DOVER, Pa. — A York County man has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after police say he killed his dog by striking it multiple times with a baseball bat.
Aston Aguilera, 33, of Dover, was charged by Northern York Regional Police on Thursday after a witness reported the alleged incident, which occurred Wednesday night.
The witness told police Aguilera had been drinking prior to the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on July 11.
When she went to the basement of Aguilera's home to determine the source of a noise she heard, the witness said, she found Aguilera striking the dog with a bat. He struck the dog "in excess of 10-15 times" while the witness was present, claiming the 5-year-old pit bull had shown her teeth and lunged at him when he tried to push her off the bed, according to police.
The dog died of its injuries at about 10:15 p.m., the witness said. Aguilera allegedly made the witness help him clean the dog's blood off the floor and walls of the basement, she reported.
Aguilera, who was impaired due to his drinking, then had the witness drive him to a field in the area of East Berlin Road and North Baker Road in West Manchester Township, where he dumped the dog's body.
The witness led police to the field, where officers found the dog's body. Police photographed the scene and documented the dog's injuries.
The witness also provided photos of the basement where the alleged incident occurred to investigators, according to the complaint.
Police responded to Aguilera's home, but he was not present.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
