- An argument broke out at a gas station in Deltona, Florida over how a man treated his dog
- Julio Rivera, 31, was jailed for the treatment of his dog and several other acts of violence
A Florida man is currently behind bars after a crowd said he allegedly hit a dog in broad daylight.
Julio Rivera, 31, faces a handful of charges that include animal cruelty, child abuse, assault and resisting police.
Animal lover Raymon Prush says he saw the violent incident unfold after the dog, who was walking with her owner, “turned her head to smell a tire,” prompting the owner to drag the dog and “punching him in the face.” the chain.'
“What I saw yesterday was ridiculous,” Prush said during an interview with local NBC affiliate WESH2.
When Prush saw what was happening on the side of the road, he said he drove his car to a nearby gas station and confronted Rivera about hitting the animal with a metal chain.
Julio Rivera (center) struggles with a good Samaritan who intervened to stop the alleged abuse of his dog
The couple shouted as the situation escalated.
“Then he started to whine [whipping] “The dog several times,” Prush said.
Rivera is said to have whipped the dog “until the chain broke.”
“When that happened, the dog got behind me,” he continued.
According to Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the suspect then punched Prush in the face and also harassed several other witnesses who had gathered around the gas station.
Chitwood said that after Prush was hit, “a 13-year-old then intervened.”
“He (Rivera) lashes out and tries to hit the 13-year-old.” And then another couple manages to get the dog away from him and get him into their vehicle. Then he attacks this couple too.'
In a clip of the harrowing encounter, Prush is seen apparently grabbing Rivera and putting him in a “hold” to prevent him from snapping the dog back.
A witness documented in the police report said of Rivera, “This man should never own or be near an animal.”
Prush said as the confrontation escalated, the dog “ran away in fear.”
“But she – I don't know how many times she received these beatings.” It was as if she didn't fight back. “She just conceived,” he added.
The dog was reportedly injured but will recover.
The puppy (center) reportedly ran away in fear after the confrontation between his allegedly abusive owner and several bystanders ended
A bloodied Rivera refused to listen to an officer who arrived on the scene after help was called
Raymon Prush, an animal lover, said he drove his car to a nearby gas station and confronted Rivera about hitting his dog with a metal chain
As of Friday, Rivera was in jail on $51,000 bail
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Rivera has had multiple run-ins with the law – for domestic violence and assault
Chitwood said Rivera has had several run-ins with the law.
“This guy has an anger problem,” he said.
“And you know, I'm very, very proud of the residents of Deltona for seeing what happened.” I mean, when I was 13, I knew we had to do something here where this dog could end up dead .'
Rivera has previous domestic violence and battery charges.
As of Friday, he was being held in the Volusia County Jail on a $51,000 bond.