East St. Louis man charged with teasing police dog

A 24-year-old East St. Louis man is facing a misdemeanor charge for allegedly teasing a Fairview Heights police dog.

According to the charges filed Monday by St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly, Malik McClure allegedly “willfully and maliciously taunted and teased an animal used by a law enforcement officer in the performance of his duties.”

The charges state McClure barked at and banged on the cage of K-9 Demi while the dog was enclosed in the cage. Demi and officer Jeff Blair were on duty at the time.

Teasing a police animal is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail.

McClure was also charged with retail theft, a Class 3 felony, for allegedly taking merchandise including Levi brand jeans and a pair of shoes from J.C. Penney located inside St. Clair Square Mall in Fairview Heights. A Class 3 felony is punishable by two to five years in prison.

McClure was being held Tuesday in St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bond.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 3:23 PM with the headline "East St. Louis man charged with teasing police dog."