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WEBVTT T HAPPEN. >> FRAN SCIOTTO AND ANGEL MARRERO WERE DRIVING HOME WITH THEIR 10-YEAR-OLD SON WHEN SOMETHING HIT THEIR CA >> I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS A DOG AT FIRST I SAW A BIG BALL OF FLUF REPORTER: OCALA POLICE SAY MICHAEL BRITTON, A 55-YEAR-OLD HOMELESS MAN, TOSSED HIS PET POOCH INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TUESDAY. >> IT CRAWLED BACK TO HIM AND HE WOULD PET IT ON THE HEAD AND WHEN HE WENT TO PICK HIM UP AGAIN THE DOG PUSHED AWAY BUT PUSHED AWAY. HE STILL HAD A GOOD HOLD AND THAT'S WHEN HE THREW HIM IN FRONT OF THAT WOMAN'S CAR. REPORTER: THE SHOCKING SCENE UNFOLDED AROUND 8 TUESDAY NIGHT, ON SOUTHWEST 24TH AVENUE IN OCALA. POLICE SAY THEY TAZED BRITTON TWICE TO GET HIM UNDER CONTROL, AND PREVENT HIM FROM ATTACKING AN OFFICER. ACCORDING TO THE ARREST REPORT, BRITTON SAID HE TRIED TO KILL HIS DOG BECAUSE SOMEONE STABBED IT WITH AN ARROW. HE COULDN'T SAY WHO DID BUT TOLD OFFICERS HE WAS QUOTE TRYING TO PUT THE DOG OUT OF HIS MISERY. HOWEVER, VETERINARIANS WHO TREATED THE DOG, TOLD POLICE THERE WERE NO STAB WOUNDS. OFFICIALS SAY THE DOG DIDN'T BREAK ANY BONES BUT SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES AND IS NOW STABLE. >> YOU JUST CAN'T EVER IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN. REPORTER: THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MARION COUNTY SAYS THE 5-YEAR-OLD AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD IS RESTING AT THE HOME OF THE OFFICER WHO SAVED HIM. WE'RE TOLD THAT OFFICER HAS ALREADY GIVEN THE DOG A NEW NAME BUCK AND HOPES TO GIVE HIM A NEW HOME. >> JUST KNOWING HE'S GOING TO BE OK IS SUCH A RELIEF TO HIM AND US >> BRITAIN REMAINS LOCKED UP HERE AT THE MARION COUNTY JAIL HELD ON $4,000 BOND. HE'S CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY, ASSAULT ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND RESISTING ARREST. LIVE IN MARION COUNTY MATT GRANT

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Investigators arrested a man after they said he threw his dog into traffic twice. Michael Britton is facing several charges and his dog is doing just fine. WESH 2 News spoke to people who watched it happen. Fran Sciotto and Angel Marrero were driving home with their 10-year-old son when something hit their car. "I didn't even know it was a dog at first. I saw a big ball of fluff," Sciotto said. Ocala police said Michael Britton, a 55-year-old homeless man, tossed his pet pooch into oncoming traffic Tuesday. "It crawled back to him and he would pet it on the head and when he went to pick him up again the dog pushed away, but he still had a good hold and that's when he threw him in front of that woman's car," Marrero said. The shocking scene unfolded around 8 p.m. Tuesday night on SW 24th Avenue in Ocala. Police said they used a stun gun to shock Britton twice to get him under control and prevent him from attacking an officer. According to the arrest report, Britton said he tried to kill his dog because someone stabbed it with an arrow. He couldn't say who did, but told officers he was, "trying to put the dog out of his misery." However, veterinarians who treated the dog told police there were no stab wounds. Officials said the dog didn't break any bones but suffered internal injuries and is now stable. "Absolute shock. You just can't ever imagine something like that to happen," Sciotto said. The Humane Society of Marion County said the 5-year-old Australian shepherd is resting at the home of the officer who saved him. WESH 2 News was told that officer has already given the dog a new name -- Buck -- and hopes to give him a new home. "Just knowing he's going to be OK is such a relief to him and us," Sciotto said. The Humane Society is helping to raise money for the dog's care. Britton went before a judge on Wednesday. He remains behind bars at the Marion County Jail held on $4,000 bond. He's charged with animal cruelty, assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.