Baltimore County police are asking for the public’s help in locating a 33-year-old man who is wanted on charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal after he allegedly beat a small dog to death with a glass bottle, authorities said.
Jerome Irvin Luedtke, Jr., and a female roommate brought a severely beaten Chihuahua named Ginger to the Pet ER on Cromwell Bridge Road in Towson on Jan. 13 at about 6:30 a.m. with conflicting stories on how the dog was hurt, police said.
According to the police, detectives determined that Luedtke had struck Ginger multiple times with two different large glass bottles after the dog had bit Luedtke in the hand.
Luedtke’s female roommate convinced him to take Ginger to the ER after a failed attempt to get an ambulance to come to the home to help the dog, police said. Ginger was subsequently euthanized due to the extent of her injuries, police said.
Baltimore County police issued a warrant for Luedtke on Jan. 29, but police have been unable to find him. He is known to frequent the Essex Precinct area, police said. They said he has recently stayed at homes on Goodwood Avenue and Maryland Avenue.
Anyone with information on Luedtke is asked to contact police at 410-307-2020 or to contact detectives in the Precinct 11 – Essex Investigative Services Unit at 410-887-0230.
Metro Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information of Luedtke’s whereabouts.
–Roshan Davis