I looked up Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services and animal control is part of the department. The guy may have had authority but he seems to have jumped the gun. If the dog was fine and the woman was only in the store for a few minutes there simply isn't any abuse to be arrested for.
I think he just happened on a situation that gave him a chance to be a control freak with a badge.
I looked up the State site cause the article indicated he was a State officer. I still think there is something very not right in how he approached the woman and handled the situation. I do not blame her for being very frightened, I would have been too.