Fast & Furious actor Tyrese Gibson was given a deadline to turn himself in to Georgia police after one or more of his mastiffs allegedly mauled a neighbor’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to death but failed to do so, authorities say, People reports.
On Sept. 18, one or more of Gibson’s Cane Corso mastiffs allegedly attacked a neighbor’s smaller dog and killed it, according to police.
Over the past few months, the Fulton County Police Department had received complaints about Gibson’s large dogs getting loose and roaming the streets of his upscale neighborhood in Buckhead, Fulton County Police Captain Nicole Dwyer said, the Associated Press reports.
The department gave Gibson, who rose to prominence as Roman Pearce in the long-running Fast & Furious franchise, “multiple warnings” about the dogs, Dwyer said.
Police issued a search warrant for Gibson’s property on Sept. 22, but the actor and the dogs were not there, Fox5 Atlanta reports.
Authorities issued the arrest warrant for alleged cruelty to animals on Monday, Sept. 22, but Tyrese Gibson failed to turn himself in, Dwyer told People magazine
As for any plans Tyrese Gibson has to turn himself in, Dwyer told PEOPLE, “According to his attorney he is getting his affairs in order but he has known he has a warrant for over a week and has failed to turn himself in as requested.”
Dwyer said she spoke with Gibson’s attorney last week and notified him that Gibson had to turn himself in by Friday, Sept. 26, according to the AP.
People magazine reported that Gibson’s attorney Gabe Banks in a previous statement revealed that Tyrese Gibson is working with authorities.
“Concerning the misdemeanor warrant, Mr. Gibson is cooperating fully with authorities to address and resolve this matter responsibly,” he wrote.
He also said that Gibson “extends his deepest condolences to the family who lost their beloved dog to this tragic incident that occurred while Mr. Gibson was away from his home.”
Gibson has since rehomed his beloved mastiffs, Banks said.
Dwyer said the department is concerned about dogs roaming the neighborhood.
“Our priority is the safety of the community and when there’s so many incidents of dogs, especially large dogs like this, getting out and then killing an animal, you know, what’s next? A child?” Dwyer said. “Our main priority is safety and that’s why we want the dogs in custody.”
While authorities continue to investigate, the family who lost their beloved pet, Henry, is mourning his loss.
Harrison Parker said he let Henry out in his yard, which had an invisible fence. When he returned minutes later, “I found my dog dead in my driveway,” Parker said, WSB-TV 2 reports.
Henry, 5, suffered internal bleeding and puncture wounds, court documents allege, WSB-TV 2 reports.
“Not hearing him around, it’s just awful,” says Parker. “He was one of the sweetest dogs and to have him get murdered is, it’s indescribable.”