MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police announced the arrest of a man Thursday who they said was caught on camera stealing three French bulldogs in southwest Miami-Dade.
According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Police Department, Nelson Steven Rodriguez, 26, of Miami, faces charges that include grand theft, animal cruelty and trespassing.
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Authorities responded to reports of three stolen animals on Feb. 29 at a home near the intersection of Southwest 256th Street and 109th Avenue in the county’s Princeton area.
According to investigators, Rodriguez and another male were seen on video surveillance arriving at the victim’s home in a black Toyota Sienna.
Moments later, Nelson Rodriguez was seen on surveillance video grabbing the three French bulldogs, one adult and two puppies and tossing the dogs over the fence, according to Angel Rodriguez, a detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department.
One of the dogs forcibly landed on a Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management bin and another dog landed on the ground, remaining still due to the impact, police said.
Nelson Rodriguez and the other male were seen on surveillance video picking up the distressed dogs and fleeing the area, according to detectives.
According to the report. detectives were able to identify one of the subjects as Nelson Rodriguez, who they say is the victim’s neighbor.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Police said tipsters can also remain anonymous and they may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.