Target: Sharmese L. Walcott, State’s Attorney of Hartford County, Connecticut
Goal: Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the individual charged with slamming a dog to the ground and beating her with a shoe, and ensure his full criminal history is considered in sentencing.
A deeply disturbing video that surfaced on social media allegedly shows a man violently assaulting a dog — slamming the animal to the ground and beating her with a shoe — in what witnesses and animal advocates have described as a horrifying act of deliberate cruelty. The accused, who turned himself in to police after the footage went viral, was arraigned on animal cruelty charges as well as a violation of a protective order. His former girlfriend, in whose home the alleged attack took place approximately a year and a half ago, stated that witnessing the incident left her fearing for the safety of her children. Desmond’s Army, a Connecticut-based animal advocacy organization present at the arraignment, described the footage as shocking and deeply troubling.
The alleged abuse of this dog does not exist in isolation. The accused faces a series of additional charges across multiple pending court cases, including alleged illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle, risk of injury to a minor, domestic violence against his former girlfriend, and violation of a protective order. His former girlfriend has stated that what she witnessed in the video mirrors what she herself experienced at his hands. Animal welfare advocates have long documented the well-established link between animal abuse and domestic violence, and Desmond’s Army representatives noted at the arraignment that in nearly every domestic violence case they encounter, animal abuse preceded and escalated into violence against people.
The pattern of conduct described across these multiple cases paints a portrait of an individual who poses a danger to animals, to children, and to the people in his life. Connecticut law provides meaningful criminal penalties for animal cruelty, and the State’s Attorney for Hartford County must pursue this case with the full force of those penalties. The dog who was allegedly slammed to the ground and beaten with a shoe deserves justice — and the broader community deserves to know that this alleged pattern of violence will be met with serious consequences. Sign this petition to demand full prosecution of all charges.
PETITION LETTER:
Attorney Walcott,
We are writing to urge your office to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the individual arraigned on animal cruelty charges following the emergence of a social media video allegedly showing him violently assaulting a dog — slamming her to the ground and striking her with a shoe. The accused faces not only this animal cruelty charge, but also a violation of a protective order and several additional pending cases, including alleged illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle, risk of injury to a minor, and alleged domestic violence against his former girlfriend. His former partner has stated that the violence depicted in the video is consistent with what she experienced personally.
We are particularly concerned by the documented and well-established connection between animal abuse and escalating violence toward people. Representatives of Desmond’s Army, a respected Connecticut animal advocacy organization, stated at the arraignment that animal abuse precedes and escalates into violence against humans in nearly every domestic violence case they handle. The alleged conduct in this case — spanning animal cruelty, domestic violence, risk of injury to a minor, and violation of a protective order — reflects precisely this troubling pattern and warrants the most serious prosecutorial response available.
We respectfully but firmly demand that your office pursue the maximum penalties available under Connecticut law for the animal cruelty charge and all related charges, and that the full scope of the accused’s alleged conduct across all pending cases be considered in any sentencing recommendation. The dog who was allegedly beaten and slammed to the ground had no means of protecting herself or seeking help — it is now the justice system’s responsibility to speak for her.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Bequest of Mary Martin
