Essex County Woman Convicted Of Animal Cruelty: Allegedly Threw Dog Into Traffic

An Essex County jury convicted a Newark woman of theft, animal cruelty and criminal mischief on Tuesday, authorities reported.

Haniyyah Barnes, 28, was accused of throwing her neighbor’s dog into oncoming traffic during an argument over a parking spot in 2011.

• See related article: Woman Indicted for Fatally Tossing Dog into Traffic

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Barnes was accused of breaking into her neighbors’ home, grabbing their two-year-old Shih Tzu and throwing the dog into ongoing traffic, killing the animal.

Prosecutors stated that the incident began over an argument over a parking spot.

Following the verdict, a judge revoked Barnes’ bail and remanded her to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.

Barnes has a prior conviction for third-degree terroristic threats.

She faces up to five years in New Jersey State Prison, prosecutors stated.