Ex-NC Cop Caught Beating Dog on Video—Charges Mysteriously Vanish

EX-COP BRUTALLY CAUGHT ON VIDEO BEATING DOG

The North Carolina Beat has received disturbing video footage showing a former North Carolina police officer—now an instructor at Robeson Community College in Lumberton—brutally beating a dog. Even more shocking? The felony animal cruelty charges filed against him have mysteriously disappeared.

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A video dated June 27, 2023, allegedly shows Robert Walter Clark wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts attempting to catch a black dog. Once captured, Clark is seen picking the dog up by its neck and forcefully throwing it inside a dog kennel. He then enters the kennel and allegedly kicks the dog in its face.

After Clark closes the kennel door on the dog he allegedly abused, he is seen entering another kennel before walking into a side garage—returning moments later with what he told us was a “thin plastic leash.”

He then re-enters the kennel, drags the dog out of its doghouse, and proceeds to brutally beat the dog. We counted 11 violent strikes to the dog’s body.

WATCH DISTURBING VIDEO BELOW:

Charges Filed… Then Gone

On May 2, 2025, warrants for felony animal cruelty were filed against Clark. He was arrested and jailed under a $500,000 secured bond.

According to the warrant obtained by The North Carolina Beat, Clark did:

“unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously torment, maliciously/cruelly beat a black in color dog.”

It continues:

“He picked the black in color dog up by his neck and head area, opened the dog kennel, and threw the dog inside forcefully.”

The warrant further states Clark:

“then walked to the shelter and exited with an unknown type of belt or whip, went back into the kennel, dragged the dog out, and cruelly beat the dog while restraining its movement with his hands.”

And most damning of all:

“The defendant did commit the offense in the presence of his minor son,” the warrant stated.

Case “No Match Found” in System

We contacted the Robeson County Clerk’s Office to obtain Clark’s next court date, as it was not appearing in online records. When we provided the case number to the clerk, we were told the number came back as ‘no match found.’

Later, our investigation revealed that Clark and his wife were involved in a child custody battle, filed in March 2025—roughly two months before his arrest. Although Clark had a different attorney listed for the animal crueitly case – his attorney in the custody case was Jessica Beryl Scott, wife of Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott.

Clark Blames Wife’s Father

Clark told The North Carolina Beat that his wife’s father released the video:

“IT’S A VIDEO FROM TWO YEARS AGO… I WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,” CLARK SAID.
“MY WIFE’S FATHER IS A PREACHER AND SHARED A VIDEO FROM TWO YEARS AGO AFTER WE SEPARATED, TRYING TO RUIN MY CHARACTER.”

When asked if he ever went to court for the felony charges and what the outcome was, Clark said:

“No probable cause found,”
adding the dog had bit his child, which was disputed by his wife.

Clark also downplayed the leash he used to beat the dog:

“It was a paper thin leash from the vet.”
“It’s like any video, it never shows but the part that make the person look bad,” he told us.
“I sold the dog four or five days later. The dog was sold.”

He added:

“All this is trying to paint my character, make me look bad.”

Clark confirmed he was indeed charged with a felony animal cruelty. Under North Carolina law, malicious acts such as torturing or severely beating animals are felonies with no statute of limitations.

DA Conflict of Interest?

When asked whether the disappearance of his case had anything to do with his custody attorney being married to the district attorney, Clark denied any connection.

“That’s not the case sir,” Clark said.

Clark is a former Swain County deputy and Town of Carthage police officer. He currently teaches at Robeson Community College in Lumberton.

We contacted the Robeson County District Attorney’s Office for comment on why there was “no probable cause found” due to the record no longer being found in North Carolina Court System—but we have not heard back.