Katie Bieri

The Republic | azcentral.com

A Cornville man accused of throwing a puppy from a vehicle traveling 50 mph last week was arrested Monday on suspicion of animal cruelty and drug violations, authorities said.

Joseph Kennedy, 27, told investigators he was "distraught" after a fight with his girlfriend last Wednesday and tossed the puppy out of a moving vehicle in front of his 8-month-old child because he "didn't care for the animal," according to a Yavapai CountySheriff''s Office statement.

The puppy has physically recovered but suffered "significant neurological issues" from the incident, Sheriff Scott Mascher said.

Someone called in a tip about the incident to Yavapai Silent Witness last week. After taking the case to the public, the Sheriff's Office says it received additional tips identifying Kennedy as the suspect.

A sheriff's deputy arrested Kennedy on Monday after spotting him in the back of a pickup truck stopped outside a convenience store in Cottonwood, the statement said. A search of Kennedy's property revealed three "personal use" packages of methamphetamine and associated paraphernalia, the statement said.

Kennedy was booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on suspicion of animal cruelty, drug possession and drug paraphernalia. He is being held on a $17,500 bond.

His son is in the custody of Child Protective Services, and the puppy is in a foster home, the statement said.