Kamal Ghorui
Brookhaven police officers are receiving national recognition after stepping in to protect a young puppy and arrest a popular Twitch streamer accused of animal cruelty. The case began when alarming clips circulated online in late January, prompting viewers to alert authorities. What started as outrage on social media quickly turned into a criminal investigation, placing both law enforcement and animal welfare groups at the center of a fast-moving story.Aspen Easterling, a 19-year-old female streamer, AspenKartier, had amassed a large fanbase of over 70,000 Twitch followers and over 100,000 YouTube subscribers. But her online presence took a sharp turn after viewers reported hearing disturbing sounds during a livestream. The situation escalated when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals submitted evidence to police, leading to a search warrant and an arrest.
Animal cruelty case against AspenKartier results in award for responding officers
According to authorities, officers executed a warrant at Easterling’s Georgia residence on January 30 after reviewing the submitted footage. The streamer was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Her three month old Maltipoo puppy was removed from the home and placed in the care of DeKalb County Animal Services. Jail records show she bonded out the following day.PETA has since announced it will present the Brookhaven Police Department with a Compassionate Police Department Award, praising officers for what it called swift and professional action. The organization is also sending vegan chocolates along with the framed certificate.“If someone is willing to repeatedly hit a crying puppy on the global stage of a livestream, there’s no telling what might happen when the cameras are off,” PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk said.“PETA is grateful to the Brookhaven Police Department for enforcing the state’s anti-cruelty law and reminds everyone never to be silent if they see or suspect abuse, as one phone call can make all the difference in a vulnerable being’s life.”The case adds to a growing list of incidents involving online creators and alleged animal abuse, underscoring the real world consequences of actions broadcast to a global audience.
