Cops: Abused pit bull ‘thriving’ in new home, old owner charged
An abused young pit bull is “thriving” in a new home as authorities have charged a 32-year-old Peabody man with pummeling the puppy.
John Leger was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing following his arraignment on Friday in Peabody District Court, according to state police spokesman David Procopio.
The dog, named Bryson, was placed in the custody of the Animal Rescue League of Boston in January after witnesses told police Leger had repeatedly abused the dog.
“He is thriving, he’s doing very well,” ARL media relations officer Michael DePina told the Herald yesterday. DePina said the pup has recovered from his injuries — police said he had a tooth chipped during the November incident — and is receiving all the care and attention he needs.
Police sought Leger following larceny indictments out of Peabody and Salem alleging he charged HVAC equipment from FW Webb Plumbing Supply to an account he was not authorized to use, Essex DA spokeswoman Carrie Kimball-Monahan said.
Leger had been free on $5,000 bail but could not be located at the address where police expected to find him. State police learned he was hiding out at a friend’s home on Woodbridge Road in Peabody, Procopio said, and staked out the address. Cops pulled him over when he left the residence and arrested him, Procopio said, and in the process found a loaded .45 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in the glove compartment of his car.
Leger is now also charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and unlawful possession of ammunition, among other charges, Procopio said. Leger had been living with a dog, a violation of his bail conditions, Kimball-Monahan said.
Peabody police received a call on Nov. 15 from a witness who said she saw a man, later identified as Leger, punching a whimpering pit bull with a closed fist and dragging him out from under a silver pickup truck as the dog desperately tried to seek refuge underneath, police said. Leger put the dog in the cab of the truck after striking him several more times and entered a barbershop, police said.
Leger, who was also charged with witness intimidation, confronted the woman when she went to check on the dog, yelling at her and asking if she was “trying to do her good deed for the day,” police said.
Police then received additional complaints about Leger from neighbors claiming he “constantly walks Bryson off-leash, beats him, and intimidates him by pinning him to the ground by kneeling on him,” police said. Prosecutors said the case took a while to come together because witnesses were initially reluctant to come forward.
Leger is due back in court Thursday for the hearing, where prosecutors will seek to revoke his bail on the earlier animal abuse charge, Kimball-Monahan said.