A 36-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly slashing a man in the head after the victim tried to confront him for punching and beating a dog with a belt on Staten Island last month.
Wilfredo Arroyo, who previously served time for manslaughter in a gang-related slaying, was arrested Wednesday in the May 24 attack on a 32-year-old man who cops say walked by Arroyo brutally beating the dog on Targee Street.
When the bystander tried to intervene, Arroyo allegedly slashed him with a switchblade on his face and hands, causing multiple lacerations, according to a criminal complaint. The bystander was treated at a hospital.
Arroyo faces charges of assault, aggravated cruelty to animals, torturing and injuring animals and criminal possession of a weapon.
Two dogs, including the one seen being beaten in surveillance video from May, were recovered from Arroyo's home following his arrest. Both are healthy.
Arroyo served 12 years in prison in the death of Miguel Santiago, whom he killed for "disrespecting" members of the Latin Kings gang, prosecutors have said.
Information on an attorney for him in the assault case wasn't immediately available.
