Man charged after alleged dog beating

An Invercargill man is expected to appear in the Alexandra District Court tomorrow charged with disorderly behaviour and cruelty to an animal after an incident in Cromwell on Saturday.

Sergeant Steve Watt, of Cromwell, said the 35-year-old man was arrested after he ran from the Cromwell Speedway grounds into a neighbouring vineyard, where he allegedly used a stick to repeatedly beat a jack russell dog.

Earlier, the man had allegedly used a water pistol to spray spectators at the event, he said. The man was asked to stop but continued to spray water before security asked him to leave, Mr Watt said.

The man picked up a stick and threatened spectators before running off, evading security staff and making his way into a neighbouring vineyard, he said.

Police arrested the man and charged him with disorderly behaviour, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of cannabis and cruelty to an animal.

- © Fairfax NZ News