Teacher charged with animal cruelty recommended for termination

A Broward teacher criminally charged with beating his dog to death may get fired on Tuesday.

Daniel Gray Jr., 29, a teacher of students with behavioral issues at Pine Ridge Education Center in Fort Lauderdale, was arrested by Pembroke Pines police on Aug. 11.

He was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, as well as misdemeanor charges related to animal cruelty and improperly disposing of a dead animal.

Gray has pleaded not guilty and is contesting his recommended firing, which is scheduled for a School Board vote on Tuesday. An administrative law judge is expected to hear his appeal.

Neither Gray nor his lawyer could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Daniel L. Gray may lose his job as a teacher at Pine Ridge Education Center after being arrested on animal cruelty charges. (Handout)

According to a police report, the criminal charges stemmed from the death of Jack, his 50-pound, 8-month-old white and brown brindle dog.

The police report described the incident as “malicious and intentional acts resulting in the cruel death by the infliction of excessive and repeated unnecessary pain and suffering committed by the defendant.”

A police officer reported seeing the dog dead near a fence in an apartment complex in the 12000 block of Southwest 15th Street.

[ RELATED: Teacher loses license over inappropriate conduct with girl ]

A neighbor reported seeing Gray yelling loudly at Jack, and “could hear the dog crying and yelping through her closed window,” the report said.

The neighbor said that Gray yelled to the dog, “Man, don’t you ever bite me again, I’ll take your life, I’ll kill you with my bare hands,” the report said.

The witness reporting Gray punching Jack in the face and head area with closed fists about 20 times and kicking him with his feet about about five times to the chest and stomach area, the report said. She also reported seeing Gray “body slam” Jack into a concrete pavement and drag him about 22 feet.

Police found the deceased dog wrapped inside of white plastic garbage bags, according to the report.

[ RELATED: Animal abuse complaint turns ugly after county outs caller. Broward blames state law for stripping away confidentiality. ]

Jack was taken to an animal veterinary hospital. A veterinarian reported that Jack had “visible blunt force trauma to his face and head area,” blood draining from the mouth and nasal cavities, a broken upper left molar, bruising on the jaw and multiple rib fractures.

Gray denied the allegations, saying Jack was choking on a watch and died from this obstruction, the report said. Police say he then changed his story, saying Jack was hit by a vehicle.

“These injuries were consistent with repeated blunt force trauma, which would not be consistent with being hit by a car as there was no road rash/abrasions present,” the veterinarian told police. “These injuries would be consistent with being hit or kicked with a blunt object.”

[ RELATED: 2 Broward School Board members face review after accusations of touching ]

Gray’s school, Pine Ridge, provides alternative-to-suspension programs for students with behavioral issues. It’s home to the controversial Promise program, which provides allows students to avoid jail for misdemeanor offenses. Gray has been employed with the district since 2018 and makes $47,800.

Following Gray’s arrest, he was reassigned to a non-school site “pending the District’s full review of the matter and determination of employment action,” district spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said.