Man Charged With Felony Animal Cruelty After Officer Sees Dogs Dragged Behind Pickup Near Haskell

HASKELL, Ark. — A 46-year-old man has been charged with felony animal cruelty. A Haskell police officer says he saw dogs tied to the hitch of the man’s pickup and being dragged along U.S. 67 in June.

Prosecutors filed a charge of aggravated cruelty to a dog against Bryan Edward Cook on Friday in Saline County Circuit Court. The charge accuses him of torturing dogs “by attaching them to the tow hitch of his truck and driving down the road” on or about June 23.

A Haskell Police Department case summary was filed with the charge. It says an officer on patrol that day saw a white Ford F-150 on U.S. 67 pull into the turn lane for Arkansas 229. Something dark was tied to a red rope on the truck’s hitch and dragging on the pavement, leaving what looked like a wet streak behind it. As the officer got closer, the object appeared to be an animal.

The officer stopped the truck on Highway 229 in front of Creek Road and told the driver to get out and walk to the back of the truck. When the officer asked what was going on behind it, the driver answered, “What the f— is that?” according to the summary.

The officer handcuffed the driver and asked whether the dogs tied to the tow hitch were his. He said they were not. The officer then asked whether he had noticed what appeared to be blood and dog hair splattered on the back of the truck. The driver said he had walked out of his house to the trash can to throw something away and must have stepped right over them, the summary said.

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The officer identified the driver as Cook. The city’s police chief came to the scene, and Cook was read his rights. He again said the dogs were not his and that he had never seen them before, according to the summary. He told officers he lives alone and does not own the dogs.

The officer then searched the truck for guns and for more pills, the summary said. Cook had two containers of unlabeled medication in his pocket. The officer found two guns on a towel in the center console. They also found a camouflage bag holding two foam-lined cases, one of them containing needles and syringes.

The summary does not say how many dogs were tied to the truck or what happened to them.

The officer photographed the animals and the truck, had the pickup towed and took Cook to the Saline County jail. Jail booking records show he was booked at 7:35 a.m. June 23 on an animal cruelty charge.

Under Arkansas law, a person commits aggravated cruelty when he or she knowingly tortures a dog, cat or horse. A first offense is punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Anyone convicted must also undergo a psychological evaluation, and a judge can order up to 400 hours of community service.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brian Clary signed the charge for Prosecuting Attorney Chris Walton. Court records do not yet list a defense attorney, a bond amount or a court date.