Man accused of beating husky with broom handle

MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP

A Muhlenberg Township man faces felony charges of animal cruelty after authorities said he beat a Siberian husky with what appeared to be a wooden-handle broom.

Tyrone H. Lane, 24, was arrested Monday, March 11, and committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge Dean R. Patton.

Lane is charged with two counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Patton issued the arrest warrant upon a joint request by Trooper Max Seiler from state police Troop L, Reading, and Cpl. Savannah Baller, a humane society police officer with the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.

They said they obtained two videos sent by Lane to his ex-girlfriend via Facebook messenger.

According to the probable cause affidavit:

The first video shows Lane walking through the main floor of his residence in the 100 block of Park Avenue on Feb. 10. He approaches Luna, a 4-yearold husky, who is cowering between a sofa and an end table. He begins beating Luna with a 2-inch-diameter stick, which appeared to be the length of a broom handle.

Luna is heard screaming and yelping as she’s beaten.

The second video shows Lane speaking into the camera, which pans over the stick, then to a wire crate where Luna is housed. Luna’s front left leg appears bloodied. Lane is heard saying he’ll go from stick to hammer.

Lane’s ex-girlfriend told police that she received a threatening message from Lane via Facebook on Feb. 15 in which he stated he would make another video of Luna taking her last breath.

Both videos were burned into a media-storage disc and placed into evidence at the state police barracks in Reading.

“The video evidence vividly portrays the deliberate and malicious actions of Lane, demonstrating a wanton disregard for the well-being and welfare of the canine,” the investigators state in requesting a warrant on the charges. “Such behavior not only violates legal statutes, but also underscores a concerning lack of empathy and respect for sentient beings.”