33 animal cruelty charges filed against Mahanoy man
MAHANOY CITY – A Mahanoy City man is facing 33 charges related to animal cruelty in connection with an incident earlier this month, on top of charges already filed.
Daniel Smith, 35, of the 68 S. Main Street, was arrested Dec. 2 after a domestic disturbance.
According to court documents, police were called to Smith’s home around 2am that morning.
Police officers from Mahanoy City, Shenandoah, East Union Township, and the State Police at Frackville responded to the scene.
Smith refused to cooperate with officers and began acting in an aggressive manner, police alleged.
Smith then grabbed the collar of a dog in the home and “roughly” threw her down the stairs.
As police tried to de-escalate the situation, Smith threatened to women at the home and threw a large ball at the wall between them.
Smith fled to the basement, where eight pitbulls were, and returned with one, holding it by the collar and threatening officers with the canine. Officers told Smith multiple times to return the dog to the basement. Eventually, he did.
Officers then attempted to detain Smith and pepper spray was deployed.
Smith was charged that day by Patrolman Rachael Lenar for that incident with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, resisting arrest, animal cruelty, terroristic threats, and disorderly conduct.
He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $50,000 cash bail.
Monday, more charges were filed against Smith, all pertaining to animal cruelty.
Lenar filed 33 charges for the incident, including eight counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals – torture, eight counts of felony animal fighting for amusement or gain, eight counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, eight counts of misdemeanor neglect of animals, and one misdemeanor count of possession of animal fighting paraphernalia.
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