MARYLAND — (Baltimore PD) — On November 9, 2016, at approximately 5:30pm, officers were called to a home in the 3700 block of 10th Street for a report of animal cruelty. Witnesses told officers they observed 21-year old Donald Yearwood kill four puppies inside the location. Officers were unable to find Yearwood or the puppies in the home.
At approximately 8:00pm, officers were called to the 1200 block of Cambria Street, after a group of children found four puppies inside a dumpster. Animal Control officers responded to the location. Three of the puppies were pronounced deceased at the scene and a fourth puppy was transported to an animal medical center where he later died from his injuries.
Detectives from our Animal Abuse Unit initiated an investigation. On October 22, 2016, Animal Control officers were called to the same home in the 3700 block of 10th Street, after an adult female pitbull dog bit a child inside the home. The child suffered minor injuries from the dog bite. Animal Control confiscated the adult pitbull along with six puppies that were approximately one week old. Animal Control Officers were unaware at this time that four additional puppies were still inside the home.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Donald Yearwood attempted to feed and care for the four remaining puppies over the next two weeks. According to witnesses, on November 9, 2016, Yearwood was inside the home attempting to sleep. The puppies were making noise and that is when Yearwood began to kick and stomp on the puppies.
The witnesses told investigators that Yearwood then threw the puppies down a flight of stairs. During this incident, there were several young children in the room who witnessed the attack. Yearwood then put the puppies in a box and left the location.
Detectives found a video from a surveillance camera in the area of Donald Yearwood placing the puppies into a dumpster. A warrant was issued for Donald Yearwood charging him with 17 counts of animal cruelty and animal abuse related charges.
On November 30, 2016, at approximately 6:00pm, Donald Yearwood turned himself into authorities at the Southern District police station. He was transported to the Central Booking and Intake Facility.
