KEYPORT, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey couple has been charged after a police officer shot their unleashed "aggressive" dog, who ran toward officers on Saturday night, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Alexyss Ferrara, 29, and Angel Velez Jr., 34, both of Keyport, have been charged with possessing a dangerous dog and multiple violations of local ordinances for the parking lot incident on Pine Street around 5:40 p.m. involving their dog Blaze, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced.
The summonses are "related to the dog’s aggressive behavior" and "for the dog running unsupervised off of a leash," according to the office, which also contained a Keyport police officer's body camera footage and a 911 call.
"This case has received an ample amount of attention online via social media. In the interest of transparency, we are releasing a responding officer’s body-worn camera (BWC) footage, as well as the 911 call, to clear up any misconceptions of what happened and the circumstances surrounding the weapon discharge," Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said. "It was an extremely unfortunate situation that the officer was faced with."
Prosecutors said police received a 911 call for an "aggressive animal" cornering a woman and her dog who were passing near the 40 block of Pine Street. Arriving officers attempted to contact the Blaze's owners when they encountered him in the parking lot area.
"The dog swiftly turned and advanced towards the responding officers," the office added. "At that point, one of the officers fired his service weapon, striking the animal in the shoulder."
Blaze then retreated into a garage near the incident. Prosecutors said the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals subdued the dog, who is currently in stable condition, and took him for treatment.
Earlier, Blaze got loose while being cared for by a relative of the couple. The dog then cornered a woman walking through the area with her own dog. A witness then called police for their help.
Anyone with information is asked to call Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443.
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