PARK SLOPE — A Brooklyn man was arrested in Prospect Park Monday for stabbing a dog and threatening to knife its owner, police said.
Donnell Barden, 42, of East Flatbush, was taken into custody at 9:14 a.m. near West Drive and 15th Street, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
Police charged him with aggravated animal cruelty, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, which they described as "a small knife."
The charges stem from a May 17 incident during which Barden's dog got into a fight with another pup at the park, according to police. The other dog's owner told cops that when he tried to break up the canine confrontation, Barden hit him on the side of the head, then stabbed his dog, police said.
When the dog owner tried to stop Barden from stabbing his pooch, Barden allegedly threatened to turn the knife on the dog owner, police said.
The arrest ended months of fear for Prospect Park dog owners, said Eric Barstad, who witnessed the vicious May 17 dog attack.
Barstad and some friends recently papered Prospect Park with fliers warning dog owners about Barden, who reportedly had run-ins with other dog owners, according to Barstad.
The dog owners group FIDO also posted a warning about Barden on its Facebook page, saying it had received "a number of reports" from terrified dog owners.
"In Prospect Park everyone has been looking over their shoulder and trying to avoid this guy and keep a look out for him," Barstad said.
Barden is not wanted in connection with any other dog attacks, police said, but victims are urged to step forward.
"If there's anyone else who has encountered this individual, please contact the precinct and file a formal complaint," an NYPD spokesman said.
The fliers about the alleged dog attack were first reported by Gothamist.
