Jones County man charged after puppy abandoned, run over in parking lot

Deputies say surveillance video helped identify the suspect in the animal cruelty case.

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Jones County man has been charged with animal cruelty after deputies say a puppy was abandoned in a convenience store parking lot and run over this past weekend.

According to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to Gary’s Food Mart on Saturday after a puppy was left in the parking lot and struck by a vehicle. Store surveillance video captured the incident, which deputies say later circulated online.

A deputy located the vehicle involved on East Virginia Avenue and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Torbush, initially denied abandoning the puppy but later admitted he left the dog, telling deputies it was because the puppy had been using the bathroom inside his home. He also claimed he did not realize the puppy was run over, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies say a passenger in the vehicle confirmed that Torbush intended to abandon the dog.

Torbush was handcuffed and taken to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center. Jail records show he’s charged with cruelty to animals, failure to stop at stop sign and expired registration.

The Jones County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing and urges the public to report suspected cases of animal abuse immediately.