After a gut-wrenching video showing a helpless dog being dragged behind a truck for more than half a mile was shared with the authorities, Charlotte County Public Safety reached out to the public, specifically to the county’s “Super Sleuths” for information.
The agency then posted an update on their Facebook page thanking Charlotte County’s “Super Sleuths” for their assistance and announced that the driver “has been located” and added: “This animal cruelty case is still an active investigation but we are one step closer to closing the case.”
In an initial Facebook post Charlotte County Public Safety said that the incident, which was caught on neighbors’ security cameras, had happened on Thursday, June 8, 2023, near Lakeworth Boulevard and Durant Street (in the Edgewater Dr. area). The truck involved in the incident was described as 2009-2014 Gray Ford F150 STX extended cab with a ladder rack.
Authorities said the dog sadly died.
Charlotte County Animal Control Officer Colby Mazzoni said the driver told investigators it was an accident. She told WINK: “I don’t think he purposely did it, unfortunately. But you know, being negligent and something like that. It’s pretty cruel. So we’re still treated as like cruelty case.”
ACO Mazzoni also told NBC2 that the driver said the dog was his baby and that he loved the dog.
ACO Mazzoni then explained that an arrest cannot be made until animal control does its investigation. They’ll send their findings off to the District Attorney’s Office asking them to press charges. If prosecutors do, only then does the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office get involved to arrest the dog’s guardian.
There is now a turn in the case.
The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of the driver and identified him as 44-years-old JAMES ALBERT HAYLES (pictured).
In a Facebook post the sheriff’s office said: “On Sunday, June 11, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office law enforcement deputy, Corporal Baker, responded to Little Willies RV Park regarding a call of a suspicious vehicle from a concerned citizen. The vehicle matched the description of the vehicle Charlotte County Sheriff's Office was searching for in reference to an animal cruelty case. Corporal Baker arrived on scene and observed the truck and a trailer, and the driver James Albert Hayles. Hayles had an active warrant out of Charlotte County for driving with a suspended license. Corporal Baker interviewed Hayles which eventually led to a confession regarding the animal cruelty case leading to the death of a dog.”
HAYLES was booked into the DeSoto County Jail and released on bond.
Ms. Cyndi Hinchey lives on the road where the incident took place and her security cameras caught it on video. She told NBC2 that after watching the footage, she finds it very hard to believe that it was an accident. She said her neighbors saw the dog being dragged and chased after the truck to get it to stop.
New York Post reports that “When the driver eventually stopped after being chased down by neighbors, he allegedly jumped out of his truck and threw the dog’s body in the back of the pickup before driving off again.”
WINK reports that Charlotte County Animal Control said it is fully prepared to charge HAYLES with two counts of animal cruelty and has forwarded the case to the State Attorney’s Office, requesting HAYLES be charged with two counts of animal cruelty.
One count for the unnecessary suffering of his dog, a 6-month-old Catahoula mix puppy named Diesel, and one count for illegally disposing of Diesel’s body which has not been found.
That’s how much he loved his “baby”!!!!
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HAYLES’ mugshot shared from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.
