COOK COUNTY, IL – A man who dragged a small dog behind his vehicle has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
At approximately 8 p.m. on Aug. 1, Sheriff’s Police officers stopped a silver pickup truck being driven by 34-year-old Vianey Madrid-Segura in the 1300 block of Seeley Avenue in Ford Heights after they saw a small dog being dragged behind it. After stopping the vehicle, officers saw that a 5-year-old black and brown female Yorkie was tied to the pickup’s hitch and was bleeding heavily.
Officers rendered aid to the dog on scene and then transported her to an animal hospital for medical treatment. She was released on Aug. 2 to her owner, who is a relative of Madrid-Segura.
Officers issued a citation to Madrid-Segura for driving without a license and contacted the Sheriff’s Police Animal Crimes Unit to continue the investigation.
Investigators learned Madrid-Segura, of Ford Heights, tied the dog to the back of the truck to let it use the bathroom and later drove off with the dog still tied. The dog sustained extensive and severe wounds to her body, including trauma to all four paws and debris in her abdomen, which require ongoing treatment.
On Aug. 6, Madrid-Segura was taken into custody and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office charged him with aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class 4 felony. He was cited and released, pending his initial court appearance.
Madrid-Segura appeared today at the Markham Courthouse where a petition for pre-trial detention was denied.
The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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