Jeremy Brian Cross
A Soddy Daisy man has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for beating a police dog in the head that was biting him at the end of a chase in the woods.
Jeremy Brian Cross, 36, of 11036 Dallas Hollow Road, is also charged with theft of property over $2,500, evading arrest and violation of probation (burglary).
Authorities said Cross has been arrested numerous times for violent felonies and is a member of the Aryan Nation. He has a history of assaulting police, it was stated.
The Sequatchie County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of a car wreck in the 1000 block of Hendon Gap Road. The vehicle was found to be stolen.
The driver, Cross, fought with a deputy and was able to go into nearby woods. Deputy Nero was then brought in, and the K9 tracked Cross 1.6 miles in the woods.
The dog's handler said Cross was given numerous warnings to come out, but he refused. The dog was then sent in.
The officer initially did not see where the dog had confronted Cross. When he arrived, he said Cross "was repeatedly striking Nero on the head with a hammer fist too many times to count." He said Cross also "was screaming in pain."
He said he "left Nero on" until he was able to get Cross under control.
A medic was called and dressed and cleaned the wounds that Cross sustained from the dog bites.