Reported by: Paul Merrill
Email: paulmerrill@fox23news.com
Videographer: J. Ficurelli
Last Update: 1/26 11:48 pm
Schenectady Police say that Thomas Hendricks II tortured and killed dogs during arguments with his wife.
Thomas Hendricks II hid his face as he left the Schenectady Police Department on Tuesday afternoon.
The 28-year-old Schenectady resident is accused of drowning one dog, torturing another, and beating a third.
Police say the animal abuse happened at the Front Street apartment that Hendricks shares with his 33-year-old wife.
Schenectady Police say they responded to a domestic incident at the apartment on Monday.
Police tell us that their investigation found that Hendricks had killed a dachshund named "Fudge" on Sunday by beating the dog with a pool cue.
Investigators presume the animal is dead but they haven't been able to find its body.
On or about January 12th, Hendricks allegedly tortured a toy poodle named "Carmella" by scalding her with hot water and pulling out her hair.
That dog is recovering with Hendricks's wife.
Court papers show that Hendricks is accused of killing another dachshund named "Beary" in December by holding the dog underwater and squeezing it.
Investigators removed that dog's body from 122 Front Street on Tuesday.
Schenectady Police say the animal abuse happened during domestic incidents.
Schenectady Police Sergeant Eric Clifford explains: "Arguments that began between the husband and wife and, ultimately, one of the animals suffered as a result."
They believe that Hendricks had been tormenting his wife by torturing and killing the dogs.
"We know by looking at this kind of behavior that these are the kind of people that go one to commit brutal attacks on humans," explains Dave Dean, a former police officer and current spokesman for the Schenectady County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Dean says he's glad that Buster's Law allows for a felony charge against Hendricks.
"Instead of a slap on the wrist, you're getting a jail door slamming," Dean says.
Other residents on Front Street tell us they like their neighborhood with the exception of a few households.
"They ruin the whole neighborhood," says Brett Lauren-Kennedy. "They bring the whole quality of life down here and it is a shame, absolutely, and it's a shame for those dogs."
Hendricks was released on bail on Tuesday night.
He tells us he didn't hurt any dogs.
Hendricks tells us that he feels like he's being villified as if he were Michael Vick.
He says he doesn't know what police removed from his home but it wasn't a dead dog.
"I seen it on tv," he tells us. "Walking out of my backyard with a blue pail? C'mon, I don't even know what the hell is in that pail! That's ridiculous! My dog is in that house so any other thing else? I'm telling you: it's a lie."
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