The owner of a dog that had to be euthanized because it was brutalized was arrested Thursday evening after someone called 911 about a suspicious vehicle, an official said.

Nearly two months ago, the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the Pima Animal Care Center went to the residence of Wayne Allen Dean, 38, in Three Points to take custody of two animals, said Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Deputy Dawn Barkman.

It was then they found Otis, an older, tan greyhound mix burned, bitten, maimed and sexually abused. Otis had to be euthanized in March because of the serious nature of his injuries.

On Thursday at 5:18 p.m., the Sheriff's Department received a call from someone reporting a suspicious vehicle in the 15100 block of West Ajo, just east of South Sasabe Road, in Three Points, Barkman said.

When deputies arrived, they found Dean in a tan-and-red mid-1980s Ford pickup truck, she said. He was trying to hide in the extended cab of the truck, she said.

Dean was arrested without incident and booked into the Pima County jail on three counts of felony animal cruelty, two counts of animal neglect and one count of maintaining unsanitary premises.

When officials found Otis, he had fresh and old cigarette burns on his face and body, his left ear had been injured by a human bite, and his tail had been cut off, exposing bone. Veterinarians also told detectives that the dog was a victim of sexual abuse, according to an affidavit filed in Pima County Superior Court.

Witnesses told detectives that Dean had been seen wearing a dog's tail on his belt, according to the affidavit.

Court records show that Dean was facing a domestic violence charge in July 1993, but it was dismissed three months later when he successfully completed unsupervised probation. No further information was available late Thursday.

On Sunday, the Pima Animal Care Center plans to host a memorial for Otis at 6 p.m. at the ramada in front of the center, 4000 N. Silverbell Road.

LAW & ORDER