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SHANIQWA SHANTEL SCOTT and TERIK WIGGINGS facing charges related to the abandonment of a puppy

- Pennsylvania, USA -


Over a year after a dog was found severely neglected in Pittston, on February 8, 2023, at Pittston City Hall, the Pittston City Police Department, the Luzerne County District Attorney, and the Mayor of Pittston, held a press conference to announce that 24-years-old SHANIQWA SHANTEL SCOTT and 30-years-old TERIK WIGGINGS (both pictured), both of Wilkes Barre, were apprehended on felony arrest warrants for aggravated cruelty to animals and other related charges.


According to the arrest affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on June 8, 2021, the Pittston City Police Department received multiple reports about an abandoned dog in a fabric crate. Officers responded to Davis Alley and found a Pitbull puppy, now widely known as Nova. “The dog appeared to be severely malnourished and unkempt,” stated the affidavit. Nova had been dumped as if she was an unwanted and useless old item. Nova was left to die!


The SPCA of Luzerne County took custody of Nova and took her to the Shoemaker Animal Hospital in Wyoming, where she was placed under the medical care of Dr. Sara McGarry. Dr. McGarry reported that Nova was found to be suffering from severe emaciation, severe dermatitis, a severe ear infection, fleas, hookworm, angular limb deformity, severely overgrown nails and anemia.

Dr. McGarry concluded that Nova could have died if she had not received medical care.


Since then, investigators have been canvassing the area to locate any video surveillance that would help identify the dog’s guardians and/or the individuals who abandoned her.

Investigators made contact with multiple residents on Butler Street who had an Xfinity Camera and a Ring Doorbell camera affixed above their front doors and reviewed the video surveillance from June 7th and 8th. On the videos, investigators observed a Ford Explorer travel east on Butler Street which became object of further investigation.


Still images of the suspected vehicle were enhanced and circulated in the news and on various forms of social media in an attempt to solicit the public's help in identifying the vehicle and the occupants.


On June 14, 2021, investigators spoke with the maintenance manager for the Hanover Village Apartments and learned that in December 2020, the maintenance manager was inside apartment 707 and noticed a young brown Pitbull puppy who was not well and not well taken care of. That apartment was rented to SCOTT and her boyfriend WIGGINS. Investigators further learned that WIGGINS was driving the same Ford Explorer captured by the surveillance cameras and that became object of investigation in Nova's abandonment.

Investigators went on tirelessly and followed several other leads that made possible the arrest of SCOTT and WIGGINS. As Pittston City Police said, the apprehension of SCOTT and WIGGINS, is the result of “an extremely lengthy investigation.”


Luzerne County First Assistant District Attorney Samuel Sanguedolce explained that modern technology led to the discovery of SCOTT and WIGGINS and said: “This case involved not only new, modern technology search warrants for electronics and other such devices with what is called geofencing warrants.”


SCOTT and WIGGINS were arraigned by Magistrate Judge, Alexandra Kokura Kravitz, and bail was set at $50,000 each. Neither SCOTT, or WIGGINS were able to post it and were transported to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility where they await their preliminary hearings which are scheduled for February 21, 2023.


Both SCOTT and WIGGINS have each been charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious bodily injury or death, one count of cruelty to animals, one count of neglect to animals for veterinary care, and one count of neglect of animals for shelter/protection.


In a news release, the Pittston City Police Department said: “We can’t go without recognizing the enormous amount of help we received from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, surrounding police agencies and the public to help us bring justice to Nova.”


Mayor Michael Lombardo said he will continue to bring justice to those in need. “As we go forward, I will continue to, in my position as Mayor, make sure our department has what it needs to do, to get these cases solved,” he said.


Since being rescued, Nova has fully recovered! She is now a furmember of former Pittston City Police Chief, Neil Murphy’s family. Nova was present at the press conference.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



SCOTT and WIGGINS’ mugshots were provided to Voice For Us by Luzerne County First Assistant District Attorney Samuel Sanguedolce.


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JOHNNY LEE WASHINGTON arrested after many dogs were found chained and malnourished

- Florida, USA -


On February 6, 2023, deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Ambassador Drive in Sunny Hills after receiving a call from a neighbor of 64-years-old JOHNNY LEE WASHINGTON.


Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the owner of the property who told deputies that although she had owned the property for years, she had not been there in over a year.


While on the scene, deputies noticed several dogs chained, who appeared to be malnourished and had no access to water.

They then tried to contact WASHINGTON, the adjoined property owner, but attempts were unsuccessful so animal control was called in to remove the dogs.


Meanwhile, WASHINGTON returned to his property and when he made contact with deputies, they advised him that he was trespassing on the adjacent property. WASHINGTON said he only wanted to remove his dogs from that property.


According to a press release by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and obtained by Voice For Us, deputies concluded that due to WASHINGTON trespassing, the dogs’ condition, and the fact that that they were being kept on someone else’s property, a search warrant had to be executed at WASHINGTON’s residence. A further investigation revealed that more than thirty dogs were found on three different adjoining properties.


WASHINGTON was placed under arrest and taken to the Washington County Jail.

He faces twenty-seven counts of animal cruelty, one count of aggravated animal cruelty, as well as charges of trespassing and resisting arrest. The sheriff’s office said that additional charges may be forthcoming.


All the Voiceless Victims are being evaluated by veterinarians.


I have emailed the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to inquire about the dogs. If I get a response, I will post an update.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



WASHINGTON's mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office .



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Enzo, an innocent and defenseless Husky, murdered by incompetent San Joaquin County officials

- California, USA -


Following the murder of an innocent and defenseless dog, many people gathered at the crossroads of Pine and Sacramento streets in Lodi, San Joaquin County, on February 4, 2023, to remember, honor, and speak out for the furvictim, a 2-year-old male Husky named Enzo.


It all started on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, when Enzo escaped from his family’s home on Sandpiper Circle and ended up on nearby Finch Run where he was SENSELESSLY murdered.


According to the Lodi Police Department, they received a report about a dog chasing a family with young children into their home on Sandpiper Circle and trying to bite them.


In a news release, Lodi police stated: “Yesterday at around 3:12 PM, we received a report of an aggressive dog in the area of Sandpiper Circle. It was reported that this dog was a loose Husky breed and that it had chased a family, with young children, into their residence and was trying to bite them. The dog then began to try to get through the resident’s side gate, to attack their dog. When our Animal Services Officer arrived in the area, they saw a citizen using a piece of wood to block himself and his pet dog, from the vicious dog. Numerous attempts were made to try to catch the dog, however they were unsuccessful. Our Animal Services Officer tried to place the snare on the dog twice, but it broke free both times. LPD Officers had responded to assist our Animal Services Officer. At this time the aggressive dog approached a group of individuals that were standing out front of their residence and the officer deployed his taser, which is a less lethal device, to stun and incapacitate the dog, in order to give our Animal Services officer the opportunity to safely secure the dog. Unfortunately, during the incident the dog passed away. Lodi PD and Animal Services have been in contact with the dog’s owners.

Ultimately our officers were trying to control and secure the dog to protect the safety of the public.”


According to ABC10, a few neighbors who were on the scene during the incident, said that Enzo was not being aggressive at all. Mr. Hans Bruch told ABC10 that he and his 10-year-old daughter witnessed the tasing and described it as unnecessary. “Animal Control should have taken control of the situation because he has all the tools to deal with that and he didn't. And he kind of stood back and let the cop like tase,” said Mr. Bruch.


In surveillance video images obtained from neighbors, Enzo is tased twice before being dragged to an animal services vehicle.


In the news release, police did not identify the officers involved in the case, however, the two petitions I have come across and signed, identified them as Officer TIMOTHY IVEY, Officer CHRIS DELGADO, and Officer JORDAN KRANICH (City of Lodi animal control services).


One of the two petitions was started by Penny Eims, with Animal Victory, and is entitled: “Family’s Dog Tased And Dragged To Death By Police After He Accidentally Escaped From His Home.”


The other petition, started by Amy Young on change.org and entitled “Grant justice for Enzo – Lodi, California”, is addressed to Lodi Police Department Chief Sierra Brucia, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas, and Lodi Animal Shelter Supervisor Jennifer Bender.


According to Amy Young’s narrative regarding the video, “Video footage shows officers unsuccessfully trying to use a snare pole to secure Enzo, due to improper training on a snare pole, Enzo was then tased multiple times while being dragged with the snare pole. He died a very torturous and horrific death. He had no chance of survival or escape of the painful death he incurred. Video surveillance also shows that Enzo was not aggressive or lunging at anyone. He did not attack any adults or children. The officers did not respond correctly to an animal at large call. In fact Officer Levy responded after being called by his wife, who complained there was a dog attacking people, even though she had no knowledge of any such attack. He should have contacted another officer to report to the scene as it falls under a conflict of interest.”


The petition therefore demands the suspension and subsequent termination of Officer TIMOTHY IVEY and Officer JORDAN KRANICH. The petition further demands that “based on California Penal Code [CPC] §597(a) – Animal Cruelty that felony charges be brought against both officers. Penal Code §597(a) makes it a crime to intentionally maim, mutilate, torture, wound, or kill a living animal. We are also seeking that they be charged with misuse of a non lethal weapon.”


On Monday, February 6, 2023, Lodi Police posted a new update announcing that the department has completed the investigation into the circumstances leading to Enzo’s death and said: “….. That investigation includes witness statements, officer statements, video of Enzo prior to his death, our dispatch logs, radio traffic, and our Animal Services' logs relating to prior complaints in the area. We have provided all of this information to the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s office for their review and determination of whether animal cruelty charges are warranted. After the DA’s determination we will be able to provide a further update to our community with what we learned in our investigation. An internal affairs investigation is also being conducted to determine if our employees violated any departmental policies. We can assure our community that we take this incident seriously and that we have placed significant importance on completing this investigation quickly and thoroughly. Additionally, we have moved to bring outside vendors into the department to provide additional training in dealing with at- large animals and we have started researching other tools available for our employees’ use.

Thank you again for your patience as we complete this complex investigation. “


Enzo’s human mom, Ms. Aline Galeno, described her furboy as sweet, loving, and goofy. She is certain Enzo did not attack anyone and maintains that he should have not been tased. Ms. Galeno has vowed to sue the city with the hopes of getting the officers involved fired. She rightfully said: “It's not going to go away. It's not going to get swept under the rug.”

Ms. Galeno created a GoFundMe to raise money for an attorney. “We can’t afford a lawyer and we are simply asking for your support to get justice for Enzo and to bring light to the horrible acts of these police officers involved,” she explained. She went on to say: “My goal is for these officers to be held accountable for their actions, and hopefully to get LPD to straighten out their law enforcement and do better.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.




Additional Sources:

Video by Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey - Beloved Family Dog 'Enzo' Tased And Dragged To Death By Police




 
 
 

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