Lakeland, Fla.-(Newsradio 970 WFLA)-A 25 year-old man is under arrest after beating, kicking and robbing a 15 year-old boy along Knights Station Road here.
Polk deputies say the boy was walking along the road to a nearby store when he noticed a dog that had been hit and killed by a passing vehicle in front of a house. Investigators say that's when the man of the house came out and accused the boy of killing his dog.
Deputies say 25 year-old Antwan Houston demanded that the teen compensate him for the loss of his dog. Houston grabbed the boy's headphones, hit the kid, knocked him to the ground and then kicked him. Houston's roommate pulled the man away from the boy. The teen ran off and called deputies.
Houston told deputies that the boy had killed his dog. Deputies say they found no evidence that the teen had anything to do with the death.
Deputies have charged Houston with robbery and more. They say Houston has a criminal history that includes five felonies.
Photo courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office.