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Written by: A. Smith
Published February 2, 2026 @ 10:45 AM ET
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – Brookhaven police arrested a 19-year-old rapper and Twitch streamer Friday after online videos surfaced that investigators say show her physically abusing a young puppy during a livestream.
Police said they began investigating after receiving numerous complaints about videos circulating on social media that allegedly show Aspen Easterling — who performs under the name Aspen Kartier — striking a 3-month-old Maltipoo while streaming on Twitch. Officers responded around 9:35 p.m. to a home in the 1000 block of Town Boulevard, where the videos were believed to have been recorded.
According to Brookhaven police, officers located the puppy at the residence and determined the dog appeared to be in good physical condition at the time of the welfare check. Easterling was arrested at the scene and booked into the DeKalb County Jail on a charge of animal cruelty. DeKalb County Animal Control took custody of the puppy pending further evaluation and determination of its future placement.
Investigators said the videos show Easterling repeatedly hitting the dog and grabbing it by the scruff of its neck. The footage drew widespread condemnation online, including from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which shared a clip of the livestream on social media and called for accountability.
Twitch has since made Easterling’s channel temporarily unavailable, citing violations of its community guidelines. Officials have not said how long the suspension will last, noting that the platform is conducting an internal review. Police also said it remains unclear whether the dog will be permanently removed from Easterling’s custody or whether veterinarians later discovered injuries not immediately apparent during the initial welfare check.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details about potential further charges or court proceedings.