A man who appeared to be crazed on drugs choked and body slammed a small dog several times, leading to the miniature schnauzer's death, authorities said.

The incident happened Wednesday morning in San Clemente when the suspect walked aggressively toward Julie Donnelley and her dog and attacked the canine, named, Kokanee, Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said. It wasn't clear what, if anything, set the suspect off, but television reports indicated that the dog stepped in the suspect's path in a stance protective of his owner.

The man was identified as Bayron Reyes Lopez, 28. When deputies caught up with him at the Rancho San Clemente Tennis and Fitness Club he was allegedly naked and pouring hot water and coffee over his head. The man is a maintenance worker at the club, Amormino said.

Because of his odd behavior, Lopez was hospitalized. But officials said they expected to book him on suspicion of animal cruelty.

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