Prison dog suffers concussion in ‘vicious’ attack by Genesee County inmate

GENESEE COUNTY, Mich – Romeo Maxwell, 27, an inmate in Genesee County, brutally attacked Josie, the prison dog.

The 13-month-old dog was brutally attacked on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

Officials say Josie started the day like any other, going about her daily duties and greeting staff and inmates throughout the prison before the brutal attack.

“When inmates enter the Genesee County Jail or any other prison in America, nine out of 10 of them are addicts or codependents.

Six out of ten of them are mentally ill. We have the homeless stuck and when they go to the bullpen or general housing, they’re often just coming out of detox, and we have male and female sides, so we send our trustees to keep the place clean and everything do what is needed there.

The officers are there and we’re sending Josie in. Josie has a small badge that was broken in the robbery. She also has a vest that a dog can use to de-escalate anything, and dogs can do that.”

Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson

As Maxwell lay on a mat on the prison floor last week, accompanied by two other inmates and a prison employee, he jumped up as Josie walked toward him and hit her as she approached him.

The blow was so severe that Josie suffered a concussion. It also scratched the inside of her pupil, sending her to an Oakland County veterinarian’s emergency room, where she stayed for a day and a half.

She had to undergo an MRI because officials suspected she may have suffered a brain hemorrhage.

With the help of Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson vowed to bring justice to the animal abuser and perpetrator and to continue protecting animals of all kinds.

“I’m a dog lover and I’m an animal lover and it broke my heart when I saw this video and I think it will do the same for you and your audience,” Leyton said. “We have charged the gentleman as harshly as is possible under Michigan law.”

Officials believe the charges are too low because it would be a premeditated murder of a person. It could also be an attack with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which is punishable by a life sentence.

“We’ve found for years that if you attack, beat, torture or starve an animal, there’s a good chance you’re doing this to a human being,” Swanson said.

Maxwell is a third-time habitual offender, so the maximum sentence increases from four to eight years.