Charges have been filed against a homeless Youngstown man accused of killing two puppies, which were found bound and gagged late last month near a WRTA terminal.
William Bednar, 55, faces two charges of cruelty to companion animals in the case. Two 6-or-7-week-old German shepherd puppies were found about 15 feet behind the WRTA terminal in downtown Youngstown.
After a two-week investigation, Mahoning County Deputy Dog Warden Dave Nelson gathered enough evidence and video surveillance to hand the case over to the prosecutor's office.
"Ultimately, though what closed the case for us was the statement of an individual who was present at WRTA at or near the time of the offenses," said Youngstown Prosecutor Jay Macejko.
According to police, Bednar was actually arrested on drug-related charges Wednesday afternoon. Police reports state that he was stopped by Nelson after he saw dead animals in a shopping cart Bednar was pushing around.
"A dead squirrel. What looks to be the remains of a falcon," Nelson explained.
Two hypodermic syringes also were found in the cart.
Bednar was arrested for possession of drug abuse instruments. The animal cruelty charges were filed Thursday and are felonies because of his past convictions on similar charges. He was charged once in 2000 and again in 2011.
Investigators still do not know exactly where the German shepherd puppies came from or if this incident could be related to any of the other recent abuse cases reported in the area.
"We did get some other information as far as that, and at this point in time we're glad we have the two charges filed and it is still under investigation, absolutely," said Nelson.
Jamie Hughes with New Lease on Life, a no kill shelter in Struthers, said with the slew of recent animal abuse cases, shelters are relieved to hear about the arrest in this case.
"We just kind of had that big sigh of relief when we found out that someone had been taken in and was charged with the crimes," said Hughes.
Bednar is expected to be arraigned Friday.
