Medford police arrested a dog walker Sunday after witnesses saw him hitting one of the dogs in his care on the head repeatedly, according to police.
Officers charged 33-year-old Medford resident Frederick Ingrando with one count of animal cruelty, police said in a press release.
On March 24 around 11 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of Fellsway West and Sheridan Avenue for a report of animal cruelty involving a man walking a group of dogs, police said. Witnesses told police they had seen the man hit one of the dogs he was walking in the head multiple times before lifting the dog off the ground by its collar “in a harmful manner.”
One witness provided officers with video of the incident, allowing them to identify Ingrando as the suspect, police said. Officers then responded to Ingrando’s home and took him into custody.
Ingrando is a hired dog walker, and the dogs he was walking were not his, police said. After arresting Ingrando, officers removed the dogs from his home and took them to a safe location to await pick-up from their owners.
The dog that was struck was taken to a local veterinarian to be evaluated, police said. Officers are still investigating the incident.
