SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Tuesday the “first round” of results from Operation Bloodhound.
The ongoing partnership between the DA's Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) and the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department is intended to ensure that all laws and court orders related to animal cruelty prosecutions are strictly enforced, the DA said .
As part of the operation, members of law enforcement have participated in dozens of compliance actions against people who have either been charged or previously convicted of animal abuse-related offenses, Tierney said.
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department's warrant team also helped arrest several defendants who had active warrants for failing to appear in court to face charges of alleged animal neglect or abuse, Tierney said.
BEAST detectives arrested four convicted animal abusers for failing to renew their registration on the Suffolk County Animal Abuse Offender Registry as required by local Suffolk County law, Tierney said. Three of those four defendants had complained about being involved in dog fights in their previous case, the DA said.
BEAST detectives also made numerous unannounced spot checks at the defendants' homes to make sure they were complying with their criminal court sentences or orders, the DA said.
During one of the visits, a Calverton woman was found in possession of eight dogs and was arrested and charged with eight counts of criminal contempt for violating a court order barring her from owning additional animals while her animal cruelty case was pending, said DA. .
Additionally, a Mastic Beach man was arrested and charged with four counts of criminal contempt after investigators found him in possession of four cats – in violation of a court order barring him from owning or possessing animals for 10 years following a previous conviction animal. case of neglect, Tierney said. That defendant was also charged with failing to register with Suffolk County's Animal Cruelty Offender Registry, Tierney said.
Suffolk County police arrested two defendants on outstanding warrants for fugitive from pending criminal cases and charged them with additional bail charges beyond their original cruelty charges, the DA said.
One of those people allegedly stole a kitten from the Southampton Animal Shelter and then tried to kick the arresting officers, Tierney said.
Detectives also located a defendant with an active animal abandonment warrant at a detention center in Virginia, the DA said.
Many other defendants screened during the enforcement initiative were found to be in compliance with court orders or the terms of their probation, the DA said.
Anyone convicted of certain animal abuse offenses must register annually with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department and pay a fee, Tierney reminded.
Operation Bloodhound is ongoing and the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and the Suffolk County Police Department will continue to work together to ensure that animal cruelty-related court orders and sentences are followed and that additional defendants with active warrants are arrested, Tierney promised. .
“Our fight to enforce animal cruelty laws is not limited to the walls of courtrooms,” Tierney said. “We will work to ensure that defendants who ignore court orders and court appearances are found and brought to justice.”
Tierney thanked the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department's warrant team, “particularly for helping make Operation Bloodhound a sustained and spectacular success.”
“It is up to law enforcement to ensure that defenseless, voiceless animals are protected, especially from those who have no right to own them,” said Suffolk County Police Deputy Commissioner Robert Waring. “This important initiative ensures compliance of animal abusers, and I commend the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and the department's warrant enforcement officers for their efforts in this ongoing operation.”
Residents can report animal abuse, neglect or illegal possession of an exotic or dangerous animal to Suffolk County through the county's website. Always call 911 in an emergency, the DA said.
If you have any information about the location of a defendant who has an active warrant, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
