A Sheriff's detention deputy accused of holding his wife hostage at gunpoint, is now being investigated by police for poisoning and killing the family dog.
James Tackitt was back in court Wednesday morning for a hearing.
Tackitt was first arrested last month after, investigators say, he held his wife against her will in their closet and pointed a gun at her head. His wife told investigators she believes while he was out on bail, Tackitt came to her mother's house where she was living and poisoned the dog.
"We are denying any and all allegations, and we intend to vigorously defend him in that matter," said Mary McGrath, Tackitt's attorney.
A veterinarian said the dog appeared to have been given pesticide. Detectives say they found blood on a metal shed in the backyard where the person who poisoned the dog may have been cut after climbing a fence.
Police served a search warrant and took pictures of Tackitt's body for possible cuts and swabbed him for DNA.
"Right now, they are just investigating it. Our client has been fully compliant in making himself available to the law enforcement agencies who are doing that," said McGrath.
The Sheriff's Department is also investigating claims by Tackitt's wife that he convinced a colleague, a fellow detentions deputy, to call her and convince her to drop the case.
"It's again, another he said, she said situation," added McGrath.
Tackitt is due back in court on the assault charge in April.
Bakersfield police are still looking into the dog's death.
