College Station Police Make Felony Animal Cruelty Arrest
In a recent and troubling event in College Station, police made an arrest this week in connection to a felony animal cruelty case that dates back to July. The animal involved, a dog named Bryant, had an emotional support role for a woman who was staying with the man arrested, 27-year-old Aaron Henry. It appears that Henry had a rough time, having been under a lot of stress, but that doesn’t excuse the incident that left Bryant in serious trouble.
According to the arrest report drafted by a College Station police officer, Henry admitted to throwing Bryant to the ground as a reaction to his life’s pressures. The officer wrote that Henry even demonstrated the action by “mimicking what he did and using one hand in a motion resembling spiking a football.” It’s disheartening to think that an emotional support animal, one that’s supposed to provide comfort and companionship, was treated in such a careless manner.
The incident took place on July 12, while Bryant’s owner, displaced due to Hurricane Beryl, was not present at the time of the injury. The very next day, the dog was taken to the Texas A&M small animal hospital. Unfortunately, since Bryant wouldn’t allow his mouth to be opened for examination, the veterinary staff had to schedule an appointment for July 16, where they ultimately sedated him and wired his mouth shut. Bryant underwent a second surgery on September 25, and by the end of it all, the vet bills and care amounted to nearly $9,000.
Aaron Henry has since been released from jail after posting a $10,000 bond, leaving many in the community disturbed that such a situation could unfold without severe consequence. There is a crying need for better safeguards to protect our furry friends from abuse.
Updates on Construction of Midtown Park Entertainment Complex
In another note from College Station, the city council was back at it again, giving a bit more time to the developers of the. Midtown Park entertainment complex. Originally started with a movie theater, bowling alley, and a restaurant, the project recently hit a few cones in the road.
No public discussion preceded the council’s decision to approve a second amendment to the economic development agreement at their recent meeting. Mayor Bobby Gutierrez, speaking on a local radio show, said the extension was necessary as the city’s boardwalk, estimated at $3 million, took longer to fit within the budget than anticipated. This part of the project is more significant than it seems, as it impacts the completion of areas behind the building housing the movie, bowling, and restaurant.
The first delay was in order to accommodate new features like indoor and outdoor pickleball, and an amphitheater, which will connect to the boardwalk. All these tweaks to the plan hope to raise the minimum appraised value of the entertainment complex from $19 million to $24 million.
Now, with the second amendment, the completion date has been pushed from December 31, 2024, to September 1, 2025. The developers are now committed to spending at least $37 million on this ambitious project. It’s exciting to see how this will evolve!
Tragic Motorcyclist Accident
In a tragic turn of events, a motorcyclist lost his life in an accident on Thursday night, October 10. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that the incident happened on FM 60, near Vincent Road. It appears the motorcyclist collided with a car making a U-turn and was subsequently hit by an oncoming pickup truck.
The victim, identified as James Jolly, was 69 years old and hailed from Somerville, underscoring the heart-wrenching reality of such traffic incidents that can change lives in a heartbeat. The drivers of the car and pickup were left unscathed, but the community is left grieving over the life lost.
A cluster of recent happenings in College Station serves as a reminder of our city’s challenges and pledges to improve. Whether it’s protecting animals from abuse, working on community entertainment spaces, or acknowledging the fragility of life on our roads, we all have a part to play in shaping our ever-evolving community.
