ROSTRAVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A man claiming to be God allegedly attacked a another man's pet dog Tuesday, believing it was the devil, police in Rostraver, Westmoreland County said.
The dog's owner -- who did not want to be identified -- told WTAE Channel 4's Shannon Perrine that his pet, Spike, was beaten in the face with cinder blocks and threatened with a rock. Spike was a little agitated Wednesday, but otherwise OK, the owner said.
The suspect-- identified as Matthew Carl Hubacher, 25, of New Eagle -- had been on a walking trail when neighbors saw him and got a funny feeling, police said.
"I thought about, maybe, he's not the friendliest person, and I guess maybe I was right," said Lisa Seich, a neighbor.
Police said word got around to neighbors in Rostraver after the dog was allegedly attacked.
"He went to pet their dog and he turned on the dog and he picked it up and threw it down and said it had the devil in it," said Jeff Seich, a neighbor.
Hubacher is said to have had blood on his face and hands. Police said Hubacher kept saying that he was God, and that he threatened to kill the homeowner, the man working on his roof and the homeowner's family.
The Van Meter Road homeowner kept Hubacher at bay until police arrived. Eventually, police said, Hubacher ran into a wooded area, which prompted a three-hour manhunt that ended after Hubacher went into the Youghiogheny River, which actually helped police dogs get his scent.
The dog's owner told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that Hubacher got in the river, crossing it back and forth several times, before getting out on the other side a few miles up stream, where police caught him.
Hubacher was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bond, charged with animal cruelty, escape, terroristic threats and simple assault. A preliminary hearing is scheduled June 1.
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