Suspect allegedly abuses Chihuahua at South Pasadena police station

SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- South Pasadena police arrested a man accused of kicking and swinging a Chihuahua in the front lobby of the South Pasadena Police Department.

At about 10 a.m. on Saturday, officers were dispatched to the lobby to investigate reports of animal cruelty.

On-duty police department records clerk Laura Mendez was working near the area and heard a man, later identified as 48-year-old Christian Andrew Najera, yelling.

When she looked at a monitor displaying surveillance video, she saw the suspect kick a Chihuahua on a leash and quickly notified a police dispatcher, according to a press release issued by the South Pasadena Police Department.

"It's shocking. Of course, at first you don't realize, 'Is that really happening, and I am witnessing this?'" Mendez said.

Mendez then saw Najera kick the dog several more times and violently swing it in the air by its leash in a circular motion.

Najera tried to leave with the dog, but was followed by the records clerk and a police dispatcher.

He was quickly found at Mound Avenue and Mission Street and was subsequently arrested for animal abuse.

Najera, a Los Angeles resident, has a lengthy criminal record, including several arrests and convictions for violent offenses, South Pasadena police said.

"It's very hurtful when you see a completely innocent, probably a six or seven pound dog, getting abused like that," South Pasadena Police Chief Arthur Miller said. "It does get to the core of our soul I think."

The dog had undetermined injuries and was released into the custody of the Pasadena Humane Society.