A Newton County man, 36-year-old Benjamin J. Henson of Jasper, has been charged with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals, with bond set at $50,000.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed last week, the arrest follows an incident in late February when law enforcement responded to a disturbance along Newton County Road 6832.
Deputies arrived to find a male subject, later identified as Henson, in the driveway with blood on his hands and shoes and a white substance on his face.
The only statement Henson reportedly made to the deputies was “a lot of animals have died here.” Law enforcement noted it appeared Henson was “under the influence of something or was suffering from some mental episode.”
In a post Miranda interview Henson reportedly said he did not know what had happened. When asked if he was alright due to the blood on him, the Newton County man said he was “possessed by the devil.” Deputies determined the blood on his hands and shoes did not belong to him.
When Henson could not provide the date or the day of the week, an ambulance from North Arkansas Medical Center in Harrison was requested in the event he needed medical attention. He requested to be treated and was transported from the scene.
At the residence, a large wooden stick sharpened on one end to make a spear was located. The spear end was covered in blood up to about 5 inches. Blood droplets were found on the porch, as well as a large pool near the steps leading off the porch to the back yard.
A severely injured female dog was located inside a kennel.
Henson’s sister was contacted and came to the scene. She advised her brother was supposed to be helping her with some work, and she believed he had just stopped by her house to grab some things.
She made the decision for Sheriff Glenn Wheeler to put the dog down with his firearm due to the severity of the animal’s wounds.
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