2 Women Charged With Animal Cruelty

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA— The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office recently charged two women with cruelty to an animal, brandishing an imitation firearm, and making a false report to peace officers in connection with an incident Feb. 19 in Pittsburg.

Lagashia Shante Williams, 46, and Graciela Amar, 18, were arrested Feb. 27 and booked into the Martinez and West County jails.

Their arrests followed an investigation by Pittsburg police after Williams and Amar confronted a homeowner Feb. 19 in his driveway about an incident the day before involving a neighbor.

The neighbor, an elderly person, had accidentally run over a plant the homeowner was growing in his driveway.

The conversation about the accident escalated to an argument, and Amar walked toward a car and retrieved what turned out to be an imitation gun and handed it to Williams, the DA's Office said.

As the argument continued, Williams brandished the imitation weapon, causing the homeowner to back away. The homeowner picked up one of the two dogs that were with him and as he walked away, police allege Williams told Amar to kick the other dog, which she did.

The force of the kick sent the animal aloft, through the air, landing several feet away on the lawn of the homeowner’s property, police allege. The homeowner picked up the wounded animal, who was crying out, and went inside his home.

Williams called 911 and reported to police dispatchers that the homeowner had a gun, a claim the DA's Office said proved to be false.

After a few days in jail, the women were released on $172,500 bail.

The DA's Office announced March 7 that both women would be arraigned on charges of cruelty to animals and drawing or exhibiting an imitation firearm in a threatening manner. Williams also faces a charge of making a false police report.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in county jail and fined up to $20,000.