SEYMOUR – A 33-year-old man who allegedly trashed his rental property and abandoned his cat in 2021 was arrested Jan. 10.
Nicholas Testani, of Bridgeport, is charged with first-degree criminal damage of a landlord’s property, a felony, and cruelty to animals. He is due in court in Derby on March 6.
Police allege Testani caused about $10,000 in damage to a single-family house he rented on Lane Street, and that he left his cat there after leaving the property.
Police started investigating after being contacted by Testani’s landlord.
The neighbor also told police they had not seen Testani in weeks, but they saw a cat in the window, who appeared to need medical attention.
Seymour Deputy Police Chief Michael Fappiano said the cat was left alone in the house to fend for itself for about three to four weeks.
The cat received veterinary care and has since been adopted, according to Fappiano.
According to an incident report, the house was filled with trash and animal feces, with more than 20 holes in the walls. The laminate floor was damaged and missing in spots, exposing the subfloor underneath.
Seymour police had a warrant for Testani issued in 2021. They caught up with him after he was charged by Bridgeport police in a separate case. Bridgeport police notified Seymour police.
Testani is out on a $25,000 bond pending a Jan. 23 court date in Derby.
Testani’s 36-year-old live-in girlfriend at the time of the incident was arrested by Seymour police in 2022 on the same charges.
However, there is no information available from the court about the case, which means charges could have been dropped or reduced. It could also mean she was sentenced to probation, complied with the terms of her probation, and saw charges expunged.