Brookhaven police arrested 19-year-old Twitch streamer Aspen Easterling, known online as Aspen Kartier, on Friday after disturbing videos circulating online appeared to show her mistreating her puppy during a live broadcast. The footage spread rapidly across social media, prompting outrage and calls for police action.
According to the Brookhaven Police Department, officers received numerous complaints about videos that allegedly showed Easterling striking a three-month-old Maltipoo while streaming on Twitch. Investigators traced the incident to a home in the 1000 block of Town Boulevard, where officers conducted a search around 9:35 p.m.
Police said the dog appeared to be in good health at the time of the search. Still, Easterling was arrested and booked into the DeKalb County Jail on animal cruelty charges. DeKalb County Animal Control has since taken custody of the puppy, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether the dog will be permanently removed from her care.
The video at the center of the controversy has been described by police as showing Easterling hitting the puppy multiple times and grabbing it by the neck. The footage, which reportedly garnered millions of views, sparked widespread backlash online, particularly among viewers shocked that the incident unfolded live on a public platform.
Twitch moved quickly in response. Easterling’s channel is currently unavailable for violating community guidelines, and reports indicate she has been banned from the platform until March 15, 2026.
PETA also entered the conversation. The animal rights organization publicly stated that it played a role in alerting Brookhaven police after the video crossed its desk. According to PETA, once the footage began circulating widely, the group contacted authorities to help facilitate an investigation.
Easterling has since addressed the allegations on stream, denying that she beat the dog and pushing back against the narrative online. Her response, however, has done little to slow the criticism. For many viewers, the visual evidence was enough to raise serious concerns about the puppy’s safety, regardless of her explanation.
As of now, the investigation is ongoing. While police noted that the dog did not appear visibly injured, authorities have not disclosed whether further examinations revealed harm.
