Orland Park man charged with animal cruelty in alleged pit bull beating

STEGER | An Orland Park man was arrested Monday after local residents alleged he beat his girlfriend's dog, police said.

Several people called police after they saw Robert Kazlauskas allegedly striking a 1-year-old pit bull in the 3500 block of Chicago Road, Steger Police Sgt. Gerald Ruff said.

Police were called to Scott's U-Save Tires & Wheels about 8:00 a.m. Monday in reference to a man beating a dog, police said.

When police arrived, three witnesses told them they had seen the man dragging the dog by its' ears and chin and slapping it open-handed across the mouth, Ruff said.

"The dog was trying to get away and get into a customer's car," he said.

When police questioned him, Kazlauskas, 27, denied he hit the dog, Ruff said.

Police arrested him and he was charged with animal cruelty. He's scheduled to appear at the Will County courthouse in March, Ruff said.

The dog was taken into custody by officers, who said he was friendly, Ruff said.

"It was not an aggressive dog," he said. "It didn't appear to have any injuries from the beating."

The dog was returned to Kazlauskas' girlfriend, who lives less than half of a mile from the tire shop.