East Orange health director charged with animal cruelty

The director of the East Orange Department of Health and Human Services has been charged with animal cruelty, according to a statement by the NJ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Law Enforcement Division.

Following an inspection of the East Orange animal shelter, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Rochelle Evans was charged with 44 counts of animal cruelty--22 criminal and 22 civil--for failure to provide water to 18 dogs and 4 cats.

According to her Linkedin profile, Evans has worked in for the health department since 2003 and said she is responsible for its "day to day operations."

The charges were filed in East Orange Municipal Court.