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D.A.'s Office Puts Focus on Animal Cruelty Offenders

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The Southampton Animal Shelter

authorMichael Wright on Jan 8, 2025

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office has announced a new initiative to reinforce the application of animal cruelty laws, starting by tracking down previously charged offenders who have not shown up for court appearances — including a woman who stole a kitten from the Southampton Animal Shelter and then assaulted police officers trying to arrest her.

Tierney’s office announced “Operation Bloodhound” on Tuesday, which the D.A. described as his office’s effort to take its enforcement powers beyond “courtroom walls.”

“We will work to ensure that defendants who disregard court orders and court appearances are found and brought to justice,” Tierney said in a statement.

“It’s up to law enforcement to ensure defenseless animals who have no voice are protected,” Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring added.

Among the scofflaw cases that Tierney’s office spotlighted, is that of Sarojinni Narrainen, a Noyac resident who was arrested in August 2022 for attempting to steal a kitten from the Southampton Animal Shelter. When police were called and attempted to place Narrainen under arrest, she allegedly struggled with and attempted to kick the arresting officers — for which she was charged with an additional misdemeanor for resisting arrest.

Narrainen, the D.A.’s office said, has not appeared at mandatory court appearances. She was apprehended recently by Suffolk County Police officers working as part of Operation Bloodhound.

Her next scheduled court date is January 27.

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