Authorities say Nicholas Piccolino beat to death a 10-year-old Bichon Frise named "Booshu."
SEASIDE HEIGHTS - A grand jury in Ocean County returned an indictment Thursday charging a Seaside Heights man with beating a dog to death.
Nicholas Piccolino, 34, of Seaside Heights. (Ocean County Jail) The indictment charges Nicholas Piccolino, 34, with animal cruelty for causing the death of a 10-year-old Bichon Frise, "Booshu," on Aug. 19, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced in a press release.
Authorities say police responded to a residence in Seaside Heights shortly before 10 p.m. on Aug. 19 after someone called them to report an animal abuse incident.
A joint investigation by the New Jersey Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Seaside police found that Piccolino was alone with Booshu in her owner's kitchen when he beat the dog to death, the dog's owner told police.
A resident who also lived at the home and was upstairs at the time of the incident heard several loud bangs and the dog yelping in the kitchen, authorities said.
The dog's owner found Booshu dead on the floor of the bathroom, authorities said. Piccolino told police that the dog went to the bathroom in its crate and when he was cleaning her up, he dropped her, according to authorities.
Booshu was taken to an animal hospital in Red Bank where she was pronounced dead.
The dog was examined by doctors who determined she died from blunt-force injuries to her head, authorities said.
Piccolino was arrested on Sept. 13 and taken to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail. Jail records indicate Piccolino has been released from the jail.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.