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Some Neighbors Defend Franklin Square Man Accused Of Tossing Neighbor's Dog Into Street

FRANKLIN SQUARE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some neighbors are sticking up for a Long Island man accused of throwing a dog into the street over the weekend.

1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports: Neighborhood Divided In Dog Tossing Case

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Barbara Bottiglieri, 54, was walking her miniature Dachshund, named Coco, Saturday afternoon on Robin Road in Franklin Square when her neighbor, Jamie Sanchez, 56, approached her and accused the dog of using his lawn as a toilet.

Jamie Sanchez
Jamie Sanchez (credit: Police Handout)

Police said Sanchez threatened to let his dog loose on Bottiglieri and her 1-year-old dog if she walked Coco on his property.

After Bottiglieri threatened to call police, Sanchez grabbed Coco's leash and flung the dog six feet into the air and 10 feet into the middle of the street, police said. Coco sustained injuries to her tail and ruptured stitches from a recent surgery.

"This man threw my dog for no reason. He took it out on a 10-pound dog," Bottiglieri told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera. She denies that Coco relieved itself on Sanchez's property.

At least two neighbors told Rivera that Bottiglieri has been told before by many in the area to keep Coco off their lawns.

"The dog does go all over the place," one woman said. "She walks the dog on our property, on the grass and he's [Sanchez] not the bad guy here."

"The woman was told not to walk the dog in front of a lot of the houses in the neighborhood," one man said. "The woman walks the dog and she actually smokes a cigarette and lets the dog do whatever it wants."

Sanchez was arrested and pleaded not guilty Sunday to charges of overdriving, torturing animals and reckless endangerment to property. He is due back in court on Wednesday.

Coco was taken to her veterinarian for treatment.

 Who is to blame? Sound off below

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