EVERETT — A Woodinville man with a history of assaulting people is now facing a felony animal cruelty charge for allegedly throwing large stones at a pair of horses.
The yearling colts sustained multiple injuries in the Oct. 16 incident. One of the horses had a gash to its face that required nine stitches, according to Snohomish County Superior Court documents.
Michael Aaron Brown committed first-degree animal cruelty when he got the horses in a stall and began attacking them, deputy prosecutor Cheryl Johnson wrote.
The case was investigated by animal control officers working for the county auditor. In an affidavit filed along with the charge, they alleged Brown, 46, “lured” the colts into a stall on property in the 23600 block of 75th Avenue SE.
A witness reported hearing a commotion.
Brown “was heard yelling at the horses, stating that they needed to learn a lesson. (He) was seen throwing the large rocks at the horses and the horses were frantically trying to escape,” court papers said.
The witness yelled at Brown to stop, reportedly distracting him long enough for the horses to run away. While he shouted threats, the witness ran to a phone and called 911.
Brown, who has a history of living with mental illness, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies and taken to a crisis center in King County.
The defendant has prior convictions for felony assaults on people, including a June 2011 attack on a woman at a Seattle residential treatment home. He was sentenced to three months in jail after pushing her down some stairs, according to court papers.
Scott North: 425-339-3431, north@heraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
