News

Registered sex offender arrested after allegedly beating dog at North Station

BOSTON — A registered sex offender accused of beating his dog at Boston's North Station Monday night was arrested in court Tuesday.

The 9-month-old husky, named Sarah, weighs 45 pounds and is now in the care of Boston Animal Control after what happened outside the T station.

In the video obtained by FOX25, you can see a man push Sarah to the ground, kneel on her and yell at her. Witnesses say they also saw him punching the dog and lifting it off the ground by its leash.

"He was just kind of beating his dog," a witness told FOX25. "He was picking him up by the collar. All four paws were off the ground. He threw the dog down."

In a court hearing for animal cruelty allegations, prosecutors laid out Bowen's criminal history. He's a registered sex offender for crimes that include assault with intent to commit rape.

The judge revoked his bond for failing to register his new address.

As Bowen was taken into custody, he made a plea to FOX25's camera about his love for his dog.

"I loved Sarah very much and she very much cared for me," Bowen said as he was taken from the courtroom.

FOX25 also found a GoFundMe page showing Bowen with his dog. On it, he says he's homeless and calls the dog his service animal because of his disability.

"I am not claiming to be anything except a guy who has found solace in his life because of Sarah, a service animal," Bowen writes of the GoFundMe page.

A judge will decide what happens to Sarah as she recovers from the incident.