Brewton woman jailed for assault

Kills puppy trying to attack her boyfriend

A Brewton woman was arrested May 3 in Escambia County (Fla.) and faces felony assault charges after she allegedly ran her vehicle into a man and ran over two puppies, killing one puppy and causing the other to have a broken leg.

Kaitlyn Johnson Stoodley, 33, 613 Alco Drive, was parked in her silver Toyota 4-Runner uninvited at the residence of Douglas Pitman at 5187 Frank Pitman Road on April 25, 2023 when she and Pittman got into a verbal argument inside her vehicle, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office report.

Stoodley said she wanted to leave and Pitman got out of the vehicle and walked in front of it as to escort her off the property, near a food plot where there was restrictive vegetation on either side. The report said Pitman carried a sling blade in his hand and three puppies were walking with him when the path became narrow where only a single vehicle could travel at a time. Pitman told law enforcement he guessed Stoodley grew impatient with his slow pace and accelerated the vehicle, hitting him and two of his puppies.

Pitman said the vehicle hit him in the lower back and buttocks area, causing him to roll off the hood. Out of reaction and self defense, he hit the vehicle on the hood with the sling blade, the report said.

Pitman noticed two of the puppies had been run over and went back to 5080 Frank Pitman Road to call law enforcement. He then went back to 5187 Pitman Road to wait and wanted to press charges against Stoodley.

The deputy did not see any injuries on Pitman's back where he said Stoodley hit him with the vehicle. When they went to the food plot area, the deputy found the sling blade and a deceased puppy just in the wood line from the trail. The report indicated the second puppy was located under a different vehicle and it appeared to have an injury to its right rear leg.

Law enforcement made several attempts to locate and get in contact with Stoodley with negative results. A follow-up visit to the veterinarian confirmed the dog sustained a broken femur of the right rear leg, the report noted.

An investigation into the incident led to the discovery of damage to the hood of Stoodley's vehicle, consistent with Pitman's statement, including dried blood. Photos of the damage showed blade-like damage to the windshield on the passenger side, consistent with an object potentially being hit at a lower speed, the report said. As of April 30, 2023, Stoodley had not contacted deputies and she had not been located after multiple attempts by law enforcement so a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Stoodley was arrested May 3 and charged with one count felony aggravated assault, two counts felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor battery with no bond.