Man indicted after puppy found dead in Scottsdale
Lester Paul Richmond, 36, was indicted Wednesday on a charge of animal cruelty for abusing a puppy, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced.
Scottsdale police found the baby Husky dead with its mouth taped shut in a neighborhood alley in July, according to a news release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s office.
A man and woman were arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after the puppy was found, according to the Scottsdale Police Department. Lester Paul Richmond, 35, and Heather Auditor, 32, were arrested during a traffic stop near Miller Road and Pierce Street.
Detectives later served a search warrant at their house. While serving the warrant, detectives found more evidence related to the case, according to a police news release.
Investigators then began interviewing residents in the neighborhood and checking surveillance cameras that may have covered the area where the puppy was found, according to the police news release.
Detectives later found a surveillance video showing a car belonging to Richmond in the alley at the same time that the dead puppy was left. Authorities then were able to identify Richmond as the registered owner of the dog.
After identifying Richmond as a suspect, investigators were able to get video surveillance of Richmond and Auditor talking about getting rid of the dog, police said in the news release.
Richmond was booked into a Maricopa County jail on an animal cruelty charge in July, police said in the news release. Auditor also was booked into jail on one count of animal cruelty as well as one count of hindering prosecution.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said that they sent the case back to Scottsdale police for more information.
After Scottsdale police resubmitted the case in November, the office decided to move forward with the prosecution of Richmond.
“Cruelty to animals is a senseless and heinous crime,” County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the news release. “My office takes that crime very, very seriously.”
Richmond has not been found. Mitchell asked anyone with information on Richmond’s whereabouts to reach out to the Scottsdale Police Department at 480-312-TIPS.