Casino Visitor Enjoyed Harrah's While Dog Sweltered in Hot Van: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A Berwyn man left a dog behind in a sweltering van while he paid a visit to Harrah’s casino Saturday night, police said.

Jaroslav Sik, 44, was charged with cruelty to an animal after security located him in the downtown casino about 11 p.m.

Sik left a dog in a van parked in the casino deck, police said. Officers who were alerted to the dog left in the van reportedly notified Harrah’s security. The security officers then went looking for Sik, police said.

The air temperature was 82 degrees when the law was called about the dog, police said.

The law forbids leaving animals in parked vehicles for more than five minutes when the temperature exceeds 75 degrees or drops below 35 degrees.