Two Jamestown residents are facing animal cruelty and child endangerment charges following a domestic incident at a residence on the city's west side. Jamestown Police responded to the scene at about 3:30 PM Friday to assist the city's Department of Development and discovered a three-year-old child living in deplorable and hazardous conditions. Officers also found three dogs that appeared malnourished and were being kept without accessible food or water. According to police, Animal Control removed the dogs from the residence, and arrangements were made to ensure the child's safety. 32-year-old Amber Peru and 33-year-old David Burkhart III were each charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance) under New York Ag & Markets Law. Officers also charged Burkhart with one count of 7th-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both suspects were transported to the Jamestown City Jail and held pending arraignment.
