A 75-year-old Anaheim resident has been arrested in Santa Ana on charges of animal cruelty and abandonment after allegedly using her vehicle to intentionally run over and kill a 9-month-old puppy.
Arrest and Charges in Santa Ana
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, Santa Ana dog cruelty suspect Han Nguyen was taken into custody on the morning of the 1st and booked into the Santa Ana jail. The incident occurred on August 8 in the 900 block of West Park Lane, where a male black-and-white pit bull mix named ‘Blackie’ was found dead after being struck by a vehicle.
Surveillance Footage and Investigation
Surveillance video reviewed by police showed a woman taking the dog out of a minivan, placing it underneath the vehicle, and leaving food on the driver’s side. When the puppy approached the food, the vehicle moved forward slowly, striking Blackie with the left rear tire. The car remained stopped on top of the dog for about 15 seconds before leaving the scene.
Initially, the license plate was unidentifiable, prompting police to release the footage on the 30th to seek public assistance. However, investigators utilized automated license plate reader technology to identify the suspect vehicle, tracing it to an Anaheim address where Nguyen was apprehended. Police also recovered a vehicle in her garage believed to have been used in the crime. Authorities stated that Nguyen admitted to being Blackie’s owner and abandoning the animal.
