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Written by K Bishop
Published October 29, 2022 @ 12:12 PM ET
Warning: The following report describes violence against animals that may be offensive to some readers.
Camden County (October 15, 2022) – Kingsland police arrested and charged a man with animal cruelty, cruelty to children, and family violence for allegedly abusing his girlfriend’s dog because he was angry after a fight. The small breed dog was bleeding from the head and neck and having seizures.
While the dog’s owner was running errands after an argument, a child in the home heard Ricardo Steven Anderson shouting at the dog and loud banging noises, followed by the dog squealing. The child found the dog bleeding from the head and neck. The dog began having seizures that continued throughout the day.
The child immediately called his mother about the dog’s injuries. She told police she came home and contacted a vet. Anderson said he didn’t know what happened to the dog.
Police were summoned later that evening regarding a fight between Anderson and his girlfriend. When they arrived, they were told about the abuse to the dog and that Anderson became violent during an argument, wrestling with his girlfriend and pulling a straight razor on her during the fight.
Family members, including the children, were present during the fight involving the blade and a baseball bat Anderson’s girlfriend used to defend herself. His girlfriend’s father eventually restrained Anderson while her mother called police.
Anderson denied harming the dog earlier in the day and claimed he was not at fault for the fight with his girlfriend. He showed videos to officers that he recorded during the arguments. According to officers, the videos did not support Anderson’s claims.
Kingsland police officers booked Anderson into the Camden County Jail.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On Saturday, October 15, 2022, I, Officer Earl F. Wilson #550 was assigned to Kingsland Police (KPD) Patrol Team. I was wearing full KPD uniform equipped with digital body worn Watch Guard camera #1 and operating from fully parked patrol vehicle #2418. At about 2027 hours, Kingsland Police were dispatched to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in regards to a domestic disturbance. Address would later be corrected to [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Camden 911 dispatch advised that a male was “jumping on daughter” had done “something to the dog” and that her husband was holding the male down. I arrived on scene shortly after Corporal Gonzalez.
Investigation would reveal that the home is occupied by [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (victim), her live in boyfriend RICARDO ANDERSON (arrestee), children known to them, Juvenile Other Subject 7, Juvenile Other Subject 8, as well as children known to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Child Victim Subject 3 and Child Victim Subject 4. In as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Ricardo do currently live together and are parents of the same child per OCGA 19-13-1 the report to follow meets the conditions of an act of family violence.
In addition to the persons listed above, also present were [REDACTED BY AGENCY] ‘s father [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and her mother [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Based upon overall verbal statements and physical evidence, it appears the following did occur.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Ricardo do reside together. They have children in common. Ricardo had recently returned after being away for work for about two months. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] alleges that Ricardo does not contribute to the household and she would like him removed. Ricardo alleges he could show money transfers to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] on his phone where he contributes to the home’s finances. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] repeatedly stated Ricardo was a narcissist and he was abusing her verbally and physically.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Child Subject 3 would allege that the family dog, a small blond dog about 12 years old was unharmed and had no visible injury earlier today. The dog was [REDACTED BY AGENCY] prior to this relationship.
Over the course of the day, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Ricardo had been arguing over the relationship. At about 1500 hours, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left the home to get dinner items. They argued over her telling her Child 3 to watch the other children and not Ricardo. She then left the home. Child 3 alleges almost immediately after [REDACTED BY AGENCY] left that he heard Ricardo yelling at the dog and telling the dog to get into a cage. The cage is in the hallway, by the juveniles room. He stated he then heard loud banging sounds and the dog cry out. He went into the living room and found the dog injured and bleeding from around the head and neck. He then called [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated she was told her dog was hurt and Ricardo denied any knowledge of the injury. She immediately returned home.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to contact an emergency vet by phone and explained her dog was physically injured as well as having seizures. She was instructed to watch the animal and bring the dog in when she could. She stated the dog continued to have seizures over the afternoon and evening.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] and Ricardo then spent the early evening with other parties at their home drinking adult beverages. At some point later in the evening, her parents came to the home. A verbal argument started over the dog being injured. During the argument, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] alleges that Ricardo stepped into her personal space in a hostile manner causing her to fear imminent bodily harm so she pushed Ricardo back. She stated they then began to “tussle” before her father separated them.
During the attempt to separate them, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to wrestle Ricardo on the ground while [VICTIM #1] called 911.
Ricardo alleges he was attacked unprovoked and that he remained docile throughout. He alleges he was seated on the couch when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] began to yell and curse at him. He alleges she attacked him unprovoked and that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had to push her away. He also alleges that at some point while [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was pushing her away, that she had kicked him and picked up a baseball bat striking him in the face. He pointed to a knot on his left eyebrow/eyelid area as proof of injury. He also pulled his bottom lip out to show what he claims was the injury from being kicked.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] would allege that during the “tussle” argument Ricardo would pull a straight blade (barbers razor) from his pocket and brandish it. Ricardo would allege that he did this in defense of himself when she attacked him with the bat. The blade could not be located. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] took the bat and placed it in the foyer clothes closet.
Ricardo also had made a point to audio record several interactions over the course of the afternoon. The arguments heard on the recordings were started in the middle of the events and did not provide clear evidence to support Ricardo’s version of events.
Based on the overall investigation, I deemed Ricardo to be the predominant and primary aggressor in an act of family violence to wit. After a verbal argument, Ricardo did commit the offense of CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OCGA 16-12-4 (b) in that after a verbal argument he did cause physical pain or suffering to an animal by an unjustifiable act. The dog suffered visible injury to its head and neck area by an unknown act of violence.
That Ricardo did commit the offense of SIMPLE BATTERY FVA OCGA 16-5-23 in that during a verbal argument that Ricardo did intentionally make physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with the person of another ([REDACTED BY AGENCY]) by engaging in a “tussle” whereby the parties had to be physically separated. That during that offense, that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (the alleged victim) did brandish a baseball bat and that Ricardo the alleged predominant aggressor did brandish a straight razor cutting tool.
That Ricardo did commit the offense of CRUELTY TO CHILDREN OCGA 16-5-70 in that during an act of family violence that he did allow a child, Child 3 and Child 4 to witness the commission of a forcible felony and family violence battery. It should be noted Juvenile 7 and Juvenile 8 as referenced were present however, they are toddlers and infants unable to understand the events. Child 4 left the home and went to a friend’s due to the altercation, no contact was made with Child 4 for their version of events. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was advised of protection order procedures through Camden County courts.
Ricardo had initially agreed to leave the home and had walked to a friend’s house at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Ricardo was contacted standing in the front yard of that home. He was advised he was under arrest and was handcuffed behind his back without resistance. The cuffs were double locked and checked for fit. He was then seated in passenger rear of patrol vehicle and belted in place. As I began filling out the booking report, Ricardo began asking numerous questions in regards to his arrest. I advised him of his Miranda warning and he waived same.
Ricardo was then transported to Camden County Sheriff’s Office to be booked and lodged without incident. Ricardo, his belongings, booking forms and victims notification form were released to custody of booing deputies.
Warrants are being sought for said charges.
[End of Narrative]