According to Tonya Borman with the Virginia Beach Police Department, officers found a severely wounded puppy when they were called to the 700 block of Hampshire Lane around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The 15-week-old male Boxer puppy was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment. Borman said due to the severity of injuries, the puppy was euthanized.
"He was like, the first good responsibility that I had for my life," said the dog's owner, Cedrick Alston. "I was doing pretty good. But then for this to happen, I just feel like a complete failure."
The City’s Veterinarian performed a necropsy, which revealed the puppy had severe skull fractures.
Investigators determined the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Dionisio Vicente Salazar, went into a nearby apartment that was not his own and took the puppy. Borman said Salazar was seen running into the street with the puppy and slamming it into the asphalt.
Alston says Salazar was his neighbor off Hampshire Lane. They knew each other and Salazar had even greeted Alston and his dog before. Alston says he has no idea what got into Salazar on Wednesday.
He says his roommate and neighbors saw the suspect before the beating happened.
"He was pacing up and down the street and sweating bullets, going crazy yelling at dogs," explained Alston.
Witnesses say Salazar ran into Alston's apartment and grabbed the puppy, named Ace. Alston's neighbors noticed the dog was bleeding.
"They tried to get the dog, but they couldn't because he was strong and he was fast," Alston recalls what his neighbors say happened next. "He dropped him down half a flight of stairs. Went outside and threw my dog against the asphalt."
Salazar was charged with breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony, larceny of an animal, and cruelty to animals. Police said additional charges may be forthcoming.
(WAVY - October 25, 2013)
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