|
|
|
Brookfield, IL —
The dousing of an unleashed dog with gasoline in Harrington Park never had to happen Tuesday if police had been called to investigate, Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said.
Daniel Maskil, 53, of 302 Lionel Road in Riverside, was charged with animal cruelty and assault after he poured gasoline on the dog and threatened to do the same to the dog’s owner, 56-year-old Lyons resident Frank Perlongo, shortly after 8 a.m.
Perlongo had just let “Benny,” a 16-month-old Lhasa Apso, out of his car at the park when he was approached by Maskil, who, with his wife, were riding bicycles through the park.
Police said it was believed Maskil was returning from a filling station with a can of gasoline when he approached Perlongo and said the dog had to be on a leash in the park, which is a Riverside local ordinance.
An argument ensued, and Maskil told Perlongo if he got any closer, he would pour gas on the dog — then, he did.
“It wasn’t like just a few drops, he poured gasoline over the dog,” Weitzel said.
Maskil then threatened to pour gas on him as well and ignite both the dog and Perlongo.
Perlongo said Benny allegedly was not even near Maskil when he passed by.
“I told him to go, leave me alone,” Perlongo said. “The minute he threw the gasoline, I bolted from my car to get the gas away from him.”
Weitzel said at no time did Maskil actually produce a match or lighter.
“The assault charge comes from the threat of lighting Mr. Perlongo and the dog on fire,” Weitzel said.
He added Maskil’s wife had called police to report the disturbance in the park.
“The fact that the dog was off the leash doesn’t give Mr. Maskil the right to douse the dog with gasoline or to threaten to do the same to Mr. Perlongo,” Weitzel said. “He should have called us and we would have investigated. Mr. Perlongo should have had the dog on a leash.”
Perlongo, who was cited for not having the dog on a leash, said he has never had any problems with his pet before.
“For the last 18 years, I’ve been walking my dog(s) in the same park, same place every day. I never had any problems,” he said. “Every day I go to work, Benny comes with me. He just likes going with me. He’s my partner. If a cat attacked this dog it would probably kill the dog. He’s a puppy. This dog hasn’t a mean bone in his body. He’ll lick you to death.”
Perlongo said he took the dog home and gave him a bath after the incident.
Previous reports indicated the dog was a 9-pound Shih-Tzu, but Perlongo told the Suburban Life the pup is an 18-pound Lhasa Apso.
Maskil was not immediately available for comment.
The dousing of an unleashed dog with gasoline in Harrington Park never had to happen Tuesday if police had been called to investigate, Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said.
Daniel Maskil, 53, of 302 Lionel Road in Riverside, was charged with animal cruelty and assault after he poured gasoline on the dog and threatened to do the same to the dog’s owner, 56-year-old Lyons resident Frank Perlongo, shortly after 8 a.m.
Perlongo had just let “Benny,” a 16-month-old Lhasa Apso, out of his car at the park when he was approached by Maskil, who, with his wife, were riding bicycles through the park.
Police said it was believed Maskil was returning from a filling station with a can of gasoline when he approached Perlongo and said the dog had to be on a leash in the park, which is a Riverside local ordinance.
An argument ensued, and Maskil told Perlongo if he got any closer, he would pour gas on the dog — then, he did.
“It wasn’t like just a few drops, he poured gasoline over the dog,” Weitzel said.
Maskil then threatened to pour gas on him as well and ignite both the dog and Perlongo.
Perlongo said Benny allegedly was not even near Maskil when he passed by.
“I told him to go, leave me alone,” Perlongo said. “The minute he threw the gasoline, I bolted from my car to get the gas away from him.”
Weitzel said at no time did Maskil actually produce a match or lighter.
“The assault charge comes from the threat of lighting Mr. Perlongo and the dog on fire,” Weitzel said.
He added Maskil’s wife had called police to report the disturbance in the park.
“The fact that the dog was off the leash doesn’t give Mr. Maskil the right to douse the dog with gasoline or to threaten to do the same to Mr. Perlongo,” Weitzel said. “He should have called us and we would have investigated. Mr. Perlongo should have had the dog on a leash.”
Perlongo, who was cited for not having the dog on a leash, said he has never had any problems with his pet before.
“For the last 18 years, I’ve been walking my dog(s) in the same park, same place every day. I never had any problems,” he said. “Every day I go to work, Benny comes with me. He just likes going with me. He’s my partner. If a cat attacked this dog it would probably kill the dog. He’s a puppy. This dog hasn’t a mean bone in his body. He’ll lick you to death.”
Perlongo said he took the dog home and gave him a bath after the incident.
Previous reports indicated the dog was a 9-pound Shih-Tzu, but Perlongo told the Suburban Life the pup is an 18-pound Lhasa Apso.
Maskil was not immediately available for comment.
