‘Puppy Doe’ Suspect Wanted For New Bedford Church Thefts

The man who is now being held on half-a-million dollars bail for allegedly torturing a female pit bull, is also suspected of stealing checks from St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford last year.    Radoslaw Czerkawski is accused of stealing checks totaling $6,700 and chasing them by using a stamp in the name of the church's pastor.  Czerkawski was living in the parish's rectory at the time.

The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 11 charges of animal cruelty in Quincy District Court.   He's charged with brutally torturing the young pit bull, then leaving the dog for dead in a Quincy playground last August.   The dog had to be euthanized.

Czerkawski is said to have lived at the St. Lawrence rectory in New Bedford from January until April of 2012.  He was allowed to live there by the pastor without the diocese's permission.   Rev. Marek Chmurski has since been reassigned.