TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Deputies Say Gang Member Abused Animals

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 9, 2007

TAMPA - A Latin Kings gang member failed to provide proper shelter to several dogs and birds, causing them to live in their own waste, investigators say.

Carlos Ruben Rodriguez, 24, of Tampa, was arrested Monday.

Carlos Rodriguez

Investigators from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Hillsborough County Animal Services entered his home on a search warrant. Four dogs were found living in their own waste, and two birds were living in a cage overflowing with waste, an arrest affidavit shows.

Investigators discovered two dogs confined in a cage with excess fecal matter, and "a deceased opossum was rotting in the dogs water bowl, infested with maggots and blowflies," the affidavit states. "These two dogs displayed open and infected wounds from fighting over food provided on an inconsistent basis."

A brown pit bull named Sasha was emaciated, according to the affidavit.

Rodriguez faces two felony counts of animal cruelty and eight misdemeanor counts of confining animals without food and water.

He also was charged with a felony count of trafficking cocaine after investigators discovered 28.2 grams of powder cocaine packaged for sale, the affidavit states.

Rodriguez remains in Orient Road Jail with no bail set.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691. Follow crime throughout the day at Keyword: Crime Blog.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT