Pleasant Valley man charged with assault and cruelty to animals

Pleasant Valley, New York – On June 15, 2017, New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barracks arrested 41-year-old Thomas W. Lyons, of Pleasant Valley, New York, for Assault in the 2^nd Degree, a Class D Felony, and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class E Felony.

On June 9, 2017, Troopers were dispatched to the Pleasant Valley Motel for a reported harassment complaint.  An investigation revealed that following a verbal altercation between neighbors, Lyons punched a Yorkshire Terrier in the chest several times before he threw the dog. When the dog’s owner confronted Lyons, he was struck in the face, chest, stomach and shoulder, causing him injury.  Chip, the Yorkie, suffered from a broken rib.

The defendant was arraigned in the Village of Wappinger Falls Justice Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.  Lyons is due to appear in the Town of Pleasant Valley Court on June 20, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.