Annapolis man arrested in fight with girlfriend, fatal stabbing of family dog
An Annapolis man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly attacked his girlfriend and then stabbed the family dog to death when the animal got between them, police said. Jesus Hernandez Garcia, 24, of Annapolis grabbed the woman’s hair and started punching her about 6 p.m. at a house they share on Silopanna Road, the woman told Annapolis police officers called to the scene. As the assault progressed, police said, Hernandez Garcia allegedly grabbed a glass bottle of Corona and tried to hit the woman’s head. At that point, the couple’s pit bull got between them. Hernandez Garcia said he stabbed the dog several times in the neck in self-defense. The woman suffered a cut to her hand as she tried to pull the dog away. “The dog had come after him in an aggressive manner, and that’s when he attacked it,” said Sgt. Amy Miquez, police spokeswoman. “He did not mention assaulting the victim at all.” She said it was unclear if the dog was trying to defend the woman or if the animal was just startled by the violence and got in the way. Although Hernandez Garcia said the animal bit him, he did not have any obvious injuries. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment. The dog was cared for by Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control but died from its injuries. Hernandez Garcia was charged Saturday with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, aggravated cruelty to an animal and animal cruelty. Initially ordered held without bail, he was released on his own recognizance Monday, court records show. No attorney was listed as representing him. Miquez said officers recommended the woman seek a protective order against Hernandez Garcia, but there was no court record Monday showing that such an order had been issued.