A Redmond man is accused of beating his roommate’s dog to death.

Jeffrey Edward Taylor, 39, was arrested on the charge of first-degree animal abuse Thursday after witnesses reported him beating the dog, a 17-year-old Australian shepherd named Ashton, in his front yard on the 500 block of Northeast Yucca Ave.

Taylor was later transported to St. Charles hospital for an evaluation, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s office deputies responded at about 2 p.m. Thursday to reports of witnesses seeing Taylor injuring the dog with his hands and feet.

A citizen passing by attempted to intervene and was threatened by Taylor, according to the sheriff’s office.

An Oregon State Police trooper then arrived and stopped the attack.

Sheriff’s office deputies began providing first aid to the dog and transported him to a nearby emergency animal hospital. However, Ashton died at the scene.

The dog’s owner, Taylor’s roommate, was not at the house during the incident. The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack.