Woman Sought After Puppy Allegedly Run Over in Santa Ana
Police are seeking the public's assistance to identify a driver who allegedly used a minivan to kill a puppy after luring it with food.
Santa Ana police are searching for a woman who is accused of deliberately running over a pit bull puppy with a minivan on Sept. 8. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. near 926 W. Park Ln., where the puppy was later discovered deceased in the street.
Surveillance footage released by authorities shows a woman arriving in an older-model Honda Odyssey, described as green or blue. The video appears to show the woman removing the puppy from the vehicle, placing it in the roadway, and then positioning food near the driver's side of the minivan. As the puppy approached the food, the vehicle advanced, and its rear tire rolled over the animal. The driver then remained stationary for approximately 15 seconds before driving away.
A resident in the area alerted police after reportedly seeing the minivan and suspecting the puppy had been intentionally struck. Investigators canvassed the neighborhood for weeks before obtaining the surveillance footage from a home across the street, which corroborated the resident's account.
Authorities have released the graphic video as part of their appeal for information to identify the driver and locate the vehicle. The incident has generated significant public outrage, with many community members expressing disgust and demanding severe punishment for animal abuse.
As of the latest reports, the woman has not been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made. The Santa Ana Police Department is continuing its investigation and urging anyone with information to come forward.