Elderly dog stolen in Claremont, owner dragged by car

CLAREMONT, Calif. (KABC) -- A walk with his dogs turned into a nightmare for a man in Claremont on Sunday.

A suspect was passing in a car when Mike Heredia said he snatched his 15-year-old dog named Otis off the street at about noon. Heredia said he tried to climb through the car's window to get his cocker spaniel back.

"I got a dislocated shoulder and I have road rash from being dragged down the street on my foot and it almost went down to the bone," Heredia explained.

Heredia said he was taking his three dogs to the Claremont Pooch Park on South College Avenue when he heard a yelp.

"We walked past and as soon as I did I heard my dog scream and I turned around, the guy had picked him up, like really roughly by the legs and tossed him in backseat of the car," Heredia said.

He said Otis was not on a leash and was trailing behind when the suspects struck.

"When he slammed the door I knew what was happening so I jumped in the window and the girl who was driving, she just punched it," Heredia said. "We start going up the street, the guy socking me in the face as we're driving."

With his body hanging out of the window, the 50-year-old was dragged more than half a block.

"I said you need to slow down, I'm going to get out, you're going kill me. She just hollered, didn't say anything, just screamed and punched it so I bailed, I just jumped out," Heredia said.

He was rushed to the hospital as the elderly canine disappeared with the suspects who grabbed him.

"We haven't had any calls like this recently that I can think of, but we do investigate every crime and take every crime seriously and we're following up with every lead possible," Lt. Jason Walters with the Claremont Police Department said.

Heredia said he just wants Otis back home where he belongs and he fears for his safety.

"These are really ruthless people. They need to be found. They are dangerous. If they haven't done it again, they are going to do it again now because they're more emboldened," Heredia stated.

The car is described as a black Nissan Altima with paper license plates from Geneva Motor license.

If you any information that can help investigators, you are urged to call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.