DERBY — A couple police described as recently homeless were arrested Friday in connection to the shooting of a dog in Coon Hollow Park.
According to a written statement from police, 28-year-old Stranja Perrin called police at about 2 a.m. Friday to report an injured dog in Coon Hollow Park, a small picnic grove off Nutmeg Avenue. Police said Perrin was in a car with 27-year-old Anthony Singletary and Perrin’s two young children.
Police said the dog, a male German Shepherd, was shot at least twice, including in the leg. The dog is expected to survive but needed surgery to remove a bullet from his leg. On Facebook, the Shelton Animal Shelter posted a link to this “GoFundMe” to help with the animal’s medical bills.
As the Friday progressed, so did the investigation, which included information from the public.
Police believe, based in part on information culled from multiple sources, that Perrin, Singletary, and the children were living out of the vehicle, along with the dog, which belonged to them.
Police said video surveillance shows Perrin’s vehicle in the area of the park more than an hour before reporting the injured dog.
Police said ten 9mm shell casings were found at the scene — and that Perrin was later found to be in possession of two 9mm handguns, which she possessed legally.
“The ammunition was consistent with the casings recovered at the scene,” police said.
Police said Singletary is a convicted felon but that neither he nor Perrin have prior animal cruelty charges.
Police are not sure why either of the pair allegedly shot the dog.
Perrin is charged with conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of a firearm, conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment in the first degree, and two counts of risk of injury to a child. She is being held on $100,000 bond and is due in court April 7, 2022.
Singletary is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of a firearm, conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment in the first degree, and two counts of risk of injury to a child. He is being held on a $150,000 bond and is due in court April 7.
Families experiencing homeless can try searching the state’s 211 information site.
The 211 system is available by phone:
“To begin this process households must call 2 – 1‑1 and dial #3 and #1 to speak to a contact specialist trained to assess for individual and family needs to prevent the need for emergency shelter,” according to the state’s webpage on emergency shelters.
The Spooner House in Shelton has some shelter for families. Click here for the website.
The phone number is (203) 225‑0453.
