Dog Cruelty Arrest, Bull Terrier Victimized: Joliet Police

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department made its first arrest of the month in connection with allegations of dog cruelty. Officers took 36-year-old Giovanny Aguilar away in handcuffs and arrested him on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and resisting a peace officer.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 11:24 a.m., officers responded to a house in the 800 block of Croghan Avenue for an animal cruelty complaint. Aguilar was in the backyard of his house, violently kicking a bull terrier dog numerous times while the dog lay on the ground, according to police.

Officers and a representative from the Joliet Township Animal Control saw the dog still lying in the backyard of the residence. The dog appeared conscious, but otherwise unresponsive.

Aguilar emerged from the rear of his residence and picked up the dog and attempted to run back into the home, according to police. Aguilar ignored officers commands to put down the dog and resisted when officers tried to place him into custody, police said.

He was placed into custody following this brief struggle.

The dog was placed into the care of Will County Animal Control to be transported for medical treatment. The extent of injuries to the dog is unknown at this time, English said Monday.