Video of Scott County teen dropping dog to its death from bridge leads to arrest

A Scott County teenager captured on video tossing a dog to its death from a railroad bridge hundreds of feet above a river one year ago is now charged – thanks to that video and social media, USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee has learned.

The teenager was 17 when an unidentified female friend used her phone to capture footage of the dog’s death in May 2017. He is now 18 but has been charged via a juvenile petition in Scott County Juvenile Court because he was a minor at the time of the incident.

Records show he was arrested Monday and booked by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

Juvenile court records are largely sealed under Tennessee law, with exceptions for teenagers charged with violent crimes, such as first-degree murder. USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee is not naming the teenager because he is charged as a juvenile with a crime – delinquency by reason of animal cruelty – that does not fall under one of those exceptions.

'Old friend' airs video

USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee obtained the video footage and reviewed various records, including social media messages, and has unearthed the following details:

The video of the dog’s death began circulating on social media during Memorial Day weekend. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office began receiving calls from people who either recognized the bridge – the New River railroad bridge over New River in Scott County – or had heard about the dog’s death.

The sheriff’s office launched a probe. The teenager, meanwhile, posted on Snapchat, an app for sharing photos and videos, about the video, confessing it was he who dropped the dog. USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee has been unable to identify the dog or its owner.

He wrote in the post that “an old friend” began circulating the video – filmed the previous year during the same holiday weekend – without his permission.

“OK, so most of you guys have heard about the video that’s been going around,” the post stated. “To start off, I realized that it was a (expletive) up thing to do and that I should’ve never done it. If I could go back, I would’ve.”

'People change'

The teenager wrote that he was not the same young man he was a year ago when he killed the pooch.

“People change,” the post stated. “I am sorry to all the people that are upset right now. You guys have every right to be pissed. I do agree that I deserve to be punished, and I will be.”

The post appeared on Snapchat a day before the teenager was arrested.

“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” he continued. “I’m just letting everyone know that I realized what I did was (expletive) up and that I’ve changed a lot since that video, and I’d like to thank all of the people that have realized that this far.”

The teenager did not address why he tossed the dog off the bridge. He has not responded to USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee’s messages, including through social media.

A review by USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee showed the teenager was charged in April in Pigeon Forge with drinking alcohol while underage. Because the case involving the dog is being prosecuted in juvenile court, hearings will be closed to the public.

He is set to appear Wednesday before Scott County Juvenile Court Judge James Cotton Jr. If convicted, the teenager likely faces a probationary sentence or brief detention in a juvenile facility.