A Memphis man is facing criminal charges after police say a dog was found fatally shot and discarded in a drainage ditch behind a residential property, prompting an investigation that led to allegations of intentional animal cruelty. Authorities in Memphis, Tennessee, identified the accused as 36-year-old Joshua Minnis, who has been charged with intentional killing of an animal and aggravated cruelty to animals.
The case unfolded on the morning of February 10, when officers responded to a report of suspected animal cruelty and began gathering evidence at multiple locations tied to the incident. Police statements describe a sequence of events involving the discovery of the dog’s body, physical evidence at a nearby home, and the detention of individuals connected to the residence where investigators believe the events originated. The dog, identified as Norman, was shared between two owners, adding a personal dimension to the investigation that continues to move through the local criminal justice system.
Discovery of the Dog and Initial Police Response
Memphis Police Department officers were dispatched shortly after 8:10 a.m. to the 370 block of Lundee Place following a report of a deceased dog discovered in a ditch behind a residence. According to police, the call came from a complainant who had made the discovery earlier that morning. The individual told officers that at approximately 6:40 a.m., he noticed a dog lying motionless in a drainage ditch located behind his home.
The complainant recognized the animal and stated that it belonged to a nearby neighbor. When he approached to retrieve the dog, he observed what appeared to be a gunshot wound on the top of the animal’s head. After noticing the injury, he stepped away from the scene and contacted authorities rather than moving the dog further. Officers responding to the location confirmed the presence of the dog’s body in the ditch, which was situated behind a residence in the 370 block of South Fenwick.
Police documented the scene as part of their preliminary investigation. Shortly afterward, the dog’s owner arrived and informed officers that the animal, named Norman, was shared between him and his ex-wife. Investigators then began examining circumstances surrounding the dog’s disappearance. According to police accounts, Norman had last been seen the previous evening. The ex-wife told officers she had seen the dog around 9 p.m. Monday night. When she went outside Tuesday morning to feed him, he was no longer present.
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She reported noticing Norman’s leash on the back deck of the residence. The leash, she said, appeared to be stained with blood. This discovery prompted further concern and shifted investigators’ focus toward the property itself, where officers began searching for additional physical evidence that could clarify how the dog had been injured and moved. The discovery of the dog’s body, combined with the reported gunshot wound and the blood-stained leash, quickly escalated the matter from a routine animal welfare complaint into a criminal investigation involving suspected intentional harm.
Physical Evidence Found at the Residence
As officers examined the residence connected to the dog’s living arrangements, they began documenting signs that suggested a violent incident had occurred on or near the property. Police reported observing drag marks in the grass extending from the back deck area toward a chain-linked fence. These marks appeared consistent with an object or body being pulled across the ground. Investigators also reported seeing blood spots in the grass as well as on the fence itself.
The presence of these physical traces supported the possibility that the dog had been injured on the property before being moved to the drainage ditch where it was later found. The ex-wife informed police that her boyfriend also lived at the residence. When questioned about him, she initially indicated that he did not want to provide his name to authorities. Officers continued their investigation and eventually detained both the woman and her boyfriend after identifying him as Joshua Minnis.
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According to Memphis Police Department statements, Minnis came to the door while officers were present at the residence. He was detained along with the woman for questioning. Officers reported observing what they described as blood splatter on Minnis’ hoodie. They also noted blood spots on his boots at the time of detention.
Both individuals were transported for questioning. Police said the woman confirmed that she and Minnis were the only occupants of the residence. This information further narrowed the scope of the investigation as authorities worked to establish who may have been present during the time frame when the dog was last seen alive.
Investigators also documented the sequence of events described by the ex-wife regarding Norman’s disappearance. She stated that after seeing the dog Monday night, she discovered he was missing Tuesday morning along with the blood-stained leash on the deck. These details, combined with the physical evidence observed around the property, formed the basis of the investigative narrative that led to criminal charges.
Authorities reported that Minnis was not interviewed at the time of detention because he was intoxicated. The lack of an immediate interview meant that investigators relied heavily on physical evidence at the scene and witness accounts in forming their initial conclusions. The combination of visible blood evidence, drag marks, and the recovery of the dog’s body in a nearby ditch contributed to the decision by police to pursue charges connected to intentional harm to an animal.
Charges Filed and Legal Proceedings
Following the investigation, Joshua Minnis was formally charged with intentional killing of an animal and aggravated cruelty to animals. These charges reflect allegations that the dog’s death was not accidental and that the circumstances involved deliberate and severe harm. Authorities placed Minnis in custody, and his bond was set at $5,000. Court records indicate he is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, where proceedings related to the charges are expected to begin.
The charges represent a significant escalation from the initial animal cruelty complaint that prompted police to respond to the area. Investigators’ findings, including physical evidence at the residence and observations made at the time of detention, were cited as factors supporting the filing of criminal charges. Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed additional details about the ongoing investigation beyond the evidence described in initial police reports. It remains unclear whether further forensic analysis or additional witness statements may be presented as part of the legal process.
The dog, Norman, had been shared between two owners, and the circumstances surrounding his death have drawn attention to the sequence of events that unfolded between the last confirmed sighting and the discovery of the body. The involvement of multiple individuals connected to the residence and the presence of physical evidence at the property have shaped the case now moving through the judicial system.
As the case proceeds, Minnis’ court appearance will mark the next step in determining how the charges will be addressed under Tennessee law. Law enforcement officials have indicated that the matter remains under review as part of standard criminal proceedings.
Police documentation of the scene, witness accounts, and evidence collected at the residence form the foundation of the allegations currently before the court. The outcome of the case will depend on legal evaluation of that evidence and the proceedings that follow.