A maintenance worker at Cascadian Terrace Apartments couldn't understand where a roll of paper towels he had placed in a common area had gone to so he checked the complex's video surveillance images.

He was horrified by what he saw.

A resident repeatedly hitting, slapping, whipping, choking and sexually abusing a little dog.

And, the activity went on for awhile, police and prosecutors said.

The worker turned the video images over to Multnomah County Sheriff's Detective Ken Yohe, which led to the arrest of resident Gene David Fosdick Jr.

Fosdick, 38, was arraigned Tuesday morning on a two-count indictment charging him with first-degree aggravated animal abuse and sexual assault of an animal.

The Chihuahua belonged to Fosdick and was named Peanut.

Fosdick pleaded not guilty to each of the charges. He told police he was rubbing and scratching the dog because it had fleas, the affidavit says.

The incident occurred on the evening of Jan. 7 in a common room inside the apartment complex in the 5700 block of North Kerby Avenue.

The dog is now in foster care in Multnomah County, according to Nicole Jergovic, a deputy district attorney.

Court records show Fosdick is unemployed and taking anti-depressants for depression. He has prior drug convictions.

A grand jury indicted him on Jan. 31. The court has ordered him to have no contact with animals as the case is pending.