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Authorities: Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Dog Forced From Car On Garden State Parkway

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Authorities in New Jersey have accused a Connecticut man of forcing a dog out of a moving vehicle on the Garden State Parkway, resulting in its death.

Timothy Yowell, 65, of Bristol, was charged with third-degree animal cruelty, authorities said. He was released on a summons to return to court on a later date.

The Union County Prosecutor's Office said Yowell was driving on the parkway in Clark on Sept. 11 when the dog was forced from the car. The rear of Yowell's car hit the dog before it was fatally struck by a second vehicle, prosecutors said.

Assistant Prosecutor Jill O'Malley said Yowell did not stop and left the area. A tag was recovered indicating that the dog belonged to Yowell, authorities said.

The incident marks the first time a third-degree animal cruelty charge has been filed in Union County since "Patrick's Law" was signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie last year, authorities said.

The law, which stiffened penalties and increased fines for incidents of animal abuse, was named for a pit bull that was found starving in a Newark trash chute in 2011.

A conviction carries a prison sentence of 3 to 5 years.

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