Man Throws Family Dog From Overpass

An unemployed man who had an argument with his parents apparently retaliated Tuesday evening by throwing the family’s dog from an overpass onto the San Diego Freeway, police said.

Steven Gibson, 32, was chased by witnesses and arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals and throwing an object at oncoming traffic, Police Sgt. Lee Pepka said. The dog died instantly, he said.

Two people driving on Magnolia Avenue saw a man walking across the street’s overpass about 6 p.m. with a champagne-colored poodle in his arms, police said.

Police Officer Jim Floren, who made the arrest, said one driver looking in his rear-view mirror saw Gibson drop the dog. That driver got out and joined another witness in chasing Gibson while yelling for help, police said.

“Luckily, they chased him right into some police officers who had been working an accident nearby,” Pepka said.

Police officers joined the foot chase and used pepper-spray on Gibson before arresting him about a quarter mile from the overpass, Floren said.

“He showed no signs of remorse,” Floren said, “and he wouldn’t answer any of our questions.”

The 8-year-old dog, Maurice, was found dead moments later off the side of the southbound lanes of the San Diego Freeway, Pepka said. Its collar had been removed before the dog was thrown, indicating that the act may have been intentional, police said.

The dog had been hit by a car, Floren said, commenting that “it was a sight to ruin your day.”

The poodle belonged to Gibson’s parents, who noticed that their pet was missing early Tuesday. On Monday, Gibson, who lives with his parents, argued with them over “some family matters,” Floren said.

Gibson was to be booked into the Orange County Jail on Tuesday, Pepka said.