Police File Animal Cruelty Complaint Against Psychologist Elaine Rosa

February 7, 2019

The Bakersfield Police Department said it has completed its investigation into the report of animal cruelty regarding the dog dragged by a Bird scooter.

A criminal complaint was submitted to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday against Elaine Rosa, 39, of Bakersfield, on allegations of animal cruelty, according to a news release from BPD.

On Jan. 6, around 3 p.m. officers from BPD and its Animal Control responded to a report of animal cruelty in the 2100 block of Pine Street.

Officers spoke to witnesses who said they saw a woman riding an electric Bird scooter with a small dog being dragged behind it.

Witnesses said the stopped the woman, but the dog had already sustained visible injuries.

Bird scooters learned about the incident and canceled the woman's account.

Officers went to an apartment in the 2200 block of 24th Street where they thought the woman had entered. No one replied to repeated attempts to get someone to come to the door.

At that point, officers were unable to verify that an animal had been injured and cleared the scene.

On Jan. 7, officers continued the investigation and talked to and identify everyone involved.

They interviewed Rosa, and released her pending further investigation.

The dog was found with its legal owner, who had taken it to a veterinarian within two hours of the original incident. Investigators confirmed that the dog was under medical care and permitted the dog to stay with its owner.

BPD is withholding the names of the other involved parties because this is an ongoing criminal investigation.

Source: “BPD submits criminal complaint of animal abuse to DA's office in dog dragging case,” Bakersfield Now, January 16, 2019, URL: https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/bpd-submits-criminal-complaint-of-animal-abuse-to-das-office-in-dog-dragging-case