A township man is facing animal cruelty charges after being accused of crushing a woman's pet rat during a domestic dispute Friday night, authorities said.

  (Photo courtesy of NJ DOC)  Todd Smith, 49, was charged with needlessly killing a living creature after the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was called to investigate the matter by Neptune police, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, the society's police chief.

Smith is facing three separate cruelty charges, according to the summonses issued by Sgt. Matthew Giuliano of the SPCA.

"Our investigation shows there was a dispute at the residence and he took the woman's pet rat and crushed in right in front of her," Amato said.

If convicted, Smith could face a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine on each offense.

Smith (DOB 1/30/59) has been previously convicted of simple assault on a law Enforcement Officer from a case dating back to May 2002 and convicted on burglary charges from a case that originated in September 1998 per the Department of Corrections SBI number 000816657B.  Smith has used 2 aliases in the commission of his crimes, that of John Doe and Michael Synder.  He was incarcerated from May 9, 2003 to October 1, 2005.

Reference:

Ashbury Park Press

NJ Department of Corrections