California: Riverside police officer Anthony Watkins, 42, arrested on suspicion of felony animal cruelty

CALIFORNIA -- A Riverside police officer faces both a criminal and an internal investigation following his arrest last week on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Anthony Watkins, 42, of Moreno Valley, was booked into jail Sept. 6, then released hours later after posting $10,000 bail, according to jail records. By Wednesday, Watkins had not been charged.

Neither the Riverside Police Department, which employs Watkins, nor the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which polices Moreno Valley and made the arrest, disclosed it until this week after an inquiry by The Press-Enterprise.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 9900 block of Pasatiempo Place about 8 p.m. Sept. 6 “regarding a report of animal cruelty,” said Deputy Armando Munoz, a sheriff’s spokesman. Deputies found Watkins at the location and took him into custody.

Munoz REFUSED TO SAY what type of animal was involved. Munoz REFUSED TO SAY what Watkins is suspected of doing – except that no firearms were involved – and Munoz REFUSED TO SAY whether the animal or animals lived or died.

Munoz said the case has been handed over to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether to file criminal charges.

Riverside Police Department spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback said Wednesday that Watkins remains employed, but would not say whether he is on administrative leave or full duty.

An internal investigation is being conducted, Railsback said.

(PE.com - Sept 15, 2016)