Ridgefield Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Dog Found In Hot Car At Shopping Center

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A Ridgefield man is facing a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge after police said he left a dog inside a hot vehicle last month.

Ellis Tarlton, 54, of Silver Spring Road, was issued a misdemeanor summons after Ridgefield police and animal control officers responded to a report of a dog left unattended in a vehicle at a Danbury Road shopping center around 10:35 a.m. on July 29, according to a police news release.

Data from the Danbury Municipal Airport weather station, as reported by WeatherUnderground.com, showed outdoor temperatures were in the 80s at the time.

Police said Tarlton was identified as the vehicle’s owner and released with an Aug. 12 court date in state Superior Court in Danbury.