A St. Paul man accused of beating his partner’s dog and leaving it for dead after it relieved itself in a relative’s bathroom was found unfit to defend himself against the allegations, court records say.
A Ramsey County District Court Judge ruled Wednesday that Morgan Quinn Knutsen was mentally incompetent to proceed with this case after reviewing the results of a Rule 20 evaluation requested for the 22-year-old following his alleged conduct.
The determination means that the case against Knutsen will be suspended. A review hearing to reevaluate his competency will take place early next year.
Knutsen was reportedly mad at his partner’s family’s 10-year-old Yorkshire terrier-Havanese mix when he picked up a stick and began “savagely and repeatedly” striking the animal, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in Ramsey County District Court.
After beating the small dog, Knutsen “dumped” it outside so it could “go off and die,” according to statements he later made to investigators, the complaint said.
Knutsen faces two counts of animal cruelty and two more for making terroristic threats for his alleged conduct.
His attorney, Jill Brisbois, declined to comment on his case Wednesday afternoon. None of his family members could be reached.
Knutsen pleaded not guilty to the charges in August.
Knutsen told his partner he “lost it” June 2 after discovering that her childhood dog, Jack, had gone to the bathroom inside her relative’s home in Vadnais Heights, according to the complaint.
He then claimed he couldn’t find the animal, but never told her he had actually abandoned Jack outside her relative’s property line, according to the criminal complaint.
He continued to withhold that information as he accompanied her and her sister-in-law on a search for the dog. Instead, he reportedly “made fun” of his partner for “getting emotional over an old dog,” charges say.
The sister-in-law found Jack after someone discovered him and reported it.
Veterinarians said the dog had sustained injuries that necessitated removal of his left eye, a broken jaw that prevented him from eating, fractures to four ribs and bruises on his lungs, the complaint said.
The injuries were consistent with animal abuse, veterinarians reported.
The dog’s condition was so dire that Knutsen’s partner and her family decided to euthanize their pet on June 5.
On the same day of the assault, Knutsen also reportedly got in a fight with his partner and threatened violence against her and her loved ones, the complaint said.
He later admitted to beating the dog and making threats toward his partner, charges say.
After his arrest, a Ramsey County judge granted an order for protection for the woman.
Knutsen is accused of violating that order when he went to her apartment in September and choked her before throwing her into a couch, court documents say.
That case is also pending.
Knutsen has no felony convictions on his criminal record. His has three citations for driving-related offenses.