Menomonie man charged with intentionally killing dog in domestic abuse fight

CHIPPEWA FALLS — A Menomonie man has been charged with intentionally killing a dog during a confrontation with a woman.

Jason L. Hoyt, 41, E6594 210th Ave., was charged Friday in Chippewa County Court with second-degree recklessly endangering safety-domestic abuse and mistreatment of an animal-causing death; both are felonies.

Judge Benjamin Lane set a $1,000 cash bond, which Hoyt has posted. Hoyt is set to return to court Tuesday. As terms of his release, he cannot have any contact with the victim or her residence.

According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred Sept. 22 at a home in the town of Howard. The woman went to a hospital and told staff there that Hoyt intentionally ran her over with a UTV and pinned her underneath it. She told law enforcement she had been dating and residing with Hoyt in Dunn County, but said Hoyt was “very controlling and does not allow her to see any male friends. She was looking for a way to escape, so she went to a friend’s residence” in Howard.

While she was there, Hoyt pulled up to the residence.

“An argument ensued about her being at another man’s residence. Hoyt got into a UTV on the property and then her dog got into the UTV. Hoyt backed up the UTV and started making statements to (the victim) about killing her and the dog. Hoyt drove the UTV toward her and she began to run. At one point, Hoyt turned the UTV, causing it to flip onto its side. (She) stated the UTV landed on her and the dog, causing her dog to die.”

She stated that Hoyt crawled out of the UTV, then left the residence.

“She indicated she was still pinned by the UTV and began calling friends for help by using the Siri function on her phone,” the criminal complaint reads. “Her friend later returned and helped her bury her dog on the property. (She) confirmed the incident caused her pain and that she was still in pain, however, she was having a hard time remembering the incident.”

The officer observed numerous scratches and marks on her body. She showed the officer the messages that Hoyt left her after the incident.

An officer made phone contact with Hoyt and “he denied the incident occurring and stated (the woman) was crazy. Hoyt claimed she told him that she was hit by a vehicle while on the UTV in Eau Claire. However, he deleted the messages on his phone which would have confirmed his story.