A Ridgefield teen accused of fatally stabbing and bludgeoning his family’s dog will undergo a mental health evaluation to determine whether he can assist in his own defense.
Christopher P. Curran, 18, will be evaluated at Western State Hospital to determine whether he can face trial on a first-degree animal cruelty charge.
Curran was in court Tuesday for arraignment when the request for the mental evaluation was made.
He will have a review hearing in Clark County Superior Court on the mental evaluation on June 28, said Josephine Townsend, Curran’s attorney.
Curran was arrested May 25 after sheriff’s deputies responded to his home in the Ridgefield area following reports of an out-of-control subject. Curran told deputies he allegedly stabbed the pet, described as a medium-sized black dog, because he was upset that his mother “pours everything into that dog and won’t leave the house or respect him,” according to a probable cause affidavit filed in court.
Curran told deputies he took the dog out to the barn and stabbed the pet multiple times with a folding, serrated knife. When the dog tried to crawl away, Curran said, he told the animal to “sit” and then struck it in the head with a large rock, according to the affidavit.
“Christopher claims he didn’t want the dog to suffer, and the rock is what finally killed the dog,” according to the affidavit.
Curran was detained during the investigation and later taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where he was treated for wounds on his hand. After being treated, he was booked into the Clark County Jail.
Before deputies arrived, Curran’s parents called a mental health counselor to the house.
The counselor made the 911 call “when it was apparent police needed to respond to the location because (the counselor) didn’t believe Christopher had an uncontrolled mental health episode; rather, it was purposeful and behavorial,” according to the affidavit.
Laura McVicker: http://twitter.com/col_courts; http://facebook.com/reportermcvicker; laura.mcvicker@columbian.com; 360-735-4516.
Laura McVicker: www.twitter.com/col_courts; www.facebook.com/reportermcvicker; laura.mcvicker@columbian.com; 360-735-4516.
