A Ford Heights resident has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after police say he dragged a small dog behind his vehicle. Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced the charges against 34-year-old Vianey Madrid-Segura.
According to authorities, at about 8 p.m. on August 1, Cook County Sheriff’s Police officers stopped a silver pickup truck in the 1300 block of Seeley Avenue in Ford Heights when they observed a small dog being dragged behind it. Officers found a five-year-old black and brown female Yorkie tied to the truck’s hitch, bleeding heavily.
Officers provided aid to the injured dog at the scene before transporting her to an animal hospital for further treatment. The dog was released on August 2 to her owner, who is related to Madrid-Segura.
Madrid-Segura was cited for driving without a license and the Sheriff’s Police Animal Crimes Unit took over the investigation. Investigators determined that Madrid-Segura had tied the dog to the back of his truck so it could use the bathroom and then drove off with the animal still attached. The Yorkie suffered serious injuries, including trauma to all four paws and debris embedded in her abdomen, requiring ongoing medical care.
On August 6, Madrid-Segura was taken into custody and charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is classified as a Class 4 felony under Illinois law. He was cited and released pending his initial court appearance.
Madrid-Segura appeared today at Markham Courthouse where a petition for pre-trial detention was denied.
"The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," according to officials.