Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Kristopher Fyffe was charged with animal cruelty, menacing and other crimes after allegedly wrapping duct tape around the muzzle, eyes and legs of one pit bull, as well as keeping that dog and four others in unsanitary conditions in the back of a van.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged in the complaint, this defendant gratuitously inflicted harm on a defenseless dog by wrapping the animal’s nose, eyes and legs in duct tape. When police confronted the defendant, they found five dogs, housed in kennels covered in urine and feces in the back of an unregistered minivan. No animal should ever be treated this way and I thank those who intervened and reported these cruel acts to the authorities.”

ASPCA Vice President of Humane Law Enforcement Howard Lawrence said: “We appreciate the swift action taken by the Queens District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department to address animal cruelty, helping ensure that our city’s animals are protected. Our gratitude also extends to our partner Animal Care Centers of NYC, who provided medical treatment for the four dogs found in unsanitary conditions, and will be transferring those dogs to the ASPCA’s care for ongoing treatment. The fifth dog — who was allegedly bound with duct tape by the defendant — is in stable condition and receiving medical care at ASPCA facilities in Manhattan.”

Fyffe, 38, of East 83^rd Street in Brooklyn, was arraigned last night on a criminal complaint charging him with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals/failure to provide sustenance; two counts of menacing in the second degree; five counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animal; two counts of harassment in the second degree; and registration of motor vehicles/fees/renewals.

The case is not eligible for bail under New York state law. The DA’s office asked for supervised release, which was set by Queens Criminal Court Judge Lana Schlesinger, who ordered Fyffe to return to court on November 13.  If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.

According to the charges, on August 23, between 6 p.m. and 6:10 p.m., Fyffe was observed on 133^rd Avenue outside of Gwen Ifill Park in Locust Manor applying tape around the muzzle, eyes, front legs and back legs of a white and tan pit bull. The witness and another person confronted Fyffe, who then allegedly waved a knife at them. They called the police.

The witness, who had recorded Fyffe’s alleged actions, posted the video to social media.

A woman, who saw the video on social media and recognized Fyffe, reported to police that she had seen the defendant drive a Honda Odyssey with out of state license plates and observed multiple dogs living in the vehicle.

On August 24, between approximately 5:45 p.m. and 5:50 p.m., a police officer observed Fyffe driving the van on 134^th Road and Bedell Street. A computer check revealed that the plates did not match the vehicle registration.

When Fyffe was stopped, police officers allegedly saw that the van contained five kennels, each with a pit bull inside. The kennels were allegedly covered in feces and urine, there was urine in the water bowls and no clean water or food.

A forensic veterinarian with the ASPCA reviewed videos and photos of the dog seen with the tape on its body and said such restraints would have caused the animal pain and suffering, specifically pressure on his tissues, occlusion of blood flow and further pain and discomfort from the removal of the tape.

Assistant District Attorney Zoë Marks, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Nicole Reid, Interim Section Chief of the Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Mary Kate Quinn, Bureau Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Special Prosecutions Joyce A. Smith.