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7 hours fresh!!!

Cop: Man attacks dog, dog's rescuer

SPCA: Weapon used on officer
Published in the Asbury Park Press 02/15/05
By BILL BOWMAN
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

MIDDLETOWN -- A man who police said was trying to kill his estranged wife's Yorkshire terrier -- and who later allegedly attacked an SPCA enforcement officer with a martial arts weapon -- remained in the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, Monday on $40,000 bail.

Angel Baez of Prospect Avenue in the North Middletown section has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty, two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and a count of aggravated assault with weapons, said Victor "Buddy" Amato, the chief of the Monmouth County SPCA's enforcement division.

Amato said Monday that he was called on Feb. 7 to back up one of the division's agents, who was investigating a complaint that a man was "choking and body-slamming" the small dog in his yard.

The agent, Karen Smith, told him that she thought "the guy is ballistic," Amato said.

"As soon as I got there, I could hear him in the house, ranting and raving, banging the walls," Amato said.

Amato called Middletown police for backup, and Patrolman Darrin Simon responded.

Amato said he told Simon that he was going to rescue the dog and asked Simon to "watch my back."

Baez appeared at the front door, holding two Escrima sticks, which are martial arts weapons, Amato said.

"He's telling me he's going to kill the dog," Amato said. "I said the only way he's going to kill the dog is if he kills me first."

Amato said he attempted to grab the dog from the yard.

Baez "comes flying down the steps after me," he said.

Amato, 50, of Asbury Park who has a 10th-degree black belt in karate and runs a martial arts school in Hazlet, subdued Baez with a judo throw and held him in an arm lock until Baez was handcuffed and led away.

The terrier has been placed with a foster family, Amato said. It's owned by Baez's estranged wife, who is trying to get the dog returned to her.

"I'm refusing to give the dog back," Amato said. "If and when he gets bonded out, and he comes back, who's he going to take it out on? As far as I'm concerned, that dog is not going back."

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../NEWS/50215002


Wow, so he judo threw a dude with the Escrima sticks?
Should have shot the idiot.




PS: Screamer is rad.

[PizDoff]

Here is some more research on this article:

Animal cruelty is a precursor to other dangers
by BUDDY AMATO
http://www.amatosgojuryu.com/columns/49.html
(His first name is Buddy?)

Website of the dude's school it seems.
http://www.amatosgojuryu.com/

[feedback]

From his site

"He Was the first person to promote children to black belt level in the area, has been in business for over thirty years. Master Amato owns and operates the largest Karate and Martial school in the State and one of the largest in the world and one of the very few that have attained the level of tenth degree black belt."

oh hooray. His website can't decide if he opened his first dojo when he was 18 or 17 either...