Lake Elsinore man suspected of dragging, running over puppy

A 35-year-old Lake Elsinore man was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty Monday, days after witnesses said they saw a truck drag a puppy through the streets before fatally running over it.

Victor Perez-Guzman is suspected of killing the dog Friday night, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. About 11 p.m., several 911 callers reported seeing a dark Nissan pickup truck dragging a dog to a home Lake Elsinore before running it over.

Deputies arrived at the residence in the 2900 block of Rolando Road and found a dead 3-month-old puppy of unknown breed. Investigators couldn’t immediately identify the suspect, but their investigation during the weekend led them to Perez-Guzman, authorities said.

The truck was located Monday morning and Perez-Guzman was identified as the person who dragged and killed the dog. He was being held at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake Elsinore Police Department, which contracts with the Riverside County Sherriff’s Department, at (951) 245-3300, or by email at LakeElsinoreStation@RiversideSheriff.org.

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