Former Deputy Charged with Animal Cruelty

BRADENTON — On Thursday, State Attorney Ed Brodsky announced that his office would charge Nicholas Anthony Zotto with animal cruelty, classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. The charge stems from video evidence depicting animal cruelty to a dog.

Zotto had been a deputy with the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office but the office announced on Wednesday that he had been terminated for engaging in "concerning behavior" while off duty. He had previously worked for the Bradenton Police Department as well.

The charges followed a comprehensive joint investigation by the Manatee County Animal Services, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office. Brodsky's office said the investigation was initiated in response to multiple inquiries from concerned citizens following video depictions being released on social media.

Brodsky said the investigative findings were turned over to his office on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, prompting the subsequent legal actions. Manatee County Animal Services has also cited Zotto with civil violations of county ordinances concerning his operation of a Palmetto-based business called "Pawsome Sitters."

A video that appears to have been taken by the business's own security cameras went viral online this week as part of the petition campaign "Justice for Grizzly," which gained traction on Facebook, YouTube and change.org. It is unclear at this time how the video was obtained or who released it.

TBT reviewed the video (it has since been removed from YouTube), which shows a man chasing one of several dogs around an enclosed yard. Once the man catches the animal, he is seen repeatedly striking it with what appears to be a closed fist and significant force.

The Bradenton Times is currently investigating additional aspects of this story, and we expect to have a full investigative report in Sunday's edition.