MILWAUKEE – A 39-year-old Milwaukee man is charged with punching a woman and strangling a dog on the south side of town. Antonio Rivera now faces the following criminal charges:
- The abuse of animals
- battery offense
- Disorderly conduct
According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police responded to the residence near 13th and Lincoln Avenue on Monday, January 30. Officers made contact with a woman who identified Rivera as her resident boyfriend.
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The lawsuit says the woman and Rivera “got into an argument that escalated into screaming.” While the two were howling, the woman’s “2-year-old pug ‘Yoda’ got agitated and started barking at Rivera and yelling at him. Rivera grabbed the dog by the neck and strangled him”, indicates the complaint. The complaint goes on to say that Rivera dropped the dog and struck the woman repeatedly.
The woman left the residence, but returned. She “waited for an opportunity and used a window to exit and walk to a gas station to call for help,” the complaint states.
Rivera was located at the residence – and taken into custody.
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Rivera made his first appearance in Milwaukee County Court on Wednesday, February 1. Cash bail was set at $5,000.