Fort Myers teen arrested for animal cruelty and assault of brother

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A 13-year-old boy is accused of strangling a puppy and stabbing his older brother on Wednesday afternoon in Lee County.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says both the puppy and the brother are doing OK. The teenager now faces multiple charges.

"On Wednesday, at about 3:15 p.m. we get dispatched to Nault Drive," Sheriff Carmine Marceno said.

Deputies arrived to find the young teenager holding a knife and trying to pry open a door. They immediately took him into custody and began their investigation.

"What we find out is disturbing," Marceno said.

The family had locked the teenager out of the home after he choked their puppy. The incident started over something minor.

"This all started because a small puppy peed on the floor of the house," Marceno said.

The teenager faces several charges, including animal cruelty and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. When the family tried to intervene, he stabbed and sliced his brother's arm with a knife.

"The 13-year-old suspect chases his older brother around. He tries to hit him in the back of the head with a rock," Marceno said. "Again, the family locks him out of the house. Calls 911."

The Sheriff's Office says the teenager has a history of mental health issues. Marceno hopes the family will continue to seek psychiatric help for the teenager and that his pattern of behavior can be changed.