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Treatment of reptiles sparks fight at market
A 24-year-old Cheektowaga man was punched in the face by a vendor at the Walden Avenue Super Flea after the victim voiced his concern that some of the vendor's reptiles appeared to have been abused.
Joseph S. Kowal, 34, of Trent Square, was charged with second degree harassment following the June 2 incident, reported at 11:30 a.m.
The victim told police that he told Kowal that he felt some of the reptiles appeared to be maltreated.
"There was something that this guy saw as being wrong with the reptiles," said Cheektowaga Police Captain John Glascott. "He talked to (Kowal) about it, and they got into an argument."
Kowal then reportedly punched the victim in the face.
Cheektowaga police contacted SPCA officials, and an SPCA officer confiscated four reptiles, after agreeing that they were not being properly cared for.
"The flea market is not a good place at all to purchase livestock," said Glascott. "You shouldn't be going there to buy reptiles, puppies or cats. It's not a pet store; you don't know who these vendors are or how these animals are brought in."
Glascott said he was not sure what species of reptiles were being sold by Kowal.
There is no indication on the Cheektowaga police report that Kowal was charged under the state's agriculture and marketing act, which falls under the SPCA's jurisdiction.
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