10:19 AM CDT on Thursday, April 27, 2006

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA-TV

File / WFAA-TV

Mercy's burns covered 60 percent of her body.

A man was arrested early Thursday in connection with the torture of a puppy who was found severely burned on Good Friday.

The dog later died.

Dallas police arrested Deshawn Brown, 21, at his mother's home in the Denton County community of Corinth shortly before 1 a.m. He faces several charges, including cruelty to an animal.

"All the personnel involved with this are quite relieved to have this gentleman in custody, based on the extreme cruelty of this crime" said Dallas police spokesman Sgt. Robert Patterson.

Brown was being held at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas.

Mercy, a 10-month-old pit bull mix, had been doused with gasoline and set on fire. She was rescued on Good Friday, but she was unable to survive the extensive stab wounds and burns that covered 60 percent of her body.

Mercy died over the weekend. A memorial service was scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Operation Kindness shelter, 3201 Earhart Drive in Carrollton.

E-mail cvega@wfaa.com