LEXINGTON, S.C. — A West Columbia man is facing charges brought by Lexington County Animal Services for ill treatment and abandonment of animals related to an incident that occurred in January 2024.
32-year-old Justin Keith Allred, of West Columbia, was arrested on March 9 for allegedly pushing a dog out of a moving car in Lexington County. The dog was attached to a leash at the time and the leash got caught in the car door, causing the animal to be dragged approximately a quarter mile along South Lake Drive.
Witnesses say the dog was then abandoned along the highway near the intersection of South Lake Drive and Platt Springs Road as Allred's car sped away.
The dog sustained multiple injuries but has since made a fill recovery.
Allred was arrested by Lexington County Sheriff's deputies after they identified him while responding to a separate incident in the West Columbia area. He is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center.
