Trial starts for 18-year-old involved in animal cruelty case

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – You may remember the disturbing Facebook post that went viral in July, showing a teenager punching a dog in the face and we learned soon after that the dog was found fatally stabbed and beaten.

The trial for 18-year-old David Griffith, one of the four teenagers involved, begins Wednesday morning.

Investigators say Griffith was the one behind that video recording.

The dog was heard whimpering and seen moving away from the teen.

Deputies say the dog was later found on the side of a road severely beaten, suffering from multiple stab wounds.

They say it died shortly after being found.

Griffith is charged with animal cruelty, among other charges.

The video was widely circulated on social media and led to the arrest of a 17-year-old and 18-year-old Toby Glen Harrison.

According to Harrison’s arrest citation, he was there when the dog was punched and went into a home and got a knife, saying he was going to kill the dog.

Harrison was charged with animal cruelty and unlawful transaction of a minor.

According to the Laurel County Detention Center, 18-year-old Noah Blevins was also charged with similar crimes.

Three people have been arrested after video surfaced of a dog being punched in the face. The dog was later found dead.

Toby Glen Harrison