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Case ID: 18649
Classification: Throwing
Animal: cat
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Attorneys/Judges
Defense(s): Mark Chamblee
Judge(s): David Weingarten


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Kittens thrown from second-story window
Roxbury, MA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011
County: Suffolk

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Thomas Gonzales

A man police arrested on drug charges July 5 while living in Boston's first officially recognized "problem property" was re-arrested early this morning, after police responded to a complaint that he was throwing kittens out of a second-story window out of the same building.

Thomas Ganzales, 47, was arrested shortly after midnight in the problem property at 102 Blue Hill Ave. in Roxbury and charged with cruelty to animals and resisting arrest. According to a Boston Police report, Ganzales' wife, Angela Ganzales - who along with her husband was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine in July - was "crying hysterically in the common hallway as she was holding a black kitten," when officers arrived on the scene.

He was ordered held on bail on Wednesday after being arraigned on animal cruelty charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Tynes recommended that he be held on $3,000 and have his open bail on an unrelated drug charge revoked; Judge David Weingarten set bail at $750 and declined to revoke Gonzales' bail.

When Boston police were called to Gonzales' 102 Blue Hill Avenue building just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, they found him hanging out the second-floor window and screaming, police said.

His wife, who was clutching one of the kittens, was crying hysterically in the building's common hallway, police said. The officers asked him if he had thrown any kittens out the window, as they had been informed in a radio call.

"Yeah, I threw the ------- cats out the window," Conley's office said Gonzales shouted in return.

Gonzales then told police to kick in his apartment door, police said.

When police entered the apartment, they found Gonzales had barricaded the door with a dresser and coffee table, police said. He was arrested after a brief struggle, police said.

One of the kittens landed on a wooden fence, bounced off into the yard and ran away, a witness said. It was found a short time later. Both kittens were assessed at the scene and found to be in good health, Conley's office said. They were left in the custody of Gonzales' wife.

Gonzales' wife corroborated the witness' accounts, but later began to recant her statements, Conley's office said.

Gonzales was represented by attorney Mark Chamblee. He will return to court on Oct. 25.

Gonzales' arrest comes as Massachusetts lawmakers weigh proposals to extend protection to pets under the state's domestic violence and restraining order laws. One bill would provide courts the authority to order defendants to stay away from and not abuse an animal owned or kept by a restraining order plaintiff.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley urged victims of any crime, including domestic violence, to call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24 hours a day in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages.

References

« MA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Suffolk County, MA

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