North Jersey Animal Control Officer Slit Baby Deer's Throat: SPCA

An Essex County Animal Control Officer has been charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty after authorities allege he slit a baby deer’s throat.

According to the New Jersey SPCA, Vincent Ascolese, 48, of Edgewater euthanized an injured fawn by cutting its throat. No further details on the incident were provided.

Ascolese is the Director and Supervising Animal Control Officer for North Jersey Humane Society Shelter in Bloomfield. He also serves as Director at the Bergen County Protection and Rescue Shelter in Cliffside Park. Both shelters provide animal control services in multiple jurisdictions in Bergen and Essex Counties, authorities said.

Ascolese was charged with “needlessly killing a living animal and “failure to provide necessary care,” the SPCA said. Ascolese was also charged with several counts of cruelty to animals at the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter in Bloomfield for failing to provide proper shelter, food and necessary care, the SPCA said.

The investigation is ongoing.

A court date of October 14 at 4p m in Bloomfield Municipal Court has been scheduled.