Mugshot of Kaseim Marsh. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. JOHN — Police arrested a man Wednesday after witnesses reported a violent incident involving a dog on a residential street, an episode authorities say was captured on video and left two animals injured.
According to police, the incident unfolded just after midday when people working in the area heard a woman screaming. Officers were dispatched and met with the woman’s employer, who said he rushed outside and saw a man swinging a dog through the air by its leash. The man was later identified as Kaseim Marsh.
The employer told police that Marsh was using the leash to lift the dog overhead and then smash the animal onto the ground. Witnesses said Marsh ignored efforts to stop the abuse. The woman who initially spotted the incident reported that when she confronted him, Marsh picked up a large stick and threatened to kill her.
Police reviewed more than one recording of the incident and confirmed the sequence of events described by witnesses. Investigators then examined the location where Marsh was believed to be residing as a squatter on family property and located the dog shown in the videos.
Officers found the animal severely injured. Police said it “could barely move the rear part of its body because its hind legs were wounded.” A second dog was also found on the property and appeared to have sustained an injury to one of its rear legs.
Representatives from the St. John Animal Care Center removed both animals from the property. Marsh was arrested, transported by ferry to St. Thomas, and charged with first-degree animal abuse and two counts of disturbing the peace.
Marsh is expected to appear before Simone VanHolten-Turnbull in the near future.
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