(File Photo of the City of Aliquippa Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Aliquippa Police charged twenty-two-year-old Christopher M. Hughes, Jr. of Aliquippa with two counts of cruelty to animals under Pennsylvania law yesterday after an investigation.

Aliquippa Police received a report of suspected animal cruelty involving a dog at 400 Superior Avenue, Valley Terrace B Building on August 19th.

Officers reviewed video evidence during an investigation that allegedly showed a man forcefully jerking a small dog upward by its leash, lifting the dog off the ground. 

Officers investigated a separate incident that was reported in which the same individual allegedly struck the dog multiple times in the back/spinal area, which caused the dog to yelp in apparent pain. 

Officers executed and obtained a search warrant at the residence where this all took place. 

The dog was removed safely and was turned over to the Beaver County Humane Society for evaluation and care.