Levittown, NY - December 24, 2016 - Second Squad detectives report the arrest of a Levittown man for an incident that occurred on Friday, December 23, 2016 at 2:45 pm in Levittown.

According to detectives, Michael Gallagher, 56, of Levittown, while on his front lawn, was observed by a neighbor attempting to strangle and suffocate his Shepard mix dog by placing a plastic “zip tie” around the dog’s neck and placing him in garbage bag. He was then observed striking the bag with a shovel. After confronting Gallagher, he then left the scene on foot. The neighbor then opened the bag, cut the “zip tie” from the dog’s neck and observed that the animal had suffered a severe laceration to its head. The dog was then taken to the Levittown Animal Hospital where it was euthanized.

Gallagher was located at a nearby 7 Eleven at 10:30 pm where he was placed under arrest without further incident. SPCA was notified, responded and assisted with the arrest processing. Gallagher is charged with Agriculture & Markets Law: Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and Torturing or Injuring Animals/Failure to Provide Sustenance. He will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on 12/24/2016.