NEWARK — Honey Bey, a 2-year-old Shih Tzu, had just come to the defense of its owner, who had been threatened and assaulted by a Newark woman in a dispute over a parking space, authorities said.

Moments later, the woman, 25-year-old Haniyyah Barnes, grabbed Honey Bey by the throat, ran outside and threw the canine into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by a vehicle and killed, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said today.

Nearly a year after that Aug. 27, 2011, deadly encounter on Fabyan Place, an Essex County grand jury has indicted Barnes on third-degree animal cruelty, theft and criminal mischief and second degree burglary.

According to authorities, Barnes kicked in the door to the woman’s home that day before confronting her about the parking space. Honey Bey scurried into the room and barked at the defendant, who then grabbed the dog by the throat and ran outside with it, said Assistant Prosecutor Michele Miller, who is handling the case.

A Newark police officer patrolling in the area saw what happened and arrested Barnes, Miller said. Barnes is scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Newark on June 18.

The prosecutor’s office is still handling another case of animal cruelty from last year. In that incident, a Newark woman was charged with tossing her pit bull down a high-rise trash chute. That dog, found emaciated and near death, survived and was renamed Patrick.

Related coverage:

• Linden man charged with animal cruelty after dead squirrels found on property

• Retired N.J. teacher faces animal cruelty charges after 36 dead animals found in home

