Rochester, MN (KROC AM News)  - A Rochester area man was arrested over the weekend after authorities say his dog killed a puppy and he later threatened its owners after they contacted the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.

Captain Scott Behrns says the incident happened around 8 p.m. Saturday outside an apartment along Highway 14 East near the County Road 11 intersection.  Behrns says a 40-year-old woman, her 20-year-old son and 1-year-old grandson were playing with the 8 week old puppy when a Mastiff/pit bull mix suddenly appeared and attacked the smaller dog, which died a few hours later. The 20-year-old man tried to stop the attack and suffered bite wounds to one of his hands. The owner of the dog, 44-year-old Eric Dean Anderson, took the animal back to his nearby residence.

Behrns say Anderson became verbally abusive to the deputies who were sent to the scene Saturday night. Behrns says deputies returned Sunday morning after the woman said Anderson had confronted and threatened her because she had reported the incident the night before. Anderson initially refused to come out and talk to the deputies but was eventually taken into custody.

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