Actor Tyrese Gibson, known for his role in “Fast and Furious,” was arrested last Friday after four of his mastiff dogs allegedly attacked a neighbor’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The 46-year-old willingly reported to the Fulton County Jail around 6 am, facing a charge of animal cruelty.
He was later released on a $20,000 bond.
Gibson, originally from Los Angeles, has portrayed Roman Pierce in several films of the “Fast and Furious” series, appearing in eight of the eleven releases.
Reports indicate that his dog fatally injured a five-year-old named Henry after escaping from Gibson’s house on the evening of September 18.
According to police, this escape was the sixth incident that week alone involving Gibson’s dogs.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s doorbell camera captured one of the dogs outside before the tragic attack. The barking and scratching occurred as other dogs wandered in the yard.
Harrison Parker, Henry’s owner, described finding the dog’s body as shocking: “There was some fur, and I couldn’t believe it at first. It was terrifying.” He expressed deep sorrow, stating, “I lost my best friend in the worst way.”
Gibson mentioned he acquired a dog recently due to concerns about a “stalker” that had been troubling him.
His lawyer, Gabe Banks, said that Gibson’s intention in bringing the dogs into his life was purely for family protection and peace of mind.
While Gibson reportedly was not at home during the attack, he acted quickly to reclaim his adult dogs and three puppies thereafter.
Authorities indicated that Gibson had received several warnings to restrain his dogs. Despite requests for him to turn the dogs over to animal services by September 22, he failed to comply with the deadline.
Law enforcement returned with an arrest warrant on September 29, only to find the dogs had been retained before they could intervene.
