Marty
03-30-2006, 08:25 PM
Jersey City,NJ -- The controversy surrounding the Jersey City Animal Control office continued yesterday, after a municipal court judge told a city resident she can file civil charges against the office for removing her dog.
Vivian Lopez was in court because she refused to pay the three health code violations issued to her by Animal Control on Jan. 4. Animal Control officers had been summoned to her apartment by her landlord, Jacqueline Rivera, to remove Spanky, Lopez's pitbull, which Rivera claimed was dangerous and roaming freely in the building.
Lopez insists that Spanky was behind her locked door and that Rivera used a key to unlock the apartment to let the officers in, which Rivera denies.
John Ross and Alex Perez, two animal control officers who were at Lopez's house that day, testified that Lopez's door was locked and that Rivera opened it. The two said that they called Chief Animal Control Officer Joe Frank, who ordered them to remove the dog. Frank has denied that he ordered anyone to enter a locked apartment.
Municipal Judge Nesle Rodriguez adjourned Lopez's case yesterday, saying Lopez and Animal Control needed to try work out their differences. Rodriguez also said Lopez was free to file civil complaints against Frank, something she is considering, said her lawyer, Bill Strazza.
"She has the right to file citizen's complaints against Frank for harassment, trespassing, disorderly persons or theft," said Strazza. "Hudson County can also pursue indictable charges against him for second-degree misconduct and third-degree theft of a companion animal."
As he was leaving the courthouse yesterday, Frank, who is represented by Assistant Jersey City Corporation Counsel Frank Burke, said there was nothing he could do to prevent Lopez from filing charges and added that police officers receive civil complaints against them all the time.
Meanwhile, City Councilman Steve Lipski announced last night at a special meeting that he will chair a committee to investigate Animal Control.
Lopez's new court date is April 20 at 1 p.m.
Journal staff writer Ken Thorbourne contributed to this report.
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1143713640231650.xml&coll=3
Vivian Lopez was in court because she refused to pay the three health code violations issued to her by Animal Control on Jan. 4. Animal Control officers had been summoned to her apartment by her landlord, Jacqueline Rivera, to remove Spanky, Lopez's pitbull, which Rivera claimed was dangerous and roaming freely in the building.
Lopez insists that Spanky was behind her locked door and that Rivera used a key to unlock the apartment to let the officers in, which Rivera denies.
John Ross and Alex Perez, two animal control officers who were at Lopez's house that day, testified that Lopez's door was locked and that Rivera opened it. The two said that they called Chief Animal Control Officer Joe Frank, who ordered them to remove the dog. Frank has denied that he ordered anyone to enter a locked apartment.
Municipal Judge Nesle Rodriguez adjourned Lopez's case yesterday, saying Lopez and Animal Control needed to try work out their differences. Rodriguez also said Lopez was free to file civil complaints against Frank, something she is considering, said her lawyer, Bill Strazza.
"She has the right to file citizen's complaints against Frank for harassment, trespassing, disorderly persons or theft," said Strazza. "Hudson County can also pursue indictable charges against him for second-degree misconduct and third-degree theft of a companion animal."
As he was leaving the courthouse yesterday, Frank, who is represented by Assistant Jersey City Corporation Counsel Frank Burke, said there was nothing he could do to prevent Lopez from filing charges and added that police officers receive civil complaints against them all the time.
Meanwhile, City Councilman Steve Lipski announced last night at a special meeting that he will chair a committee to investigate Animal Control.
Lopez's new court date is April 20 at 1 p.m.
Journal staff writer Ken Thorbourne contributed to this report.
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1143713640231650.xml&coll=3