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A grand jury indicted 23-year-old Jahlil McNeal on several counts of animal cruelty, witness tampering, and theft of services, the Atlantic City Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The indictment was handed down on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Investigators said McNeal hoisted three pit bull mixes over the fence of the Humane Society of Atlantic County, located off Route 30. Security cameras caught the incident while the charity was closed in the middle of the night on Monday, Apr. 8.
A few months later, the cameras captured McNeal tossing another dog named Brenda over the same fence on Monday, July 15. The footage showed Brenda falling and rolling onto her side after the drop.
When the Humane Society staff arrived the next morning, they found Brenda with severe scars from what appeared to be chemical or heat burns across her back. Brenda immediately got treatment but her injuries were significant and left permanent scarring.
The Humane Society posted the security video online, asking for help recognizing the person responsible. Community tips led to police identifying McNeal as the suspect.
Two Atlantic City police officers stopped McNeal on the 1100 block of Baltic Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 10. He was arrested and held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
McNeal was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty—one for each of the four dogs he abandoned, according to prosecutors. He also faced charges for failing to get Brenda the veterinary care she needed and for tampering with witnesses in the case.
Anyone with information about animal cruelty should call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or submit an anonymous tip online at ACPO.tips.
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