SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — Authorities say the former head of South Carolina's Republican Party told them that he killed his mother's dog because God told him to and that he was the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Todd Kincannon, 37, was arrested last week after he choked, stabbed, and mutilated his mother's 10-year-old beagle mix at her Greenville county home, news outlets reported. Kincannon reportedly told Simpsonville police officers that he killed the dog because, "I'm the second coming of Christ and I got a command from God to do it."

Officers who responded to the July 26 call said Kincannon came out of his parents' home wearing only his underwear and was covered in blood and dog hair. According to one officer, Kincannon said "that every 1,000 years there needs to be a sacrifice and blood must be spilt."

An incident report noted that Kincannon held up injuries to his arm and wrist - which an officer said were likely from a dog bite - and said, "I have a sign. I'm about to get crucified in the media."

Authorities said Kincannon will be charged with animal cruelty after evaluation at a mental hospital. It wasn't known if he had an attorney.

The Republican activist briefly served as general counsel and executive director for the state GOP in 2009.

In 2015, Kincannon was charged with criminal domestic violence after threatening to kill himself, his wife, and her family. Later that year, his law license was suspended following threatening emails he sent to people in connection with that arrest.

In connection to the 2015 case, a grand jury indicted Kincannon on domestic violence and kidnapping charges last year. Both charges are still pending.