Sunday, April 28, 2013
A weekly look back at the crime stories in Monmouth County
This week's crime includes a little of everything, topped here by two of the top unreported stories of the week: A Neptune man was indicted by a grand jury Friday on charges he sexually abused a mentally handicapped woman. Christopher Johnson, 38, is charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, stemming from an incident in February, 2012. The indictment says Johnson knew or should have known that the victim, identified only by initials, was physically or mentally unable to give consent. * * * * * A Manasquan man was indicted last week on charges he assaulted a police officer and several other offenses. In the five-count indictment handed up April 18, Kyle Jordan, 25, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault of…
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Joseph A. Valentino is also accused of wrapping dogs' muzzles in duct tape.
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Saturday, April 27
An area man faces eight animal cruelty charges after allegedly punching a puppy in the head and wrapping two dogs' muzzles in duct tape, according to Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer Victor “Buddy” Amato. Joseph A. Valentino, 41, of Cherry Street, Tinton Falls, is accused of abusing the three animals from September 2012 through February 2, 2013, a release from the Monmouth County SPCA said. Valentino allegedly wrapped the muzzle of Stitches, a 1-year-old Bullmastiff, with duct tape and trimmed the dog's nails using a power tool. Valentino would allegedly choke the animal to the point where Stitches' tongue turned blue and he defecated on himself. According to the …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Keith and Shauna Morgan will now appear in May; 'Sammy' the dog continues to improve
The Brick couple accused of abusing a cocker spaniel, then claiming they found it on the side of the road before handing it over to a shelter, will not appear in court today as originally scheduled. A Brick Township municipal court official said court appearances for Keith and Shauna Morgan had been "relisted" for a date in May. Township officials later said the court date had been moved to May 6 at 4 p.m. No reason was given for why the case had been relisted. A call to Chief Victor "Buddy" Amato of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — the agency investigating the case — was not returned. In a social media post, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital said Sammy — the Morgans' former dog which is being treated there…
Monday, March 25, 2013
Man sentenced to pay over $2,000 in fines and restitution
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Monday, March 25
A Neptune man has allegdly admitted he stabbed a dog in the chest during an altercation with its owner in December, said Victor “Buddy” Amato, Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer at the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Eatontown, in a press release issued Monday. Altarik Cullun, 27, of Neptune, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of animal cruelty in front of Asbury Park Municipal Court Daniel J. DiBenedetto. Cullun was sentenced to pay over $2,000 in fines and restitution. The charges arose from an incident on Dec. 15, 2012, when Cullun was involved in an altercation with the dog’s owner in the 1400 block of Mattison Avenue in Asbury Park. At some point during the altercation a knife was produced …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Couple "made up the whole story" of rescuing the animal, authorities say
The dog a man said was found on the side of Belmar Boulevard in Wall on Friday is resting comfortably and making strides toward recovery, veterinary staff said. Samurai continues to receive small amounts of food while veterinarians try to gradually build the aged cocker spaniel's strength and is doing as well as can be expected. "Sammy did well through the night and remains stable this morning,'' Red Bank Veterinary Hospital staff said. "We are continuing to offer him small amounts of food which he is taking like a champ! He remains on antibiotics and pain medication." Saturday: The ailing cocker spaniel brought to a Tinton Falls shelter Thursday by a couple falsely claiming to have found it struggling for life on the side of a road is …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Highlands man is barred from owning any kind of animal for five years.
An area man who thought he could discipline his growling dog by hanging it from a leash thrown over a closet door has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. Philip N. Hollenbeak, 57, of Sea Drift Avenue, Highlands pleaded guilty to the third-degree charge before Atlantic Highlands Municipal Court Judge Peter A. Locascio. His punishment is a $1,000 fine, and he is barred from any kind of animal ownership for five years. According to Monmouth County SPCA Chief Buddy Amato, Hollenbeak was sleeping with his three-year old 130 lb. Chesapeake Bay Retriever when it started growling in the middle of the night. "He thought cutting off the oxygen supply for a dog was an acceptable way to discipline it, so he took the leash and hung the dog over a …
Friday, June 8, 2012
SPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer Buddy Amato told the Asbury Park Press Thursday that the cause of death is not definitely intentional drowning, as reported earlier.
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Friday, June 8, 2012
Fair Haven police and the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA) are investigating a an apparent animal cruelty case involving a dead dog in its portable kennel case that washed up on the shores of the Navesink River Tuesday morning. Fair Haven police, on Wednesday, had no further information on the incident. On Thursday, Detective Lt. Jesse Dykstra confirmed that new information reported by the Asbury Park Press, was "spot on." He offered no further information. The new information included reports that the breed of the dog that washed up in the kennel at the end of Grange Avenue, initially reported as a bulldog, was, in fact, identified as a dachshund, by examiners at the NJ Department of Health's …
John Sheridan
11:30 pm on Sunday, April 28, 2013
This Valentino punk is getting what he deserves. What a heartless SOB. And let's remember that a grown man who does these cruel acts to dogs has it in him to do likewise to children and people too, since he had no regard or mercy toward helpless dogs who only want to please us. I hope and pray most or all of the dogs can be placed in loving homes as they learn to trust again. Valentino needs … more ›