputies located the deceased dog in the dumpster and removed it.
A representative from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society came to the scene and collected the dog for further investigation. An examination indicated that the dog died as a result of being beaten.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office animal cruelty investigator along with investigators from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society conducted a thorough investigation, and Rutledge was positively identified by a witness as the person seen beating the dog.
On Nov. 19, a warrant was obtained charging Rutledge with cruelty to a dog first degree. He remains at large. Rutledge is described as a black male 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450.