Tyrese Gibson was booked into a Georgia jail early Friday (October 3), a week after he allegedly failed to turn himself in. Atlanta police had an arrest warrant out for cruelty to animals. Officials released Gibson the same day on a $20,000 bond, Fulton County Police Captain Nicole Dwyer said.
“We are glad he did the right thing and turned himself in,” Dwyer wrote to the Associated Press.
RELATED: Tyrese Gibson At Risk Of Arrest After His Dogs Allegedly Killed A Neighbor’s Pet, Singer Reacts With Home Video
How Did Tyrese Gibson’s Dogs Cause His Arrest?
Tyrese Gibson still has not turned over his four Cane Corso dogs to the police. Their whereabouts are unknown. As previously reported, Tyrese’s Corsi attacked a small spaniel owned by a neighbor, Harrison Parker, on September 18. The incident happened about half a mile away from Gibson’s house in the neighbor’s front yard. Parker rushed his dog to a veterinary hospital, but the 5-year-old pet did not survive.
“I found my dog dead in my driveway,” Parker told WSB-TV. “Not hearing him around, it’s just awful. He was one of the sweetest dogs and to have him get murdered is, it’s indescribable.”
Minutes after attacking the smaller dog, surveillance footage captured Tyrese’s dogs at the next-door neighbor’s house. That owner called the police to report she couldn’t reach her car because of the animals. Animal control officers responded and were able to keep the dogs back while the neighbor went to her vehicle.
Tyrese Previously Denied He Was On The Run
Leading up to the fatal incident, Tyrese Gibson had reportedly been warned about letting his dogs roam the area freely. He had agreed to surrender the dogs on September 22, but when the officers arrived, he asked for a few more days. That same day, cops returned with a search warrant for Tyrese’s property and an arrest warrant with an animal cruelty charge. But the R&B singer and his dogs were gone.
Gibson posted a video to Instagram early Monday that included various clips of his dogs. Then, the following day, he reposted it with a statement from him and his lawyer to ‘The Breakfast Club,’ denying he was on the run in Dubai. Police mentioned the country while speaking to the press because Tyrese posted a video about being on a Middle East getaway after the incident. Instead, Gibson told TBC he was in Los Angeles visiting family days before his arrest and release.
Gibson’s Lawyer Says His Client’s Dogs Weren’t Trained To Attack
Tyrese Gibson’s lawyer, Gabe Banks, told the AP Friday that his legal team secured a consent bond. This means the terms of his bond were set before he voluntarily turned himself in. Banks wrote Gibson, “has cooperated fully with legal authorities and will continue to do so until this matter is resolved.”
Banks had previously told AP that the actor wasn’t home when the incident with his dogs took place. After it happened, his lawyer claims he “immediately made the difficult decision to rehome his dogs to a safe and loving environment,” including two adult dogs and their three puppies.
Additionally, Attorney Banks told AP that Tyrese Gibson had dealt with stalkers for years. “His only motivation in bringing these dogs into his life was to protect his family and provide peace of mind,” the lawyer said.
Banks added the dogs weren’t “trained to be vicious,” and “had never harmed a child, a person, or another dog. This tragic event is shocking and traumatizing for him and his family — and he can only imagine how devastating it has been for the family who lost their pet.” Tyrese also released a statement apologizing to his grieving neighbor.
“I had no idea I would ever wake up to this nightmare, and I know the family must feel the same way. To them, please know that my heart is broken for you,” Tyrese Gibson said. “I am praying for your healing and for your beloved pet, who never deserved this. I remain committed to facing this matter with honesty, responsibility, and compassion.”
RELATED: Tyrese Gibson Facing Charges After Dog Attack In Atlanta Neighborhood | TSR Investigates
Associated Press writer Itzel Luna contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
