POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 21-year-old Haines City man is facing animal cruelty charges after brutally stabbing to death two Chihuahua-Mix Dogs.
The Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Haines City Police Department on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in relation to a reported case of animal cruelty. A PCSO investigator spoke with a number of witnesses in the Hidden Lake Preserve community of Haines City who reported hearing dogs bark and observing 21-year-old Haines City resident Angel Enrrique Burgos bringing a small dog to a pond and repeatedly hitting the dog in the neighborhood.
Burgos threw the dog toward the water, according to a witness. Later on, the witness discovered the dead dog by the pond.
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The PCSO detective recovered surveillance footage from several residents. The footage showed Burgos carrying two dogs toward a pond; the dogs were loudly yelping in the process. Both dogs were discovered deceased at the pond.
WARNING: The video below contains graphic scenes. It may be disturbing.
Detectives recovered multiple items that Burgos had placed into outside trash bins. Located inside the trash bins were a pair of black with white lettering slides with a red substance, a pair of light-colored socks with a red substance, light-colored blue shorts with a red substance, a black-handled knife with a red substance and light-colored hair, and a light gray T-shirt with a red substance.
The two dogs were collected by deputies and sent to Veterinarian Doctor Centonze for a Necropsy. Doctor Centonze advised the first dog (Lincoln), a Chihuahua mix type male, had approximately 14 puncture wounds consistent with a sharp object. Doctor Centonze stated Lincoln died from internal bleeding in the chest area, which caused the dog to suffocate and drown in his own blood. Doctor Centonze advised this was a painful, horrible death.
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Doctor Centonze advised the second dog (Casper) a Chihuahua mix type male had approximately 7 puncture wounds consistent with a sharp object. Doctor Centonze stated Casper died from internal bleeding in the chest area, which caused the dog to suffocate and drown on his own blood. Doctor Centonze advised this was a painful, horrible death.
Based on the detective’s investigation, it was determined that the suspect knowingly, willingly, and unlawfully used a sharp object to stab repeatedly approximately 14 puncture wounds into Lincoln. This action caused great pain and suffering.
This led to a cruel death by bleeding internally in the chest area, which caused the dog to suffocate and drown in his own blood. The suspect knowingly, willingly, and unlawfully utilized a sharp object to repeatedly utilized a sharp object to stab approximately seven puncture wounds into Casper.
This led to a cruel death by bleeding internally in the chest area, which caused Casper to suffocate and drown in his own blood.
The investigation determined that Burgos attempted to conceal the incident by discarding clothing items and a knife inside trash bins.
Burgos then proceeded to use a water hose and brush to clean the driveway to hide evidence of the incident. Burgos did attempt to alter, destroy, conceal, and remove evidence located in the driveway area to prevent proper investigation.
“Burgos did improperly discard the two dogs he stabbed to death in a place where a beast or bird could devour such carcasses. The suspect did not bury at least two feet below ground or burn. The suspect did illegally dump the two dogs onto property owned by Hidden Lake Preserve,” said PCSO.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center by Haines City Police Department. He has been charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty, tampering with evidence, two counts of improper disposal of deceased animals, and two counts of illegal dumping.
Burgos has two prior arrest for battery.
“This behavior on Burgos’ part is disgusting. He caused the pain, suffering and death of two dogs for which he had a moral responsibility to nurture and provide care. Human depravity like this still shocks me. There is no excuse,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
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