Man Suspected of Beating Dog to Death is Arrested

A man accused of killing his Rottweiler by beating and dragging it in front of several witnesses has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty.

Christopher Gilbert Munoz, of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday after a two-hour standoff with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies. He was booked at West Valley Detention Center. His bail was set at $200,000.

About 4 p.m., a witness reported seeing a man, later identified as Munoz, viciously beating the dog at a park near Terra Vista Parkway and Langham Place, officials said. The caller was reportedly hysterical at the time.

Officials said Munoz kicked the dog in the abdomen and poured soda on it before dragging the bleeding and unconscious animal behind a bicycle. He then loaded the Rottweiler onto a stroller and took it into the nearby Terra Vista apartments, officials said.

Deputies were led to the apartment that Munoz was seen entering by witnesses who also told officials a young boy, about 9-years-old, was seen with the man.

Munoz refused to answer the door for deputies, but the dog could be seen through the rear sliding door convulsing on the kitchen floor, bleeding and evacuating its bowels, officials said.

The suspect ignored several calls and announcements over a PA system asking him to come out of the apartment, officials said. Deputies could see their suspect peering through vertical blinds from an upstairs window, officials said.

Detectives were in the process of preparing a search warrant when the suspect’s spouse arrived about 6 p.m. Some 17 minutes later, Munoz answered the phone and said he would allow the boy to come outside, but wanted animal control to help his dog.

Munoz walked outside of the residence about 6:25 p.m. and was taken into custody without struggle. The dog was immediately taken by animal control, but died less than an hour later, officials said.