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ALTOONA, Pa. (TCD) — A 34-year-old man faces charges after allegedly throwing a toddler and killing a dog over the weekend.
On the night of Saturday, May 25, the Altoona Police Department responded to an apartment in reference to a possible assault. A witness parked outside the complex reportedly saw Bryan Gracia through his window “holding the child and repeatedly striking it before then throwing the child into a Pack ’n Play.”
According to the Altoona Mirror, the witness claimed they yelled at Gracia to stop harming the toddler. Gracia reportedly exited the room and returned with the victim’s mother, who took the child away.
Police found the 18-month-old child with red marks on its cheeks, back, and forehead. The toddler also reportedly had fingerprint marks on its face and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
During a search of the apartment, police located a deceased Chihuahua. According to officers, the dog and the child were often together in the Pack ’n Play, including on the night of the incident.
A security guard at the apartment complex reportedly told officials Gracia and the child’s mother went outside with the deceased dog while the toddler kept crying inside the apartment.
Upon further investigation, police determined Gracia allegedly threw the child into the Pack ’n Play with “such force that it fatally wounded” the dog.
According to the Altoona Mirror, Gracia told police he struck his toddler as punishment after he hit the dog. Gracia allegedly tried to save the Chihuahua after finding the pet unresponsive. While speaking with police, Gracia was reportedly holding the dog’s lifeless body.
Officials arrested Gracia on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering another person, cruelty to animals, simple assault, and harassment. He was booked into the Blair County Prison on $25,000 bail.
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