Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced charges have been filed against 38-year-old KRISTOPHER FYFFE.
FYFFE is accused of wrapping duct tape around the muzzle, eyes, and legs of one Pitbull, as well as keeping that dog and four others in unsanitary conditions in the back of a van.
DA Katz explained in her press release that according to the charges, on the early evening of August 23, 2025, FYFFE was observed on 133rd Avenue outside of Gwen Ifill Park in Locust Manor wrapping tape around the muzzle, eyes, front legs, and back legs of a white and tan Pitbull. When two witnesses confronted FYFFE, he allegedly waved a knife at them, so the witnesses called the police.
One of the witnesses filmed FYFFE’s actions and then posted the video to social media.
A woman, who saw the video on social media, recognized FYFFE and was able to report to police that she had seen him drive a Honda Odyssey with out-of-state license plates and added that she saw multiple dogs living in the vehicle.
On August 24, 2025, a New York City Police officer spotted FYFFE driving the van on 134th Road and Bedell Street. A computer check revealed that the plates did not match the vehicle registration.
FYFFE was stopped and according to police officers, there were five kennels in the van, each with a Pitbull inside. Officers reported that the kennels were covered in feces and urine, there was urine in the water bowls and no clean water or food.
A forensic veterinarian with the ASPCA reviewed videos and photos of the Pitbull who had been wrapped in duct tape and explained that “such restraints would have caused the animal pain and suffering, specifically pressure on his tissues, occlusion of blood flow and further pain and discomfort from the removal of the tape,” stated the release.
FYFFE, of East 83rd Street in Canarsie, Brooklyn, was arraigned on the night of Monday, August 25, 2025, in Queens Criminal Court on a criminal complaint charging him with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals/failure to provide sustenance; two counts of menacing in the second degree; five counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animal; two counts of harassment in the second degree; and registration of motor vehicles/fees/renewals.
As explained by DA Katz, the case is not eligible for bail under New York state law. The DA’s office asked for supervised release, which was set by Queens Criminal Court Judge Lana Schlesinger, who ordered FYFFE to return to court on November 13, 2025.
If convicted, FYFFE faces up to only two years in prison, a joke!
DA Katz said: “As alleged in the complaint, this defendant gratuitously inflicted harm on a
defenseless dog by wrapping the animal’s nose, eyes and legs in duct tape. When police confronted the defendant, they found five dogs, housed in kennels covered in urine and feces in the back of an unregistered minivan. No animal should ever be treated this way and I thank those who intervened and reported these cruel acts to the authorities.”
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Queens County District Attorney’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
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