A Morgantown man has been accused of choking, kicking and punching his dog, Wallace, before throwing him in a small utility closet and spraying him with a propellant.

Police found the dog bleeding from the head, with blood on his front paws and legs.

Marshall K. Sears, 48, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals and possession of a controlled substance less than 15 grams. His bond was set at $6,500.

According to criminal complaints, a neighbor saw Sears beating his dog and called 911. The neighbor said Sears threw the dog in an outdoor utility closet, then opened the door, kicked the dog and sprayed him with an unknown substance.

The neighbor said Sears returned to the closet before police arrived, grabbed the dog by the neck and threw him in the apartment.

Monongalia County Sheriff 's Deputy T.L. Merrifield said he found a trail of blood on the apartment floor leading to a small metal kennel that housed the dog.

He said a large amount of fresh blood was in the outdoor utility closet, which was about 1-by-4 feet and "nowhere near capable" of housing a dog of Wallace's size.

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