A man is facing felony charges after firefighters said he killed his dog and started a fire in his apartment.
A neighbor called authorities after smelling smoke at a Norcross apartment complex on Park Lane Lake, Gwinnett Fire spokesman Tommy Rutledge said. He said the fire started just after 1 a.m. Friday.
When firefighters arrived, no one was inside the smoking apartment and the fire was out, Rutledge said. Firefighters said they found blood inside the apartment and a dead dog.
While authorities were investigating, a wet, bloody, naked man approached the apartment, Rutledge said.
“He did have self-inflicted, traumatic wounds,†Rutledge told Channel 2’s Rebecca Lindstrom. “We believe that he also caused harm to that dog.â€
The man, identified as a resident of the apartment, was detained and taken to the Gwinnett Medical Center to be treated for his injuries. Investigators believe he left the apartment after killing the dog and setting the fire, Rutledge said. The man then jumped into a small lake on the complex property, Rutledge said.
The man faces two felony charges of first-degree arson and cruelty to animals.
