Hard-to-watch surveillance footage shows a Miami delivery driver flinging his elderly German shepherd from the back of a box truck and leaving the animal on a busy Pembroke Pines roadway on Wednesday morning, according to police.
The incident unfolded on the 10300 block of Pines Boulevard, where the dog was dumped and left behind. Officers later found the German shepherd, rescued the animal and brought it to county animal care for a medical evaluation. The driver, identified by police as 60-year-old Humberto Exposito, was subsequently arrested on animal-cruelty charges.
The video, recorded around 6:15 a.m., shows Exposito wrapping up a delivery to a Sedanos supermarket, then tossing the dog several feet onto the pavement before walking back to his truck and driving off, according to the Miami Herald. Pembroke Pines police say officers later tracked Exposito down and arrested him; he faces counts that include aggravated animal cruelty, abandonment and confinement of an animal without sufficient air exchange.
Police: Exposito “Made No Effort to Help the Dog”
In a statement, Pembroke Pines police said that “Exposito returned to the truck after completing the delivery as the dog remained immobile on the ground,” adding that he “made no effort to help the dog” before leaving the scene.
According to the department, the elderly German shepherd was malnourished, had severely matted hair and appeared to suffer from advanced hip dysplasia. The dog is currently receiving treatment at Broward County Animal Care, per the Miami Herald.
What the Charges Mean
Under Florida law, aggravated animal cruelty is treated as a serious crime. Chapter 828 of the state code outlines aggravated cruelty and related offenses, and a conviction on an aggravated-animal-cruelty felony can bring prison time and financial penalties. Sentencing guidelines in Chapter 775 set the potential punishment for a third-degree felony at up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, according to the Florida Senate and the Florida Senate. Confinement or abandonment of an animal is addressed under the same chapter and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances.
Local Context
Pembroke Pines police and local rescue groups say quick tips from residents often make or break these cases. Earlier this year, officers pulled three malnourished puppies from squalid conditions and, working with foster families, helped place them in homes, a case detailed by Pembroke Pines News. Animal-welfare advocates say that kind of fast reporting, followed by immediate veterinary care, is frequently the difference between life and death for neglected animals.
Anyone with information about the Pembroke Pines incident is asked to contact the Pembroke Pines Police Department at 954-431-2200 or email [email protected]. Residents can also reach out to Broward Crime Stoppers.
