Sandy Springs Man Emmanuel Tadeo accused of beating woman with dead dog

A Sandy Springs man is accused of killing his girlfriend's pet dog and then using the animal to beat her.

Sandy Springs police responded to a call for help at a condo complex on Roswell Road last month. A fight between a resident and her boyfriend escalated with horrifying results.

"The defendant in this case had taken the dog outside and was kicking their dog -- a Pomeranian -- and the victim picked the dog back up and took it in. The man followed her in,  took the dog back and literally kicked dog to death," said Sandy Springs Police Capt. Steve Rose.

Investigators say 27-year-old Emmanuel Alfredo Tadeo used his girlfriend's dog as a weapon.

Police took Tadeo into custody. They booked him on battery and animal cruelty charges. FOX 5 has leaed the charges have been upgraded to felonies.

Tadeo is behind bars again on heftier aggravated assault, aggravated battery and cruelty to animals charges.  In an odd twist, his girlfriend -- the dead dog's owner -- is in also in Fulton County Jail.  

Andrea Armintrout, 40, faces obstruction charges after being accused of not cooperating with investigators.  

"The animal was a small animal, totally defenseless; it's just a very, very cruel act," said Rose.

Both suspects remained at Fulton County Jail as of Monday night.