A DeKalb man and a Naperville woman allegedly broke into a Naperville home Monday afternoon, pepper-spraying the resident and killing his three-year-old dog.
According to police, at approximately 1:15pm Monday, DuPage County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 30W000 block of Capistrano Court for a reported home invasion. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the resident had allegedly been pepper sprayed inside his apartment and that his three-year-old dog had been fatally shot during the incident.
A subsequent investigation idenitifed Bridges and Smith as suspects believed to have been involved in the incident.
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged the defendants with Home Invasion – Causing Injury (a Class X Felony); Home Invasion While Armed with a Firearm (a Class X Felony); Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (a Class 4 Felony); and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – No FOID Card (a Class 4 Felony).
The case remains an active criminal prosecution.
“The level of cruelty alleged in this case is heartbreaking and extremely disturbing,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “The unprovoked attack on the victim and subsequent shooting of his defenseless companion, as alleged against the defendants, shows a disturbing level of cruelty and disregard for both human and animal life and a shocking willingness to cause physical and emotional pain to others.
“In DuPage County we have zero tolerance for the type of behavior alleged in this case and we will prosecute the defendants to the fullest extent of the law. While it is a tragedy that the victim’s dog is no longer with him, we are all very thankful that the victim in this case was not more seriously injured.”
