Police: Man Confesses He Beat Dog To Death Because It Vomited In His Car
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Beach Police Department has made an arrest in the fatal beating of a dog.
Sigman Hernandez was transported to Miami-Dade County Jail after he confessed to Miami Beach police to slapping and choking his Yorkie for vomiting in his car.
Hernandez turned himself in less than 24 hours after security video from the night of the crime was released.
It captured him on April 7th as he took something out of his car, put it by a column on the second floor parking lot of a Publix on Miami Beach.
An employee stumbled upon the tiny, tortured Yorkie, who police named "Lily."
Officers used a thick piece of cardboard to stabilize the Yorkie and transport it to the Doral Centre Animal Hospital Emergency and Trauma Center.
An X-ray revealed Lily had several broken ribs and significant swelling in her neck.
The veterinary staff also noted that Lily had bloodshot red eyes, which in conjunction with the neck swelling, was a strong indication she may have been strangled.
"She never regained consciousness. We helped control her pain, tried to keep her stable," Dr. Joy Carter said
But the eight-pound Yorkie was so badly abused she didn't make it.
The search was on for the pup's murderer.
A coworker recognized the delivery sign on top of his car and called the dispatcher.
"I call my boss, 'Look this is the guy in the video.' He called the pizza place, take all the information, he called the police," said Marielle Delarosa of Bros Delivery.
She said Hernandez worked for them as a delivery driver for about three months.
Hernandez has been arrested before on grand theft and possession charges.
He now faces animal cruelty and abandonment charges.
"It's crazy. My dogs are my children. I can't even imagine anyone doing that," said Tiffany Carlin, a dog owner.
"It's unbelievable that someone is that weak and small that they can hurt something so small," dog owner Dino Spencer added. "It's unbelievable to me."