Video leads to dog abuse charge for Windsor man

Dog abuse charge after property damage report Windsor man charged with animal abuse after report of property damage. CTV Windsor's Michelle Maluske reports.

WINDSOR -- A 28-year-old Windsor man has been charged after a report of dog abuse.

On Saturday afternoon, patrol officers were called to Dorchester Apartments at 2545 Lauzon Road for a report of suspected animal abuse.

Tenant Amanda Skrobacz, who lives on a different floor than the accused, tells CTV News she could hear noises early Saturday morning.

“I heard yelling and I opened my balcony and I heard verbatim the guy with the dog say ‘Mind your business, I'll smack the teeth out of your skull, (expletive) you, you goof’.”

Skrobacz claims two men, tenants at the apartment building, were arguing.

“Then afterwards, I heard the back door slam so that would have been him coming in, and the puppy just screaming so I heard it from like about 100 feet up, when he was on the first floor," says Skrobacz.

The next morning Skrobacz says police were at their building.

“This all started with somebody noticing some damage to a wall, at an apartment complex,” says Sgt. Steve Betteridge.

When officers got there, they met with building management, who said that they had received a report of property damage to a wall at the complex.

Upon review of video surveillance, police say it was discovered that the damage was related to the abuse of a dog during the early morning hours of Nov. 2.

Officers were able to identify and locate the suspect. He was arrested without incident.

Tyler Vassell, 28, from Windsor, is charged with willfully causing unnecessary pain/suffering/injury to an animal.

Police say the dog was located and transported for medical assessment.

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society declines to comment other than to confirm the dog is in their care.

Police say this incident highlights the importance of reporting incidents to the proper authorities. Officers say a complaint about damage to a wall led to the discovery of an animal abuse offence, and the ultimate arrest of the involved offender.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Windsor Police Service at 519-255-6700 ext. 4000, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS), or online at www.catchcrooks.com.