A Dover man has been arrested and charged with domestic violence and animal cruelty charges, police said.
At approximately 9 p.m. Thursday night, Joshua Mueller, 40, was engaged in a verbal argument with a woman seated inside a parked vehicle in front of a home in the 7200 block of Halima Road in Dover. According to a news release, in a fit of anger, Mueller shattered the front driver’s side window with his fist. He then went inside the home and grabbed a large kitchen knife and, walking back outside, confronted the victim and slashed at her arms several times. When victim’s dog came to her defense, Mueller used the knife to stab the dog’s face and chest area.
He was arrested without incident and gave a full confession to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives and is facing charges of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals with a Weapon and Aggravated Battery with a Weapon Great Bodily Harm.
“This is a sad and reprehensible act of domestic violence and animal abuse that will not be tolerated in our county,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “While this individual cools off and faces the consequences of his violent actions, our heart goes out to the victim and their brave pup, and our deputies are working to get them the help they need to move forward.”
Victims of domestic violence can call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200 and the Spring of Tampa Bay’s at https://thespring.org/ or their crisis hotline at 813-247-SAFE.