Man Disembowels Dog, Trashes House, Assaults Acquaintance: HCPD

LAUREL, MD — A Laurel man has been indicted on animal cruelty and related charges. Police said that the man stabbed his dog, a Yorkshire terrier named "Boo," in a violent spree at his house.

Omar Beniah-Jovan Gertman, 24, of the 9600 block of Covered Wagon Drive, is now being held without bail.

Police said that officers responded to Covered Wagon Drive on June 12 after a woman called 911 to report that a member of her family had stabbed the family dog and left the house.

Animal control officers took Boo to an emergency animal hospital, where police said he was not expected to survive after being disemboweled but has since recovered from his injuries.

Authorities allege Gertman stabbed the dog, assaulted an acquaintance and destroyed household items, including a coffee maker and television, before leaving the house.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on June 12, according to court records.

Police said that officers arrested Gertman at a hotel in a neighboring jurisdiction.

He was taken into custody June 21, court records show, and he was indicted on July 11 on one count of felony animal cruelty as well as the misdemeanor charges of second-degree assault, animal cruelty and malicious destruction of property greater than $1,000.

Gertman is being held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center. He is slated to appear in Howard County Circuit Court for a scheduling conference on Aug. 2.

Photo courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.