BOULDER, Colo.—A 26-year-old man faces an animal cruelty charge after police say a 4-month-old beagle asphyxiated after having its mouth taped shut for barking and chewing things.

Kenneth Gookin was arrested Friday following a two day investigation by Boulder police.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley says Gookin told investigators the beagle had been chewing everything, including a phone charger. He told investigators he taped the puppy’s mouth shut, put him in the bathroom and left him there for about 1 1/2 hours while he went to the store to buy a new charger.

The dog, named Vicious, was dead when he got back. Gookin had called police Wednesday for help in disposing of a dead dog. He initially told investigators he didn’t know how the dog died.