Scotch Plains Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After 2 Pets Die

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A Scotch Plains man was charged with multiple animal cruelty charges after police found a dead dog inside a plastic bag on the side of the road, according to authorities.

On Nov. 3, 2020, Plainfield police found the dead body of a severely emaciated pit bull inside a plastic bag dumped on the side of the road in the area of Rock Avenue, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Cronin, who is prosecuting the case.

An investigation found that Aiden R. Turso, 19, of the 300 block of Valleyscent Avenue had three pets that had suffered severe neglect – the pit bull, named Cinnamon; a second dog, Jax, which was surrendered to the Humane Society in emaciated condition later in November; and a cat, Buddy, which was euthanized in late December after being taken to a local veterinarian in a comatose state, also emaciated and covered in fleas, said acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo.

The investigation was led by Plainfield Police Department Sgt. Candace Grant and Scotch Plains Police Department Detective Theodore Florio, assisted by Tyler Smith of the Plainfield Area Humane Society.

Turso was charged with two counts of third-degree failure to provide necessary care to an animal, leading to its death; two counts of fourth-degree animal cruelty offenses; and fourth-degree hindering apprehension earlier this month. He is scheduled to appear in Union County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

"We hope these charges send a clear message to anyone who needs to hear it – this sort of conduct isn’t just wrong, it’s criminal," Ruotolo said.

Turso is facing 3 to 5 years in state prison on the third-degree crimes.

Anyone who believes they have witnessed animal cruelty should contact their local police and relay as many details as you can, including the location, date and time, and description of the people and animals involved.

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