Police are investigating after a Bedford Park dog fell from the roof of a neighborhood apartment building on Thursday, according to the animal’s owner. Neighbors who saw video of the incident and heard the dog’s cries say the whole thing feels off, and they are demanding answers.
Video Shows The Fall
Ring-camera footage obtained by neighbors appears to show the dog walking up the stairs at 280 E. 199th Street with the building’s landlord following behind, then tumbling from the roof minutes later, according to News 12. The clip and other neighborhood videos captured the fall and audio that residents say were the dog’s cries.
Joel, the dog’s owner, told News 12 he had the dog for seven years and found her dead after the fall. Neighbors told the outlet there had been “something off” in the days before. With no arrests reported, people on the block say they suspect someone was involved rather than it being an accident.
How The City Handles Animal Cruelty
The NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and local prosecutors often work with the ASPCA on suspected cruelty cases, which can proceed as neglect or abuse depending on the evidence collected. The city’s animal-welfare guidance and state Agriculture and Markets law describe how investigations and prosecutions move forward in New York, according to NYC animal welfare.
Prosecution And Evidence
The Bronx District Attorney’s office has an Animal Cruelty Prosecution Initiative that has pursued indictments in fatal animal-cruelty cases, showing how veterinary exams, surveillance footage and witness statements can be central to prosecutions, according to a recent press release from the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Neighbors say they have preserved video and audio from the Bedford Park incident and plan to share it with investigators as the probe continues…