Cromwell man accused of shooting dog to plead not guilty, his attorney says

  • Cromwell Police Department.

    Cromwell Police Department.

    Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo

Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo

Cromwell Police Department.

Cromwell Police Department.

Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media File Photo

Cromwell’s husband accused of shooting dog in order not to plead guilty, says his attorney

CROMWELL – A town man arrested after allegedly shooting a dog on Morning View Drive does not want to plead guilty to the charges against him, his New Haven attorney said.

Bardsley Monfilston, 31, is charged with second-degree peace-breaking, illegally surrendering a firearm, risk of minor, reckless first-degree injury, disturbing a police officer, and cruelty to animals, according to a police report.

According to police reports, Monfilston was holding a child at the time of the incident.

Monfilston is represented by William F. Dow III of Jacobs & Dow, New Haven, attorney. Not only did Dow say on Friday that his client would not plead guilty, but he also said, “This is a very unfortunate incident and understandably the movements are very high.”

“Mr. Monfilson looks forward to having the opportunity to explain his version of events in court and we believe this is based on objective facts, not emotions,” said Dow.

The incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. on Morning View Drive in the Fox Meadows residential complex, according to the report by Officer Boguslaw Bialko.

The dog, a 1-year-old German short-haired terrier, was taken to the Pieper-Olson Veterinary Hospital in Middletown after the shooting, but was later euthanized, according to police reports.

The dog had slipped off the porch where he and the girl he was were sitting on. The police report says.

The girl was tracking the dog, who she described as “just a puppy who wanted to say hello to everyone who was around,” according to a police report.

When Monfilston allegedly first denied knowledge of the incident, police searched the neighborhood to find a video that could provide more information, the police report said. According to a police report, a shot and screams were recorded in a video.

When officers spoke to Monfilston later, he allegedly told them he was outside earlier in the day and a dog approached him and barked at him and his daughter.

Monfilston is reported to have told police that he tried several times to get the dog to leave by swinging a bag on it and when that didn’t work he took out his licensed gun and fired it at the ground near the dog, so that he went away, ”According to the police report.

Monfilston told police he was unaware that the dog was injured.

Monfilston is free for a $ 10,000 bond and was due to appear in Middlesex Superior Court on January 19th.

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