Sunday, October 9, 2016

Michigan: Rishi Joshi, 26, facing 93 days in jail for breaking his St. Bernard puppy's ribs. For ripping the side mirrors off his friend's car, he's facing 365 days in jail

MICHIGAN -- A 26-year-old Clawson man was arrested after his St. Bernard puppy was found with two broken ribs in Oakland County.

Clawson police received calls from neighbors at Rishi Kunal Joshi's apartment building, expressing concern that they had heard a puppy crying "for days".

Police responded Sept. 26 to the apartment near 14 Mile Road and Main Street. They said they found Joshi drunk, and when one of the officers tried to play with the puppy, the dog wouldn't move.


Officers said the St. Bernard puppy, named Bella, howled in pain when they tried to pick it up.

Joshi agreed to take the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic in Madison Heights, but police wouldn't let him drive because he was intoxicated. He called a friend to drive him and the dog to the vet.

The veterinarian found that the puppy had two broken ribs, officials said. The woman who drove Joshi to the clinic got upset with him and left him at the vet's office.

Animal control took custody of the puppy and an officer drove Joshi back to his apartment.


The puppy is being treated for its broken ribs and is expected to be OK, officials said.

The woman who drove Joshi to the clinic said she was afraid to return to his apartment after she left him at the clinic.

When she went back the next day to get her car from the parking lot, she found that both of her side-view mirrors had been torn off the car. Police said the car had $700 in damages.

When police interviewed Joshi, he admitted that he was angry and tore the mirrors off the friend's car, police said.

Joshi also admitted that he "might have" stepped on the dog because he was intoxicated, police said. The dog won't be returned to him unless he's cleared of animal cruelty charges, officials said.


Joshi was arrested on charges of animal cruelty and malicious destruction of property over $200 but less than $1,000.

Animal cruelty is a 93-day misdemeanor and malicious destruction of property is a one-year misdemeanor. Both charges come with $5,000 bail.

For (allegedly) beating this puppy and breaking her ribs, Joshi is ONLY facing 93 days in jail. 

However, for (allegedly) ripping the mirror off of his friend's car, he's facing 365 days in jail. Michigan isn't the only state that treats animals so poorly in the judicial system, though.

Joshi must have an alcohol tether attached before he's released. he cannot have a pet or animal while the case is ongoing, police said.

The puppy is still being held by Oakland County Animal Control.


THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY
Section 750.50
(2) An owner, possessor, or person having the charge or custody of an animal shall not do any of the following:

(a) Fail to provide an animal with adequate care.
(b) Cruelly drive, work, or beat an animal, or cause an animal to be cruelly driven, worked, or beaten.

(4) A person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of a crime as follows:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (c) and (d), if the violation involved 1 animal, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 1 or more of the following and may be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution:
  • (i) Imprisonment for not more than 93 days
  • (ii) A fine of not more than $1,000.00
  • (iii) Community service for not more than 200 hours



THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE FOR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
Section 750.377a
(1) A person who willfully and maliciously destroys or injures the personal property of another person is guilty of a crime as follows:

(c) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or 3 times the amount of the destruction or injury, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine:
  • (i) The amount of the destruction or injury is $200 or more but less than $1,000.
(ClickOnDetroit - Oct 4, 2016)

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