Report: Man arrested for beating dog with sticks and rocks

RHEA COUNTY — A Rhea County man is facing aggravated cruelty to animals after he was arrested for allegedly beating a tied up dog with a stick and throwing rocks at it, according to an arrest report on file at the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department.

Orta Martinez, 51, is facing several charges after he was arrested for animal abuse on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

At around 4:30 p.m., Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Cheyenne Swafford said she was dispatched to Arvil Ward Lane after receiving reports of a man “beating a tied up dog with a stick.”

“Upon arrival on scene, (a witness) advised me that the suspect took off walking down the road and went across the guardrail,” Swafford said. “I attempted to locate the suspect and found him next to the creek across from the property.”

Swafford said that when she found Martinez, he refused to show her his hands and turn around.

“After several commands, I was able to make contact with the suspect who was identified as Mr. Orta Martinez,” Swafford said. “While speaking with Mr. Martinez, his speech was slurred, and I could detect an over-whelming smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. I also observed an open container of Natural Lite beer next to his person.”

Swafford said that Martinez was then arrested for public intoxication.

Upon further investigation, Swafford said she noticed a bite mark on Martinez’s leg, and he complained that the dog bit him. She added that upon speaking with the complaintants, one told her that Martinez had already been advised not to be on his property, and another complaintant told her that he had witnessed Martinez throwing rocks at the dog and hitting it with a stick.

Martinez was charged with public intoxication, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and aggravated cruelty to animals and booked into the Rhea County Jail. According to jail records, he was still incarcerated as of press time Tuesday.