Woman charged as downtown dog stomper

Boston Police report arresting a woman they say punched and kicked a dog - and smashed it with a glass bottle - on Tremont Street Tuesday night.

Police say officers were on routine patrol in the Common shortly before 8:40 p.m. when they heard a dog crying on the other side of Tremont Street, around the corner from Winter Street.

Officers were then advised by a passerby that a woman was beating a dog in the area of 131 Tremont Street.

As officers approached the suspect, they observed the suspect kick the dog. Officers were able to quickly separate the suspect from the dog, and moved the dog to a safe location as there was broken glass and unknown liquid on the ground.

Police say witnesses told officers they saw Jasmine Velasquez, 26, "strike the dog multiple times" with her fists and a bottle.

Velasquez was charged with animal cruelty. A city Animal Control officer arrived to take the dog to the city shelter in Roslindale, police say.

Innocent, etc.