FAIR HAVEN — A Florida man is facing charges of animal abuse and abandonment related to his allegedly throwing a dog from a moving truck last week.
Police arrested Dwight D. Runge, 50 Jensen Beach, Florida, Monday, March 11 on Fair Haven Road, according to Detective James Kirman.
According to Kirman, Patrolman Jeff Jarvis responded to a complaint from an area resident about a truck being driven erratically and about a dog being thrown from the vehicle.
Runge was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated; leaving the scene of an accident; reckless driving; operating a vehicle while having an open container of alcohol; possession of a controlled dangerous substance; possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; and with throwing a dog from a moving vehicle, according to Kirman.
Bail was initially set by the borough’s Municipal Court Judge James Newman at $1,500, Kirman said.
The following day, charges were filed on behalf of the Monmouth County Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals, Wall Street, Eatontown.
The additional criminal charges are for abuse of a living animal, abandonment, and abandonment of a living animal, according to Kirman.
With those additional charges, Runge’s bail was increased to $3,000 and as of press time he is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, pending his initial court appearance which was scheduled for March 21, Kirman said.
The additional charges were signed by Stuart Goldman, chief law enforcement officer for the SPCA.
"I issued the complaints myself, and I make all the court appearances," Goldman explained of his role with the SPCA.
The dog is a 2-year-old chow that was riding in the truck’s cab with Runge, when it was allegedly thrown, according to Goldman.
The dog was not seriously injured in the incident, and is currently in the custody of the SPCA.
"He’s doing fine," Goldman said.
The dog has been given the name Red Boy, by Goldman. And the SPCA, depending on the outcome of the court proceedings, will ask for permanent custody, and will try to locate a home for Red Boy.
"We’re taking applications," he said.
Chows are one of the oldest established breeds, and can be quite temperamental, Goldman explained.