Florida: German Lara, 71, arrested after 12 dogs are found in hot van outside Walmart

FLORIDA -- A 911 caller reporting a man selling puppies in a Hollywood Walmart parking lot helped deputies rescue 12 canines from a “deplorable,” hot van, according to an arrest report.

The discovery on Sunday led to the arrest of German Lara, 71, of Hallandale Beach. He faces animal cruelty and other charges.

A deputy first arrived at the store in the 300 block of South State Road 7 shortly before 4 p.m. when the heat index was around 97 degrees, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office report.

The 911 caller said the van, taking up two spaces with its engine off, had been untouched since at least 11:30 a.m.

Dogs inside the van were heard “panting and barking in obvious distress,” with the smell of fecal matter coming from the vehicle, according to the report.

The inside of the van was a mess, so stuffed with garbage that the deputy couldn’t get in through the side or rear doors. Roaches were seen crawling on the dogs and no water or food was found inside the van, the deputy said. 

One of the animals was pregnant.

A short time later, Lara walked up with a shopping cart with dog food and said the van and dogs were his, according to the report.

The deputy arrested Lara, and Broward County Animal Control collected the dogs.

Authorities later found Lara had a court order to hand over nine of the dogs to the City of Hollywood, who would then give the dogs to Good Karma Pet Rescue.

It’s the third time Lara has faced animal cruelty charges for similar circumstances in Hollywood and Dania Beach, according to the report.

After being checked out at Memorial Regional Hospital South for a diabetes and heart condition, Lara was arrested and booked into Broward County Jail. He also faces a municipal violation charge for not giving the dogs a rabies vaccination, and charges of unlawful confinement/abandonment of an animal.

In setting bond, Broward Circuit Judge Steven P. Deluca ordered that if Lara is freed on bond he is not to have care, custody or control of any animals while his case is pending. Lara remained in Broward’s jail as of Thursday afternoon, on $14,400 bond.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: German Raymond Lara
Date:08/20/2017
Arresting Agency: HOLLYWOOD
Total Bond: $32,400
Personal Information
Arrest Age:71
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthdate: 11/03/1945
Height: 5'08"
Weight: 200 lbs
Hair Color: GRY
Eye Color: BRO
Location: Broward County, Florida
Charges
#1 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#2 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#3 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#4 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#5 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#6 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#7 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#8 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#9 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#10 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#11 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#12 CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING-ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.12-2
BOND: $2500

#13 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#14 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#15 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#16 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#17 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#18 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#19 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#20 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#21 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#22 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#23 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#24 UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: 828.13-2
BOND: $100

#25 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#26 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#27 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#28 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#29 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#30 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#31 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#32 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#33 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#34 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#35 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

#36 MUNICIPAL/CITY ORDINANCE
STATUTE: MUNICIPAL ORD
BOND: $100
NOTES: RABIES VACCINATION

(Sun Sentinel - August 23, 2017)