38-year-old Juan Acosta was taken into custody for animal cruelty on March 7th. On March 4th, the general manager of the Church Street apartments, where Acosta lives, alerted Animal Control. When Animal Control arrived, the general manager provided them with video footage, which showed Acosta at the dog park, hitting his dog with the leash and trying to control it. Then, Acosta grabbed his dog with two hands, put him on his shoulder, and body-slammed him onto the floor. Afterward, Acosta picked his companion by the neck with two hands and “choked” him for nearly five seconds. The video then shows the witness confronting Acosta, who explained to officers that he observed Acosta get on one knee, pick up the dog, and slam it on the ground. The witness explained that they heard the dog welp multiple times in pain. He said that Acosta told him, “I am giving him a public beating!” Acosta was not present when the officers arrived. MACC has confirmed that Acosta’s dog survived the ordeal and is no longer in Acosta’s care. Acosta was taken into custody for animal cruelty on March 7th.
Tag: animal cruelty
Lisa Little charged after letting her dog starve to death
A Davidson County Grandy Jury indicted 50-year-old Lisa Diane Little for aggravated cruelty to animals on November 29th. Metro Animal Care & Control brought a case up against Little, advising she intentionally or knowingly, with no justifiable purpose, neglected to provide food or water to a companion dog, resulting in death on June 2nd. Little was taken into custody on December 11th.
Union City Pastor Ezra Johnson charged with animal cruelty after leaving dog in car while shopping
48-year-old Ezra Johnson, pastor of the Greater Bethel Church of God in Christ in Union City, TN, left his dog inside his car as he went shopping inside the Opry Mills Mall in late September. Officers responded to a call for service regarding a dog locked inside a vehicle. Mall security opened the vehicle, and officers estimated the inside temperature to be over 100 degrees. The dog did not have water, had a muzzle on, and had been inside the car for over 20 minutes. Johnson told officers that he was in the mall shopping. Johnson was cited for animal cruelty and was booked on the citation this week.
Farren Oliver kills boyfriend’s dog; attacks boyfriend with Swiffer Sweeper; destroys his car
32-year-old Farren Oliver is free on a $17,500 bond after admitting to killing her boyfriend’s dog, attacking him with a Swiffer sweeper, and taking a pry bar to his car. Police say she told Joseph Donald she was going to poison his dog, and later that evening texted him photos eating, stating she “gave him something.” He got home and took his dog to the emergency vet, where it died. He provided police with an audio recording of Oliver admitting to giving the dog Xylitol. When he was then gathering some of his things from the home to leave she hit him on the head with a Swiffer sweeper, leaving significant injury to his head, and she attacked him, leaving scratches on his body. She ran into the house and locked him out, so he then climbed through the window to continue retrieving his belongings. While he was doing that, Farren went outside with a flat pry bar and smashed his windshield, windows, and tail lights. A ring video doorbell captured the incident; however, Farren would not allow police to view it.
Quenesha Golden admits to leaving dog in crate for 4 weeks with no food or water
28-year-old Quenesha Golden is charged with animal cruelty after Nashville Animal Care & Control found a deceased dog in an outside crate at her residence. Police say Gold admitted to leaving the dog outside in the crate for 4 weeks with no food or water. Golden was issued a citation and was booked this week. She is free without a bond and scheduled to appear in court in January.
Leon Lewis III jailed on $80K bond after murdering a small dog at Hermitage Hotel
Metro Nashville Police say 39-year-old Leon Lewis III walked out of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Hermitage with a small black dog on a leash and into a ditch, pulled a revolver, and shot the dog. A witness observed the small dog’s tail still wagging while he bled to death from the mouth. Lewis stated “I should’ve just let the dog go” as he was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, felon in possession of a weapon, and aggravated reckless endangerment. He is jailed in lieu of an $80,000 bond.