Woman arrested for animal cruelty

Webster Police Press Release

A Webster woman was arrested and charged with Animal Cruelty Friday night after her neighbors reported seeing her abuse her small dog.

According to the Webster Police, at approximately 10:20 p.m. officers received a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance between a couple living at 70 Pleasant Street, apartment 2. The caller also reported that during the incident, a woman, Tosha Miles, age 30, took her small Chihuahua picked it up and slammed it to the ground.

When officers arrived they observed a small crowd gathering to watch the incident across the street. The crowd directed officers to the apartment across the street, reporting that the woman had repeatedly picked up her small dog and slammed I to the ground.  One of the witnesses was able to get the Chihuahua, named “ Cujo,” after he ran out of the apartment and across the street.

According to statements from neighbors and her boyfriend, people started gathering outside when they heard the argument. They witnessed Miles pick up the dog and throw it down to the ground when one neighbor yelled for her to stop, Miles yelled “I’ll do whatever I want with my dog” and did it again. According to the witnesses she did this approximately four times.

At one point Miles went across the street and confronted the gathering people, yelling profanities at them. Afterwards, she went back to the apartment, opened the door and yelled that she didn’t want “the thing” anymore. When she did the dog ran away across the street. Neighbors had to run out and stop approaching traffic and pick up the dog and wait for the authorities.

Miles was arrested by Officers Aaron Suss and Robert Larochelle.  After the incident, Webster Animal Control Officer Michelle Lafleche was contacted and removed Cujo from the residence for his protection. The Animal Rescue League Law Enforcement Division is assisting the Webster Police with this investigation.

Miles was arrested and charged with Animal Cruelty, Disorderly Person and Disturbing the Peace. She was held at the Webster Police Department and released by a Bail Commissioner the next day on personal recognizance. She will be arraigned in the Dudley District Court on Monday.