CLEARLAKE OAKS — Deputies arrested a Clearlake Oaks man on charges of animal cruelty after discovering he allegedly beat his girlfriend”s dog to death with his bare hands.
Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) deputies were dispatched to a report of a woman screaming at about 9:15 a.m. Friday in the area of Shoreview Drive in Clearlake Oaks, LCSO Sgt. Steve Brooks stated in a press release Monday.
A deputy arrived in the area and reportedly heard a woman screaming, “Stop it! Don”t!”
The deputy found the home where the screaming was coming from in the 12000 block of Shoreview Drive, Brooks stated. When he knocked on the door, the screaming suddenly stopped. The deputy then continued to knock on the door and announced his presence several times, reportedly with no response from inside.
A second deputy arrived to assist and they forced entry into the home, Brooks stated. When they entered, they found Dennis Michael Hector, of Clearlake Oaks, and a 52-year-old woman. Both Hector and the woman were immediately detained.
Deputies noticed the woman had what appeared to be blood on both pant legs and asked her if she was injured, Brooks stated. She reportedly told deputies she was not injured and that the blood came from her dog, which was in a boat behind the house in the channel. Hector then allegedly admitted that he had killed the dog because it had killed his parakeet.
Deputies walked down to the dock and reportedly found the dog dead inside an aluminum boat, according to Brooks. Hector told deputies the woman lives with him at the residence and that he recently allowed her to bring the dog to the house. He added that he had warned her that if the dog bothered his bird he would take action against the dog.
Hector allegedly admitted to killing the dog with his fists and said he did not mean to do it, Brooks stated. He then reportedly said he thought it was acceptable to kill a dog if it killed another pet and that the woman gave him permission to kill her dog if it went after his bird.
The woman also allegedly told deputies Hector killed her dog, Brooks stated. She reportedly screamed at him to leave the dog alone, but she was unable to stop him from beating her dog. She said Hector was furious her dog killed his parakeet.
The woman denied ever telling Hector that it was OK to hurt her dog, according to Brooks. She explained that Hector allowed his bird to fly around freely inside the home.
The woman also reportedly said that Hector would not let her answer the door when the deputies were knocking and announcing their presence, according to Brooks.
After being asked why the dog was wet, the woman reportedly said that after Hector beat her dog to death, he threw the dog into the lake, Brooks stated. She told deputies that she retrieved her dog from the water and placed him inside the boat.
Hector was arrested on charges of maliciously and intentionally torturing and killing an animal, subjecting an animal to needless suffering or inflicting unnecessary cruelty, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and destroying or concealing evidence. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
He is in custody with bail set at $100,000.
