The hunt for a dog killer heated up Friday as “outraged” Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz announced rewards totaling $25,000 are being offered to help lead authorities to the minivan driver who beat the 10-pound pooch to death in Boyle Heights.
The Los Angeles City Council approved a $10,000 reward, and Koretz, who made the initial reward motion, said his council office will offer another $2,500.
These amounts match rewards announced this week by others. The groups People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Social Compassion in Legislation and Davey’s Voice — a Santa Barbara-based anti-animal cruelty organization — this week said it has put up $10,000. The groups also said Geezer Butler, a Black Sabbath band member, offered $2,500 after learning about the incident on social media.
The city’s $10,000 reward will go to anyone who provides information that helps authorities identify, arrest and convict the person responsible for the dogs death.
Koretz said he is “outraged that someone who would beat a small dog to death is still at large,” adding that someone who would do that is also capable of doing harm to others.
The killing took place around 1:30 p.m. on May 14 in the 1600 block of East First Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
A witness told police he saw a small dog jump out of a Dodge Caravan. The driver then got out of the minivan and chased down the dog. He then punched it multiple times and threw it down onto the sidewalk until the dog was dead. The man then got back into his van and took off.
The suspect was described as white, about 6-feet-2 and 280 pounds, with balding gray hair, between 50 and 60 years old. The witness also got a picture of the man’s van, which appeared to be a silver Dodge Caravan from 1996 through 2000 with an off-color bumper.
The dog was a light-colored Yorkshire Terrier, weighing about 10 pounds, according to Detective Alfredo Reyes of the LAPD’s animal cruelty task force.
Journalist and activist Jane Velez-Mitchell also issued a message to the killer, saying, “If you are listening, the best thing you can do is turn yourself in, because you will be found by our law enforcement that’s out to get you and out to find you and prosecute you.”
Anyone with information on the man’s identity and whereabouts was asked to call Reyes at (213) 486- 0450. Tipsters can also call the LAPD’s 24-hour tipline at (877) LAPD-24-7 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. All tips can be submitted anonymously.
—City News Service