A Florence man who reportedly dragged his horse behind his vehicle and used a piece of pipe to beat the animal will face one charge of animal cruelty, according to the Pinal County Attorney's Office.
An officer witnessed Gordon Allen Bates drag the horse behind his truck with a strap used for towing vehicles at his home Aug. 4, a Pinal County sheriff's report shows. His 13-year-old daughter also reportedly kicked the animal in the head while yelling at it to get up from the ground, according to the report.
Once rescued, the horse was treated for injuries, including the removal of the tow strap that had been embedded in its neck, as well as several scrapes and bruises from being dragged by the vehicle, the report shows.
Bates will face a judge Dec. 10 on one charge of animal cruelty, a Class 6 felony, according to county attorney spokesman Kostas Kalaitzidis. Gordon told officers he was beating the animal because it wouldn't obey him, according to the report.
The animal was turned over to the state Department of Agriculture.
