A Jonesboro man was arrested Dec. 1 in the Walmart parking lot at the Fayette Pavilion for striking his pit bull with his fist and displaying belligerent and drunken behavior.

James M. Lovingood, Jr., 34, was arrested on charges of cruelty to animals and public drinking, according to Fayetteville Police spokesperson Steve Crawshaw.

Crawshaw said officers were called to the scene at approximately 8:15 p.m. by a witness who said that Lovingood was hitting the dog with his fist. Once at the scene two other witnesses said they had seen the same thing, Crawshaw said.

Officers approached Lovingood and asked what he was doing.

“I’m just sitting here drinking a beer,” Lovingood responded.

Relaying the complaint by witnesses, Lovingood denied striking the animal, Crawshaw said, stating instead that he had been “pulling down” on his dog. The dog was wearing a chain, Crawshaw added.

Lovingood was arrested minutes later based on the statements by witnesses and on further conversation with officers who noted his “belligerent drunken feedback.”