Update: Elk Grove man jailed, accused in death of dog, house fire

Jesse Tom, 29, was booked into Sacramento County Jail on Thursday evening, accused of fatally injuring a dog and setting a fire in his Elk Grove home.

Elk Grove police and animal control officers were dispatched to a home in the 8900 block of Paulhaus Way about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, where a man was said to be beating a dog.

When officers arrived, smoke was coming from a home. After officers tried to call the resident from the home, he ran out with officers in pursuit.

After chasing him through several backyards, officers caught him in the neighborhood. Tom was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he received in his flight from officers.

Officers then searched the home, finding a dead Chihuahua-beagle dog with signs of a beating inside a barbecue in the backyard of the man’s home. They also said the man had started a fire in the kitchen.

Tom was booked on suspicion of attempting to burn a structure, malicious maiming of an animal and resisting a police officer. Jail records show he is also being held on a probation violation. Total bail is set at $1.02 million.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Update: Elk Grove man jailed, accused in death of dog, house fire."