OLIVE TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Nov. 20, 2025) – A 23-year-old Grand Rapids man has been arraigned on charges stemming from a Tuesday afternoon home invasion on Holland’s North Side that resulted in the wounding of a 68-year-old West Olive man and the death of his dog.
On Thursday, Jason Vernado was ordered held on $250,000 bond by 58th District Court Judge Craig Bunce on first degree home invasion, third-degree killing/torturing an animal, and felonious assault counts. He was arrested by an Ottawa County Sheriff’s canine, with the assistance of a drone, a short time after he allegedly broke into a residence on New Holland Street east of 120th Avenue around 1:30 PM, slashing the unnamed owner and inflicting mortal wounds on the dog, who had come to his master’s rescue and prevented him from further harm.
The man was treated at the scene for non life-threatening injuries to his arm, while the dog, named Chief, succumbed to his wounds at a nearby emergency veterinary care facility. The nearby Los Lagos Bilingual Academy was put into a temporary shelter-in-place status until the suspect was apprehended and the situation was brought under control. Sheriff’s detectives don’t believe that the suspect and the male victim knew each other prior to the incident.
The matter remains under investigation, and anyone with any information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office or Ottawa County Silent Observer (877-887-4536).
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