Crime & Safety
[Updated] Justice For Desmond Demonstrators Plan June 5 Return
The suspect, accused of choking his dog to death, had his case continued to June 5. Demonstrators who followed the man to his car say they plan to gather again.
Dressed in a blue work shirt and khaki pants, Branford resident Alex Wullaert did not speak at all - either during his brief stand in front of a judge at New Haven Superior Court, or on the long walk back to his car, tailed by a crowd of protestors.
Wullaert, 22, is accused of strangling Desmond, a pit bull/boxer mix he adopted from the New Haven Animal Shelter, and dumping the animal's body in the woods. He was arrested last week following an investigation that spanned months and included officers from State Animal Control and officers from the Madison and .
"Shelter mom" Micah Rapini was one of about two dozen protesters who waited on the courthouse steps to greet Wullaert.
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"We loved him," she said about Desmond. Rapini said she spent countless hours playing with the dog and caring for him at the shelter.
"When he was adopted, we were so happy he'd found a home. Then we found out ... We found out what had happened to him."
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Rapini publicized the protest through Facebook, drawing participants from as far as Boston. The group waited for Wullaert on the steps for two hours before his arraignment, but saw no sign of him. After he left, they trailed him from the courthouse to a parking garage more than eight blocks away. Some yelled "Dog killer," or "Why did you do it?", but most were silent, including Rapini, who walked side-by-side with Wullaert most of the way.
Wullaert is represented by New Haven criminal attorney Richard P. Silverstein. Silverstein declined to comment.
In his only public statement before the arraignment, Wullaert asked the press to clarify reports that the dog "peed on him."
"All I want to say about the press coverage is that he bit me. He latched on to me. I have a little girl. She felt threatened." He declined further comment.
Rapini said the protesters will return June 5 in greater numbers. But she hopes those participating won't heckle or directly confront Wullaert.
"We want to keep it positive and peaceful," she said. "This is for Desmond."
