Scott Walker of Holbrook charged with fatally injuring dog, threatening owner

Suffolk County police said a Holbrook man kicked and killed his girlfriend’s dog and then threatened to kick her out of their house if she went to police.

Scott Walker, 44, denied animal cruelty charges when he appeared in a Central Islip courtroom Thursday.

Walker’s court-assigned attorney declined to comment outside court Thursday.

Prosecutors said Walker had threatened to kill his girlfriend’s dog, Jager, an 11-year-old mixed breed dog that died Dec. 20 at an animal hospital. 

The woman who lived with Walker told authorities she heard a loud noise and the dog yelp, when Walker admitted to kicking the dog. He later told police the dog fell down the stairs, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said in charging documents that he told the woman, “not to contact the police about the dog he killed, and if she did, she would be out in the street.”

He also threatened to turn off utilities and cancel the lease to their Holbrook apartment, according to court records.

The animal hospital reported the death as suspicious to the Suffolk County SPCA. SPCA detectives took the dog to Cornell University for a necropsy that determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma, said Suffolk SCPCA Chief Roy Gross.

Walker was arrested at a gas station in Holbrook and booked at the 6th Precinct.

Walker was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, animal cruelty, criminal mischief, aggravated harassment and coercion. If convicted, Walker could face up to two years in prison, Gross said.

At Walker's arraignment Thursday, Suffolk District Court Judge James Saladino issued a stay-away order of protection for the girlfriend. which means Walker cannot live with her in the apartment. His defense attorney said in court that Walker pays for the home.

During the arraignment Walker had an outburst where he shouted, “This is outrageous,” which prompted the judge to tell him, “God help you if I were the sentencing judge if you were found guilty.”

Walker was ordered to return to court Jan. 24.

Gross said a new state law requires veterinarians to notify authorities if they suspect abuse. The necropsy led police to believe he kicked the dog, causing the fatal injuries.

“It’s just a horrible thing,” Gross said. “An 11-year-old dog, it’s hard to believe someone would do this … It’s just a horrific act of animal cruelty. There is no excuse.” With Cecilia Dowd

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.