Man Choked, Repeatedly Stabbed Dog To Death: Police

SPRINGS, NY — A Springs man choked and repeatedly stabbed a dog to death, then dumped its badly mutilated body, police said.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Jose J. Galvez-Garcia, 21, removed the Cockapoo, 4, Simba, from a relative's property in East Hampton Sunday before driving to a secluded, wooded area near the end of Breeze Hill Rd.,where he repeatedly choked and stabbed the dog to death before leaving her body 50' from the road.

Galvez-Garcia told investigators he killed the dog because he was "angry with the way he had been treated by a family member who owned the dog," police said.

Simba's body was discovered Monday by one of his owners, who had been searching for the dog since she went missing Sunday, police said; authorities were then notified.

Galvez-Garcia was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, police said. He was held overnight pending arraignment on Tuesday, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information contact East Hampton Town Police at 631-537-7575. All calls will be kept confidential.

Patch photo courtesy EHTPD.