Man Accused Of Abusing, Threatening To Kill Puppy: Middletown PD

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A Middletown man is accused of abusing a puppy and threatening to kill it in a domestic-related incident, according to police.

A person went to the Middletown Police Department around 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday to report the incident.

The complainant told police that Michael Bolton was abusing his 14-week-old puppy and threatening to kill it if the complainant didn’t come to his house, according to a news release.

Police said a video was turned over to the Middletown Animal Control.

In the video, police said Bolton can be heard and seen saying, “You don’t believe me? I will [expletive] her up.”

“He then repeatedly abused a small puppy by hitting the animal in the head and grabbing her throat to force her onto the ground,” police wrote in the news release.

Animal Control and patrol officers responded to Bolton’s home on Stoneycrest Drive and confirmed that he was the same person in the video, according to police.

Bolton denied abusing the puppy and said he was disciplining the dog earlier in the day, according to police. He also denied making threats to kill the puppy, police said.

Bolton, 28, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty and second-degree threatening. He was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 24.

“Animal Control took the dog from Bolton’s residence for treatment and her safety,” police wrote.