A 34-year-old man has been booked on suspicion of kicking a small dog in an incident seen on video, prompting police to ask for the public’s help in finding the dog.
Joseph Michael Sanders was arrested about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Jon McClintock said.
McClintock thanked the public for tips, and added that police were still looking for the dog. If anyone knows where the dog is they were asked to call police at 714-765-1900.
Sanders has a lengthy criminal record, according to court records.
In his most recent case he pleaded guilty in February 2023 to carrying a loaded unregistered gun in public, a felony, and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Sanders was placed on two years of formal probation and sentenced to 45 days in jail and sentenced to 60 days in jail in June 2023 for violating probation and another 90 days in jail in February 2024 for another probation violation, according to court records.
In a probation violation petition filed in September, officials said the transient had failed to report to the probation department.
Sanders has a lengthy history for arrest and convictions for burglary, vandalism, receiving stolen property, robbery, and domestic violence, probation officials reported.
Sanders allegedly kicked the dog April 7 near Brookhurst Street and the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, police said.